AG 1992 05 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Burke County Commissioners MR. RONNIE THOMPSON, CheJrpetscn MR. ALFRED T. PAT'~ON, Vice Ch~irper~-on MR. ~RRY A. HUFFMAN, SR,, Comm~ts~one~ MR. DARRYL E. ~'HISNANT, Commlssio~er NORTH CAROLINA BURKE COUNTY Burke County Count)' A RESOLUTION OF THE BURKE COUNTY BOAPJ) OF COMMISSIONERS URGING ACTIOH BY THE ~ORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OH BE)~LF OF LOCAL GOVE~(MENT. WHEREAS, local government throughout the State of North Carolina and the nation is under ever-increasing financial pressures resulting from unfavorable economic factors and limited sources of revenue at a time when former federal and state responsibilities are being defunded, underfunded, or passed down to the local level through mandates; and WHEREAS, in response to such financial pressures it is necessary for local governments to safeguard its operations wherever possible; and WHEREAS, there are numerous areas where the North Carolina General Assembly can assist Counties in meeting their service responsibilities to their citizens and in more rationally coping with diminishing revenues and expanding costs; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BURKE COUNTY, that legislation be introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly to modify current law so as to address the following issues: 1. The cost of providing medical services to jail inmates. -- State law should make it clear that private insurance coverage includes the cost of furnishing necessary medical treatment to jail inmates end that the county is only secondarily liable for this expense. In addition, a system needs to be established to more.effectively shift the full cost of incarceration including ordinary expenses for prescription drugs to the jail inmates themselves by constructive employment during their jail term and by subsequent collection methods. This cost should not be borne by law-abiding citizens through reduced services and higher taxes. Rather than mandating expensive jail complexes, state law should foster housing jail inmates in less expensive settings which facilitate good honest hard work which will teach the inmates a work ethic, promote job skills and benefit society. 2. The reduction of design cost for schools and other public buildings. -- Because of a myriad of state and federal reoulations and requirements, the cost of architectural services for public building~ represents a tremendous burden on the taxpayers. Many organizations such as church denominations produce standard designs for their constituents. It is very likely that millions of dollars could be saved each year if the State of North Carolina provided such stand~rd designs. 1 Post Office ~ox 219 Morganton, Norlh Carolina 28655 'Tel. 704/433-40DD --