BC 1993 06 23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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336 During review of the recommended Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reductions, Mr. Day reported that the current proposal called for the purchase of a Quick Response Vehicle to be placed at the old Pitts Fire Station, removal of one transport ambulance from service at the Highway 49 ambulance station, elimination of three new positions, and reduction in current part-time personnel. However, he stated that these changes should not affect the level of service and response time should remain the same. During discussion, the Board discussed problems regarding reimbursements for trips from Cabarrus Memorial Hospital to Duke Hospital. The insurance providers and Medicare/Medicaid will pay only for transports to the nearest appropriate facility, which in most instances is Charlotte. Work will continue on efforts to resolve this problem. Adoption of Budget Motion was made by Commissioner Casper and seconded by Commissioner Fennel to accept the budget as the County Manager brought back to the Board with a tax rate of 58 cents. The reductions to maintain the tax rate of 58 cents as recommended by the County Manager are included in the minutes of June 16 and recorded on pages 319-320. Prior to a vote on the motion by Commissioner Casper, there were numerous amendments proposed and voted on by the Board. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Fennel, seconded by Chairman Carpenter and unanimously carried, the Board moved to amend Commissioner Casper's motion and to decrease the County contribution to the 401(k) program from 5 percent to 3 percent and transfer those funds of approximately $200,000.00 to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for employees. The COLA would be an increase of approximately 1.5 percent. As an amendment to the previous motion, Commissioner Payne moved that members of the Board of Commissioners work for $1,000.00 per year and receive no travel expense. There was no second to this motion. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Fennel, seconded by Commissioner Casper and unanimously carried, the Board moved to amend Commissioner Casper's motion and to cut the outside tax collector position at a savings of $23,000°00. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Fennel, seconded by Chairman Carpenter with Commissioners Fennel and Barnhart and Chairman Carpenter voting for and Commissioners Casper and Payne voting against, the Board moved to amend Commissioner Casper's motion and to reduce the Communities in Schools by $10,000.00, to reduce Cabarrus Arts Council by $2,000.00, and to put $10,000.00 in the 4-H After-School Program and direct program coordinators to prioritize the Kannapolis City Schools. As an amendment to Commissioner Casper's motion, Commissioner Fennel moved to transfer $100,000.00 from the Cabarrus County Schools Capital Outlay to Kannapolis City Schools Capital Outlay. Motion was seconded by Chairman Carpenter; however~ both motion and second were withdrawn after discussion. There was general agreement that the Board would consider additional funding if the Kannapolis City School system encounters serious facilities problems during the year. UPON MOTION of Chairman Carpenter, seconded by Commissioner Casper and unanimously carried, the Board moved to amend Commissioner Casper's motion and to fund a Child Abuse Worker at the Department of Social Services in the amount of $30,000.00. Funds are to be provided by the $25,000.00 saved from earlier reductions and $5,000.00 from funding for the "Sharing the Vision" program. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Casper, seconded by Chairman Carpenter and unanimously carried, the Board moved to amend Commissioner Casper's original motion and to leave $140,000.00 in the budget for Animal Control. Appropriate budgetary adjustments will be made by the County Manager regarding this funding. Mr. Witherspoon reported that a proposal for implementing the Animal Control Ordinance,'specifically the licensing program, will be presented for the Board's consideration at the first meeting in July. He noted that revenue will be available for Animal Control if a good licensing program is implemented.