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January 6, 2003 Page 1 <br /> <br /> The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed <br />session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center <br />in Concord, North Carolina on Monday, January 6, 2003, at 6:00 p.m. <br /> <br />Present - Chairman: Robert M. Freeman <br /> Vice Chairman: Richard D. Suggs <br /> Commissioners: Carolyn B. Carpenter <br /> Robert W. Carruth <br /> Coy C. Privette <br /> <br /> Also present were Mr. John D. Day, Interim County Manager; Mr. Fletcher <br />L. Hartsell, Jr., County Attorney; Ms. Pam Dubois, Assistant Finance <br />Director; Ms. Cathie Straub, Budget Officer; and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk <br />to the Board. <br /> <br /> Chairman Freeman called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. and welcomed <br />those present to the work session. <br /> <br />Commissioner Carruth delivered the invocation. <br /> <br />GOAL-SETTING~ 2-YEAR; LONG TERM <br /> <br /> Mr. Day asked each Board member to offer short-term and long-term goals <br />as to what they wish to see accomplished in Cabarrus County. <br /> <br /> Board members identified the following short-term and long-term goals <br />during their discussion. <br /> <br />SHORT-TERM GOALS <br /> 1. Maintain property tax rate at current level <br /> 2. Maintain sound fiscal condition <br /> 3. Fund school capital plan - Bethel Elementary, Pitts School Road <br /> Elementary and Kannapolis Middle School <br /> 4. Work with Town of Harrisburg and Harrisburg Volunteer Fire <br /> Department to help achieve their restructuring <br /> 5. Landfill issues - expansion, etc. <br /> 6. Explore consolidation issues with local governments <br /> 7. Review compensation program <br /> 8. Transportation issues - 1-85, etc. <br /> 9. Utility policy - countywide water and sewer <br />10. Eastern Area Plan <br /> <br />LONG-TERM GOALS <br /> <br /> 1. Jail/Justice Facility that meets County's needs <br /> 2. Pay off Arena through self-supporting efforts <br /> 3. Develop new economic development strategies <br /> 4. Transportation Issues <br /> <br />BUDGET FORECAST= 2-YEAR <br /> <br />Projected Shortfalls - FY 2004 and FY 2005 Budgets <br /> <br /> Ms. Pam Dubois, Assistant Finance Director, presented a two-year budget <br />forecast predicting a shortfall of $8.7 million during Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 <br />and a shortfall of $11.8 million in FY 2005. The forecasts did not include <br />any. capital funding for County departments or Schools, nor any CPI for <br />current expense monies. Also, Ms. Dubois reviewed the County's policy to <br />maintain a fund balance reserve level of 15 percent. The North Carolina <br />Local Government Commission recommends a reserve level of at least eight <br />percent. <br /> <br /> There was lengthy discussion regarding the County's financial condition <br />and the projected budget shortfalls. Issues addressed during the discussion <br />included the following: (1) Reserve level of 15 percent; (2) Omission of all <br />capital items in the FY 2004 and FY 2005 budget forecasts; (3) County <br />services; (4) Revaluation process; (5) Additional one-half cent local option <br />sales tax; (6) Current incentive grants; and (7) Possible need to raise <br />property taxes in the future. The Board asked Ms. Dubols to determine the <br />impact of reducing the 15 percent reserve level policy. <br /> <br /> <br />