BC 2017 05 15 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 15, 2017 (Regular Meeting) Page 3151 11th out of the 100 counties in North Carolina. This growth continues to have an impact on our school capital and operational needs. County Government is also experiencing additional demands on our human services, libraries, senior centers, public safety and parks services. 3. The capital needs of our schools continue to grow. Although the County is completing construction on three new schools with projected openings in August of 2017 and August of 2018, this will only help us better meet current needs. We have immediate needs for additional schools in order to keep up with daily increases in new residents to the county. This budget includes debt service to construct a new high school and Performance Learning Center for Cabarrus County Schools, and a warehouse and parking deck to support County functions. We' ll also need to meet the previously mentioned deferred and current maintenance needs of our school facilities with sustained funding sources in order to keep them safe and operational for several years to come. 4. The number of charter schools has grown and so has the number of students choosing to attend them. This has shifted our traditional school funding model, diverting County funds from our public school systems to these public schools of choice based on enrollment. 5. Despite statewide appeals from all 100 counties, the North Carolina Legislature has not been willing to allocate additional lottery funding for the counties' school capital needs. Therefore, the strain continues on our budget to keep up with the aggressive construction needs of our school systems. 6. The legislature is once again discussing the possibility of restructuring sales tax distribution throughout the state. This potential change is projected to negatively impact our sales tax revenues in excess of $500, 000. The Board of Commissioners and staff will continue to monitor this and several other bills that could have financial impacts to this and future budgets. 7 . The County and its partners continue to make concerted efforts to raise the profile of Cabarrus County as an economic stronghold of our region. Strategic economic development has resulted in the addition of several new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses in the county during the last year. These new and expanded businesses have increased our tax base and their new jobs pay at or above the county' s average wage. 8 . Collaboration between elected officials throughout the county continues in an unprecedented manner, resulting in shared land use plans, programs and services, and capital projects. Quarterly summits provide opportunities for discussion and cohesive vision. These collaborations make positive fiscal, operational, and economic impacts on our community. 9. Cabarrus County has raised awareness of local issues that stem from mental health and the services required to address them. Government and non-profit agencies, and the general public meet on a regular basis to discuss the growing concerns, and potential fiscal and practical demands on services. 10. Staff continues to monitor the activities of the State and Federal legislatures for information on potential impacts to County funding and programs. Our elected officials and staff continue to advocate for proposed bills with positive impacts and against proposed bills with negative impacts on the County' s budget and our ability to continue services needed by our citizens. FY18 Budget Highlights, Priorities, and Issues 1. At its planning retreat in January, the Board of Commissioners identified seven priority issues for the FY18 budget: A. Planning, growth, and economic development B. Communication and transparency C. Enhanced programs and excellent public service D. Public safety E. Transportation F. Education