BC 2015 05 18 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 18, 2015 (Regular Meeting) Page 2400 of growing enrollment, technology needs, and the combination of need for more facilities and maintenance of an aging inventory of buildings. However, the County will need to take on additional debt to fund several new schools and an increasing amount of maintenance and repair projects that were deferred over the last several years. The County is working with the schools to present a detailed plan of deferred maintenance and current facility needs and how to address them in the future. 4. Proposed staffing and operational hours for the Emergency Medical Services department address the increased number of calls and the staff's stress and fatigue in responding to those calls_ These changes will include moving from the current 24 -hour shift to a 12 -hour shift. The transition will take place over two fiscal years, with 75% occurring in FY16 and the remaining 25% in FY17. 5. The Community Paramedic program is also recommended to provide our citizens with an additional level of care as they return home after stays in the hospital and begin their recovery process. 6. Funding and staffing for our Library System ensure that our branches remain open six days a week. 7. The County has completed compensation studies in an effort to bring employee salaries to a level appropriate and competitive in the market from which the County recruits. Additional funds based on the results of these studies are included in the recommended budget. B. Increased funding to the Health Insurance Fund in the amount of $1,300,OCO to restore the full cost of employee benefits.. Cabarrus County is trending in a positive manner. Residential, commercial and industrial development continues to improve. Our population seems to increase daily. Our unemployment rate is down to 4.9 %. There are many other positive things moving forward in the county. However, even positive growth brings with it challenges and opportunities that we must address financially and operationally. The proposed budget meets these challenges and takes advantage of the positive opportunities that have presented. In closing, I would like to thank our entire staff for their continued commitment to provide the very best services to the citizens of our county in the most efficient manner. It is only through their determination and commitment that we are able to carry out the Board of Commissioners' mission, vision, and goals for a growing and prospering county. I would like to specifically thank Pam Dubois, Senior Deputy County Manager; Susan Fearrington, Finance Director; Kristen Owens, Budget Analyst; Becky Crabtree, Budget Analyst; Jonathan Marshall, Deputy County Manager; and Lundee Covington, Human Resources Director, for their time and efforts throughout the last six months in preparing this budget. Chairman Morris advised there have been extensive discussions and meetings regarding the budget. He encouraged anyone interested to attend the budget meetings and stated there will be time for public comment at the public hearing on June 15th. Vice Chairman Poole reiterated Chairman Morris' comments and commended staff for their hard work and collaboration with the school systems. UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt and unanimously carried, the Board scheduled a public hearing on the proposed FY16 Cabarrus County Budget for Monday, June 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as persons may be heard. H) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES (H -1) Appointments and Removals - Cabarrus County Senior Centers Advisory Council