BC 1996 06 13 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

110 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed session at the Stonewall Jackson School Administrative Cottage, 1484 Old Charlotte Road, Concord, North Carolina on Thursday, June 13, 1996, at 6:30 P.M. Present - Chairman: Jeffrey L. Barnhart Vice-Chairman: Arne L. Fennel Commissioners: Sue B. Casper Franklin C. Niblock, Jr. Absent - Commissioner: Kenneth Mills Also present were Mr. Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager, and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Chairman Barnhart called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. He stated the purpose of the meeting was to open communications between school officials and the County. Mr. Charles Newton, Director of Stonewall Jackson School, presented an overview of the operation of Stonewall Jackson School. He commented on efforts to improve the image of Stonewall Jackson School and to ease community concerns about its operation. Mr. Newton and Ms. Sarah Wilson, Program Manager/Assistant Director, took Board members on a tour of the School. BUDGET DISCUSSIONS Transfer of Funds to the FY 1996-97 Budset for Uncompleted Projects Mr. Clifton advised the Board that funding for several projects which were not completed during FY 1995-96 would be transferred to the FY 1996-97 budget. These included General Services Administration $179,800.00; Courts - $90,320.00; and Aerial Photography Project - Increase to $262,500.00. Sale of School Bonds/Tax Increase Mr. Clifton reported that the Schools plan to request the sale of the entire $49 million school bond package in January 1997. This would save approximately $40,000.00 in fixed cost by having only one sale and could possibly result in a better interest rate. The anticipated interest rate is 5.9 percent with annual debt service payments totaling approximately $4.6 million. Mr. Clifton outlined two scenarios for a tax rate increase associated with the sale of the bonds: (1) Increase taxes in FY 1996-97 by 7.7 cents to meet the annual debt service payment; or (2) Increase taxes by approximately 3.85 cents in FY 1996-97 to make the first debt service payment in July 1997 and increase taxes by a similar amount in FY 1997-98 to cover the full cost of the annual debt service payments. No action was taken, and the Board will set the tax rate at its regular meeting on June 17. Increase in Per Pupil .Funding Level UPON MOTION of Chairman Barnhart, seconded by Commissioner Fennel with Chairman Barnhart and Commissioners Fennel, Casper and Niblock voting for, the Board agreed to increase the per pupil funding level to $755.00 per student, resulting in an estimated $200,000.00 increase in the proposed Schools current expense allocation for FY 1996-97. Adjustments in budget revenue projections will be made to cover the increased appropriation. Fundin~ for Non-Profit A~encies Commissioner Fennel proposed that the County phase out the funding for non- profit agencies over a period of three years beginning in FY 1997-98. After discussion, there was general consensus to phase out the funding; however, no formal action was taken by the Board. As previously requested by the Chairman, the County Manager will make an analysis of how the functions provided by the non-profit agencies relate to or impact services provided by the County.