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19 <br /> <br /> The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina <br />met in recessed regular session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus <br />County Governmental Center at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2001, for <br />the continuation of a retreat and work session. <br /> <br />Present - Chairman: Arne L. Fennel <br /> Vice Chairman: Robert W. Carruth <br /> Commissioners: Robert M. Freeman <br /> Coy C. Privette <br /> Richard D. Suggs <br /> <br /> Also present were Mr. Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager; Mr. <br />Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., County Attorney; Mr. Blair D. Bennett, Deputy' <br />County Manager for Administration; Mr. John Day, Deputy County Manager for <br />Operations; Mr. Don Cummings, Human Resources Director; Mr. Mike Downs, <br />Development Services Director; Ms. Kelly Sifford, Senior Planner; and Mrs. <br />Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. <br /> <br /> Chairman Fennel called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. <br />Suggs was not present for the beginning of the meeting. <br /> <br />Commissioner <br /> <br />Financial Overview <br /> <br /> Mr. Bennett reviewed the actual five-year tax history for 1996-2000 and <br />the five-year projected budget figures for 2001-2006. He pointed out the low <br />collection rate of approximately 95.21 percent for 2001 was affected by the <br />Pillowtex bankruptcy. Mr..Bennett also discussed the sales tax computation <br />and projection ~or 2001-2006. The projected annual sales tax for FY 2001 is <br />$20,218,159.00. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Suggs arrived at 9:20 a.m. and was present for the <br />remainder of the meeting. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bennett presented a financial status report including a five-year <br />projection for 2001-2006 based on identified needs and established <br />priorities. This forecast is to be updated annually as part of the budget <br />process. During his presentation, Mr. Bennett reviewed the County's current <br />Capital Improvement Program, including major County projects for Fiscal Years <br />2002 through 2006. Major projects and funding proposed for FY 2002 included <br />the County Expo Center ($7 million), County Parks ($1.5 million), First Union <br />Building Renovations ($500,000.00), Courthouse Renovations ($500,000.00) and <br />EMS Station Highway 49 ($500,000.00). He explained the various methods of <br />funding County projects, including the ~pay-as you-go" plan, Certificates of <br />Participation (COPS), bonds and leases under $10 million. Mr. Bennett <br />reviewed an anticipated schedule of payments for incentive grants with <br />payments for many of the five-year grants to begin in FY 2002. The total <br />payment for incentive grant payments is estimated at $5,766,623.00 for FY <br />2002 with a majority of the incentive grants to be completed in FY 2006. <br />Other issues reviewed by Mr. Bennett included a summary of future capital <br />school projects and projected ADM funding, which was based on a three percent <br />increase annually and an annual student increase of 700 students. Further, he <br />reported there will be an estimated fund balance for June 30, 2001 of <br />$40,026,759.00 with an estimated $20,031,759.00 available to appropriate. <br />However, in FY 2003, expenditures are expected to exceed revenues by over $18 <br />million. <br /> <br /> Mr. Don Cummings, Human Resources Director, reported the cost of <br />employee health insurance coverage is expected to increase by 20 to 25 <br />percent for FY 2002. The County currently pays $198.00 per month per full <br />time employee for the basic insurance plan. <br /> <br /> Mr. Clifton reported the two main issues that will have an impact on <br />the FY 2002 budget are increases in County Medicaid costs and employee health <br />insurance coverage. Other issues that will impact the budget include the <br />following: (1) State budget deficit and potential shifts in State funding for <br />such areas as Cooperative Extension, Public Health, Mental Health, etc.; (2) <br />Community college expansions; (3) New debt for school construction; (4) <br />Expanded recreation funding; (5) Additional pay period during the FY 2002 <br />resulting in an additional $1.25 million (including benefits); and (6) <br />Potential road construction projects. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Day~ Deputy County Manager for Operations, gave a brief <br />overview of the Personnel Management Program that was approved by the Board <br />in 1994. He stated a Compensation Study is planned for FY 2002 that will <br />compare all County job salary ranges (including Commissioners and Manager) to <br /> <br /> <br />