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March 21, 2014 (Recessed Meeting) Page 1958 <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 Friday, March 21, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. <br />Present - Chairman: <br />Vice Chairman: <br />Commissioners: <br />Elizabeth F. Poole <br />Larry M. Burrage <br />Christopher A. Measmer <br />Stephen M. Morris <br />Jason A. Oesterreich <br />Also present were Mike Downs, County Manager; Jonathan Marshall, Deputy <br />County Manager; Pam Dubois, Deputy County Manager and Megan Smit, Clerk to <br />the Board. <br />Senator Fletcher Hartsell and Representatives Carl Ford, Linda Johnson <br />and Larry Pittman were also present. <br />Commissioner Measmer arrived at 9:22 a.m. and was present for the <br />remainder of the meeting. <br />Call to Order <br />Chairman Poole called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m. and welcomed <br />attendees to the meeting. <br />Conduct the Meeting in a Box with the Local Legislative Delegation <br />The fallowing legislative goals were generally discussed: <br />• Reinstate Lottery funds for school construction <br />• Oppose shift of state transportation responsibilities <br />• Oppose unfunded mandates and shifts of state responsibilities to <br />counties <br />• Endure adequate mental health funding <br />• Preserve the existing local revenue base <br />• Seek Legislation to expand county governments use of 911 funds, <br />protect and enhance current funding streams and maintain full <br />operational flexibility and autonomy <br />Reinstatement of Lottery Funds <br />Representative Johnson advised of general support on the state level <br />for changes to the formula used to calculate lottery funds. She added that <br />reinstatement of lottery funds is unlikely. <br />Representative Pittman expressed opposition to the North Carolina <br />Education Lottery. <br />Senator Hartsell also expressed opposition to the North Carolina <br />Education Lottery and stated he expects the shifting of funds to continue. <br />Representative Ford stated counties shouldn't count on lottery funding. <br />Commissioner Oesterreich expressed support for the reinstatement of <br />lottery funds, noting that it would be of great benefit to Cabarrus County. <br />Commissioner Measmer arrived at 9:22 a.m. and was present for the <br />remainder of the meeting. <br />Shift of Unfunded Mandates and Resoonsibilities <br />County Manager Mike Downs inquired if the legislative delegation had <br />heard of any unfunded mandates that the County should be aware of with the <br />budget approaching. <br />A brief discussion followed. <br />Chairman Poole stated that State raises to teacher salaries impact the <br />County budget, because the County matches the State raise for the County - <br />funded positions. She also noted the Affordable Care Act impacts substitute <br />teachers who work more than 30 hours a week, requiring insurance coverage. <br />Endure /Maintain Adequate Mental Health Funding <br />Senator Hartsell commented briefly on obstacles, such as funding <br />formulas that complicate mental health funding. He stated the whole process <br />