AG 1997 05 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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information 'will assist the county commission in program, evaluation and funding decisions. · 7. Five Year Capital Exoenditure Budeet · Currently each budget year' the county addresses capital expenditures for equipment, projects and other major purchases without any continuity between fiscal years. During this fiscal year, staff will develop a five year capital budget process that will allow the Board of Commissioners to 'plan' or 'phase' major capital expenditures over an extended budgeting period. It will also require staff to forecast projected needs well in advance of actual need. This procedure should make it possible for the county to mo~:6 effectively schedule issues like the 800MHZ radio system and computer systems update included in this years proposed budget. .8. 'Hor0e'Health Services The Cabarms Home Health Agency is assigned for administrative purposes to the newly created Public.Health Authority. Cabarms County Home Health does represent an asset that has a current market value. It is proposed that the County pursue a determination of value for Cabarrus County's Home Health'Agency and evaluate potential options relative to how' this service is rendered in the future. FY '97-98 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS STAFFING ISSUES Staffing proposals contained within this budget r~flect major shifts in employment numbers associated with the creation of the Public Health Authority along with other lesser actions, cause substantial change in the' number of public employees attributed to the county's payroll. In some cases change in the number of employees is associated with program income or a direct txans£er 'of budgetary responsibility between county departments or other agencies. Some part-time hires are an effort to staff either interim activities such as the in-house reevaluation by the County Assessor or to account for greater service demands by using more part-time personnel, thus avoiding some of the benefit costs associated with full-time employees. Full time employment requests contained in this budget include: (a new deputy register of deeds), (a new public infurmation resource coordinator, and a new system network coordinator for I.S. funded by a proposed increase in tile CATV franchise fee from 3% to 5% of gross revenues), (deletion of a printer's position in the print shop), ( a ney3 custodial position in general services funded by Piedmont Mental Health), (one deputy in the Sheriffs Department funded by the Town of Harrisburg), ( a new civil engineering position funded by erosion control fees along with added inspectors based'on demand), and ( changing a part-time librarian's position tO full-time in the Mt. Pleasant Library). A proposed transfer of the regional M~P.O. from Cabarrus County to the City of Concord will include the assignment of a county emplgyee to the City of Concord. Associated expenses and re~,enues related to the operation of the MP.O. will also transfer 'along with the employee. . . The creation of the Public Health Authority'and consolidation of the Co.unty's Home Health Agency into tl/e P.H.A. provides for the reduction of 166.011 FTE's (full-time equivalent positions) in the county budget. These employees Will fall under employment guidelines to be adopted by the P.H.A. Board of Directors. County funding to these agencies will be through agreement with any growth in county funding based upon a per'capi!a formula yet to be'adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. EOUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY I~SUES There are substantial proposed purchases contained in this budget. As previously. outlined, the year 2000 impact on county information systems requires a serious fma, ncial commitment by. the County. Delay in thC:se proposed expenditures could have extreme negative operational impacts. The County's data bases must be updated to correct for the 2000 factor and to bying about a more coordinated relationship between data sources in the finance and tax depgrunents. Tec'hnology purchases are detailed in departmentaljustifications.' A summary of the proposed equipment and technology purchase~ is pro¥ided in the Budget Summary that begins on page 17. Some purchases although totaled for this presentation, are. anticipated to be purchased using matching state and federal program dollars along with grant funds i f acquired. GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS The Board of Commissioners makes direct .financial appropriations to several governmental agencies that serve Cabarrus County under the supervision of separately elected or appointed boards. These agencies function to deliver a variety of services consistent with public need. In most instances, budgetary .allocations to these agencies are based upon nonspecifiC: funding decisions. The appropriations within'this area of tile county budi~et should be viewed 'carefully to determine if the recommendations submitted are consistent with the intentions of the County Commission. Appropriations included in this category include: · Rescue Squ~ds (Cabarm~ and Harrisburg, level not mandated). · Cabarrus County Schools (current expense funding required, level not mandated)