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May 31, 2004 Page 481 Education and Growth Manaqement The issues of education and growth management were discussed in the Board's 2003 and 2004 retreats and on several other occasions. These two issues are intricately related and have enormous budgetary implications. Providing funds to operate the county's school systems and meet their capital needs is becoming increasingly more difficult. As mentioned earlier, spending in all general fund service areas was reduced in the proposed fiscal 2005 budget so spending in education could be increased. As long as residential growth outstrips the growth of business-related development, it will be impossible to maintain a 56 cents tax rate and meet the financial obligations that result from adding 1000 students each year. School projects currently being considered to meet the needs of the next 5 years will result in a tax increase of between 7 and 11 cents, depending upon how they are funded. Preliminary work, based on current growth trends, indicates the cost of projects for the following 5 years will be over $250 million, resulting in further tax increases over that period of at least another 15 cents. Additionally, the county's share of the school systems' operational costs increases by about $2 million each year (and that number will continue to escalate). At the same time, ever-increasing enrollment at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College results in growing operating expenses and the need for new and expanded facilities. The type of growth Cabarrus County is experiencing simply cannot be sustained. The need for growth management is clear. The Board has discussed it on many occasions and recently convened a forum on that topic (along with other development issues) attended by representatives of Cabarrus County, Concord, Kannapolis, Huntersville and Davidson The issue has been discussed throughout the community for several years The time for discussion has ended. Now is the time for action. The destiny of this county is in the hands of the several elected boards, and if they do not act together, then their individual efforts will be futile. urge the County's local government to jointly take the 3 following actions: - Identify areas for future employment and apply zoning regulations accordingly. Too much land is zoned for residential uses and too little is zoned for employment. More than half our workforce commutes out of the county each day. We must provide adequate land for employment opportunities here and we must have the tax base growth associated business development to support the increasing costs of public services such as schools. Develop and apply new residential zoning regulations that require more sustainable, mixed-use developments. Large residential developments should include employment and retail components to ensure economic sustainability. This type of development also assists in achieving environmental sustainability by reducing the need for travel, a very important consideration now that our region has failed to achieve EPA air quality standards. - Develop and implement an aggressive, integrated and comprehensive economic development effort in partnership with the business community. In Cabarrus County, the investment in residential development is double that of employment-related business development. This must be reversed or tax rates will skyrocket, public services (including education) will erode and our quality of life will be drastically diminished. These 3 actions are consistent with the Board's planning goals developed over the last year and a half. For these actions to be successfully executed, the entire community must be engaged and all the county's local governments must participate and cooperate. The good news is that it's not too late to act and the community is capable pulling together and moving ahead. We only get the bad news if we fail to heed the warnings and do nothing. This budget message has focused more on the major issues facing the county rather than the details of the proposed budget. I'm convinced that is the context within which the budget should be considered. For details, there is concise summary of expenditures and revenues beginning on page 1, and thorough explanations of county programs, services and expenses are found in the program summaries, beginning on page 39. The county staff and I look forward to assisting you in reviewing the proposed budget. I appreciate the efforts of the many people who contributed to the preparation of this document. I asked the department directors to develop budgets that once again reduce spending while still achieving their missions. Once again, they came through for me and I greatly appreciate their efforts. As usual, the budget staff has performed excellent work. I offer my gratitude to Cathie Straub, budget officer, and Becky Crabtree, budget analyst. Special thanks also go to Pam Dubois, deputy county manager, Susan Fearrington, assistant finance director and Shelley Farris, accounting operations supervisor for their extra efforts. Finally, I wish to thank you for the wonderful opportunity you have given me. I have the best job in the county and I am most appreciative. I am proud to serve as your chief executive, and humbled by the confidence you have placed in me. Respectfully submitted, /s/ John Day John Day County Manager