BC 1993 06 23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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334 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed session in the Commissioners~ Meeting Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at 7:00 P.M. Present - Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Vice-Chairman: Kenneth F. Payne Commissioners: Jeffrey L. Barnhart Sue B. Casper Arne L. Fennel Also present were Mr. John V. Witherspoon, County Manager; Mr. John Day, Budget Officer; Mr. Don Moorhead, Personnel Director; and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Chairman Carpenter called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. She stated the Board would be considering the recommended reductions to maintain the tax rate at 58 cents along with any new proposals regarding the budget for Fiscal Year 1993-94. Commissioner Fennel presented a list of ideas and recommendations for additional changes to the proposed 1993-94 budget. Some of the items listed for discussion included the following: (1) Actual increase in Current Expense money for the Schools if the budget projection of 666 new students is used and there are only 500 new students during the year; (2) Questioned the transfer of $511,000.00 from the Coddle Creek Reservoir Project to Capital Reserve for the Muddy Creek Waste Treatment Plant; (3) Require cost/benefit analysis for all new purchases; (4) Delay personnel replacements 90 days and put savings into merit increases; (5) Give 5 percent bonus to all personnel in departments completing the next fiscal year 5 percent or more under budget; (6) Change 401(k) program to a matching program and use funds generated by these changes to increase employees bi-weekly take home pay by one to two percent; (7) Cut proposed outside tax collector position, saving $23,000.00; (8) Reduce contribution to Cabarrus Communities in Schools by $10,000.00 and Cabarrus Arts Council by $2,000.00, which have good means to seek private funding, and use these funds to restore the 4-H After-School Program; (9) Eliminate cellular phones not supported by cost/benefit analysis and specifically authorized by the Board of Commissioners; and (10) Create workflow simplification teams in each department to develop workflow ideas to promote productivity. In addition, Commissioner Fennel proposed that the Board adopt the following travel policies as recommended by Taxwatch for the County Commissioners and the County Manager's Department: (a) Disclosure to Board of purpose of planned out-of-county travel prior to date of travel; (b) Report to Board on full travel costs, including direct bill items; (c) Brief report in writing upon return from trip; and (d) Divide total Board travel budget equally among the five Board members. There was lengthy discussion concerning the items presented by Commissioner Fennel. Mr. Witherspoon reviewed the process by which the County uses the budget projection from the State to allocate the funding to the two school systems based upon average daily membership. In addition, he reviewed County policies and procedures that are currently in place relative to delays in filling personnel vacancies on a selective basis and the County's Cost Containment Program. Commissioner Payne reported that there is not enough sewage in the Midland area to support the Muddy Creek Waste Treatment Plant at this time. Also, he stated that project engineers do not recommend downsizing the proposed plant. Officials from Stanly County and several of its municipalities have expressed an interest regarding the use of the plant; however, no suitable arrangements have yet been worked out. During discussion, Mr. Witherspoon pointed out that lease financing arrangements prohibited the transfer of funds from the Coddle Creek Reservoir Project to the Muddy Creek project as had been suggested by Commissioner Fennel. Commissioner Casper recommended that the Board transfer the $460,000.00 budgeted for water and sewer for the proposed movie studio to the Muddy Creek project; however, the Board declined to take action on this proposal. In conclusion, the Board asked that Mr. Henry Waldroup, Utilities Director, provide quarterly updates to the Board as well as meet with the Midland Community Association regarding the status of the proposed plant. In response to questions by Chairman Carpenter, .Sheriff Robert Canaday reviewed the number of vehicles assigned to his department and the use of those vehicles in the daily operation of the department.