AG 2002 10 21 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Police - Freeze on vacant positions; elimination of annual replacement of high mileage police vehicles for the fiscal year; elimination of technology purchases that will provide support to individual police officers to be more effective in the field with problem solving and community policing efforts. Fire - Freeze on vacant positions; postpone purchasing of new protective clothing needed for 46 firefighters (replacement program); funding reduced for materials for Hazardous Materials Team and travel training almost eliminated despim increased need due to 9/11 and Council's investment in new Hazardous Materials Response vehicle. Communications - Freeze on vacant positions in 911 Center; inability to expend funds budgeted for technology upgrades. Recreation - Close Aquatics Center on Sunday this summer; reduced staff for Summer Playground program; eliminated planned new restroom facility for Webb Field and Beverly Hills Park Picnic Shelter/Restroom. Solid Waste - Eliminated purchase of replacement knuckle boom truck for yard waste collection with over 110,000 miles and needs constant maintenance to collect yard waste. These trucks allow us to collect using 2 people rather than five; elimination of money for .analyzing economic benefits of baler facility for recycled c'ardboard; elimination of replacement garbage truck needing constant maintenance and having over 120,000 miles. Stormwater- Totally undermine preparation for implementation of meas. ures in response to mandated Phase II Stormwater Program by eliminating purchase of JetVac Truck and associated video inspection equipment. Streets -Elimination of money for Council goal of constructing $100,000 worth of new sidewalks in existing high priority areas; severely reduces money for sidewalk and storm drain repairs on State roads, projects not eligible for Powell Bill funds. Planning - Question of replacement of vacant positions when there has been little let up in development and already complaints about not enough staffing to handle processes in time frames developers, are demanding. Technology- Elimination of over $i40,000 in replacement and new technology to make existing workers more efficient and productive. Buildings and Grounds - Freeze on vacant positions which challenge their ability to ,. respond to demands placed on them with several new and expanded park facilities ' including WW Flowe Park built by Cabarrus COunty but operated and maintained by Concord; also increased maintenance along fights of ways of Stale streets in terms of litter pick-up. Engineering - Impact on ability to get delegated authority to issue water and wastewater permits locally, rather than the State doing it which is being demanded by development community; impacts ability to inspect infrastructure being installed by private sector development to ensure taxpayers are inheriting the responsibility for work done right; good example of department dramatically impacted by lack of technology and training funds due to rapid c.hanges in methods of operation. I am very concerned that many of the reimbursement revenues and state-collected local taxes are on the table for consideration by the state again for FY 2002-2003. State elected officials seem to be tempted by these revenues and may try to use them to cover their shortfall even though there are permanent statutory provisions that would prevent this from happening if the General Assembly does not take action otherwise during the "short" session. These include: · .The reimbursements for repealed ad valorem property taxes on retail and manufacturer's inventories; · The reimbursement for repealed intangibles taxes; · The reimbursement for loss of repealed local sales tax on purchases made with food stamps; ~_.~[