BC 2003 05 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 20, 2003 Page 132 Human Resources Mr. Don Cummings, Human Resources Director, reported a reduction in the requested Human Resources budget. He pointed out there is no funding included for the biennial labor market study pursuant to Board action in January suspending the study along with developmental and merit increases for FY 2004. Tax Administration Ms. Dawn McHale, Tax Administrator, reviewed the requested budget for Tax Administration, including Tax Collections, Tax Assessor, Land Records and Appraisal. She reported a "flat" budget for Tax Collections with some increases for the Tax Assessor's office, specifically increased postage to mail revaluation notices and purchased services for contracted audits. Elections Ms. Linda Grist, Elections Director, presented a brief overview of the proposed Elections budget for FY 2004. She reported the office would be conducting three elections during the next fiscal year. Mr. John R. Boger, Jr., member of the Board of Elections, requested that the salary grade for the two Election Clerk positions be raised from Grade 58 to Grade 60. He stated those employees should be classified as people with like responsibilities and duties and that the positions are comparable to such positions as Deputy Tax Collector and Deputy Register of Deeds. Also, he referenced a survey of similar positions in other counties that had been done by Ms. Grist. Mr. Cummings stated the last comparative study by The Scott Group (consultants) had indicated that the Election Clerk positions were slotted properly on the pay scale and no change in salary grade had been recommended. Mr. Day suggested no changes be made to the Election Clerk positions at this time based on the Board's action in January suspending the FY 2004 salary survey as well as the developmental and merit increases for all employees during FY 2004. There was discussion regarding the Election Clerk positions, including the current salary for those positions and the comparison of salaries for similar positions in other counties, and administration of the County's pay plan. The Board took no action on the request to upgrade the positions. Re~ister of Deeds Ms. Linda McAbee, Register of Deeds, presented a brief overview of the requested budget for the Register of Deeds office. She reiterated the request made at the April 21~t Board meeting for an additional Deputy Register of Deeds position. Ms. McAbee also explained the Automation Enhancement and Preservation Fund established by the State to provide funding for enhancement and preservation of records in the Register of Deeds Office. She stated she had planned to use those funds during FY 2004 for such projects as the back file conversion of old documents, the scanning of birth, death and marriage certificates and the imaging of old land record documents. However, Ms. McAbee reported that Mr. Day had recommended that the current vendor services (i.e., indexing, imaging and Internet services) be paid from the Automation Enhancement and Preservation Fund during FY 2004. She stated she had agreed to the use of funds as proposed by Mr. Day for FY 2004 only. Mr. Day confirmed his proposal to use the preservation funds to pay the monthly vendor bills only during FY 2004. He also advised there would be some money available after the payment of the monthly vendor services to do some of the projects as outlined by Ms. McAbee. Finance Ms. Susan Fearrington, Assistant Finance Director, reviewed the proposed budget for the Finance Department. She reported a reduction in expenditures due to the restructuring that occurred at the retirement of Blair Bennett. There was brief discussion regarding the charges for bank services and possible costs associated with self-funded health insurance.