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June 19, 2006 - Regular Meeting Page 664 amended, the proceeds of which one or more short-term installment financing contract(s) would be used to provide interim financing for the Project pending execution and delivery of the long-term financing contract and the related Certificates of Participation, and under said one or more short-term installment financing contract (s) the County would secure the repayment by the County of the moneys advanced pursuant to such short-term installment financing contract(s) by granting a security interest in and lien on all or a portion of the Project, which Project was described in the notice of public hearing published in The Independent Tribune on May 31, 2006 (the "Notice"). The Board of Commissioners first ratified and approved the designation of the meeting as a public hearing on the proposed plan of financing, the call of the public hearing and publication of the Notice. It was then announced that the Board of Commissioners would immediately hear anyone who might wish to be heard on such matter. No one appeared, either in person or by attorney, to be heard on such matter or the advisability of the plan of financing and the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners announced that no written statement relating to said matters had been received by the Clerk or the Finance Director. It was then announced that the public hearing was closed. * * * * * (G-5) Proposed FY 06-07 Cabarrus County Budget - Conduct Public Hearing and Consider Adoption of Budget Ordinance and Special Fire and Service District Taxes Fund Ordinance - 6:30 p.m. At 8:09 p.m., Chairman Carruth opened the public proposed FY 2006-07 Cabarrus County Budget. He said each limited to three minutes. The Public Hearing Notice was INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE on June 1, 2006. hearing on the speaker would be published in THE Darrell Bost of Debbie Street in Kannapolis said the County Commissioners are wasteful and do not spend the tax money efficiently. Citing a 21 percent tax increase in 2006 and a 19 percent tax increase in 2007, he said none of the surrounding counties have increased their income this much and there is a lot of waste in the proposed budget such as hiring assistant principals instead of teachers to reduce class size. He also commented on the practice of tearing down good buildings and replacing them with luxurious buildings. He said middle income residents and residents on a fixed income cannot afford to pay increased taxes. He suggested the County Manager and Deputy County Managers develop another budget. Carl Hill of Spring Drive in Midland commented on the amount of funds spent by the Register of Deeds office to copy documents. He said the same amount for copying documents was in last year's budget and is also in this year's budget. Next, he questioned the fluctuation of the Debt Service line item. Finally, he commented on a $16 million \\slush fund" to be used for \\pet projects". He said it appears that the taxpayers have been overcharged and it is up to the Commissioners to make a judgment call. He urged the Board to "do the right thing" and said if the funds have to be spent, to use the money to build two schools. Mark Smith of Buckingham Lane in Harrisburg commented on the $41 million being appropriated to Cabarrus County schools. Of that $41 million, he said approximately $15 million is earmarked for salaries for assistant principals and teachers, which should be paid by the State of North Carolina. He said the $15 million could be used to build one new school per year or buy school buses without a tax increase. He said the County must find ways to get the State to pay for these positions. Finally, he commented on the practice of spending budgeted funds at the end of the fiscal year in order to be allotted funds in the next budget cycle. He said leaders should be as frugal as possible. Carol Soles, Secretary for the Board of Elections (BOE) and speaking on behalf of the BOC, asked the Board to approve funding for a new facility for Elections. She said a new facility is needed for accessibility, to accommodate the increased number of voters and to provide adequate work space for employees and storage space for ballots and voting equipment. She said the BOE has outgrown its current facility on Corban Avenue and commented on the lack of parking, especially since construction on the Sheriff I s Office and Detention Center has begun. Finally, Ms. Soles commented on the potential for security problems to arise and stated a critical need for a new facility to properly handle future elections.