1993-10-14 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 14, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 766
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Budget
Work Session on Thursday, October 14, 1993, at 9:30 A.M. in the
First Floor Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Administration
Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; WilliamA.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen O'Neal; and Clerk
to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell
County Manager O'Neal reported today the general government
functions will be reviewed with basic facts presented on
consolidation for discussion only. Emphasis was placed on the fact
that consolidation is not being promoted, but staff feels this item
should be discussed.
Slides were presented and the following issues were discussed:
1) The definition of General Government and the departments
within this function.
2) Budget Statistics reflecting a reduction in the FY 1993-94
Budget with the number of full-time positions increasing by
three for the fiscal year: two positions in the Legal
Department, an Assistant County Attorney and a position in
Collections that will pay for itself through revenues
collected, and one new position in the Tax Department.
MAJOR ISSUES
Strateqic Planninq: The Assistant to the County Manager, Pat
Melvin, has been working with the Strategic Planning Council
to provide a plan to meet future needs through the year 2000.
Computerization: As the County increases its work activities
with less employees, computerization becomes more necessary
even though the equipment is quite costly.
Increased Workload with a Limited Number of Employees in the
General Government Area: The new employees added for the past
several years have been in the Public Safety and Human
Services departments. Very few employees have been added in
the General Government departments. Many departments are
performing more work with less employees. If the County
continues to grow and the demand for services increases,
additional employees will have to be added under the General
Government function in order to provide the same level of
serVlces.
CONSOLIDATION
Clarify Objectives of Consolidation before pursulng the lssue as
listed below:
Service delivery should be more easily identified in order for
the public to know where to go to receive a particular
serVlce.
Eliminate duplication or perceived duplication of serVlces.
Provide a more effective use of tax dollars.
HOW WILL CONSOLIDATION OCCUR:
-Interlocal Agreement
-Contracts
-Mergers
-Beach communities should be included ln all discussions.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 14, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 767
APPROACHES TO CONSOLIDATION:
-Citizen Committees
-Assistance from the Institute of Government
-Vote of the people
-Agreement among locally elected boards
DEPARTMENTS SUITED FOR CONSOLIDATION:
Law Enforcement: The structure of a consolidated Law Enforcement
Agency must be carefully reviewed as to the merit of the structure
as opposed to the merit of the individual. The County now has the
best Sheriff in the state and country; however, this individual
will not be in office indefinitely.
Parks/Recreation: With the size of New Hanover County, the City
and County Parks and Recreation Departments should be consolidated.
Planninq: At one time there was a joint City/County Planning Board
and as the area continues to become more urban, it would be an
advantage for consolidation of these departments.
Manaqement Information Services: The technology is already in
place and as more computerization occurs, the City and County may
wish to consolidate.
Centralized
considered.
Purchasinq
among
all municipalities
should be
utilities: As the City continues to annex, utility functions
should be combined.
ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED
-Legal Issues
-Organizational issues
-Financial issues
-Cost/savings of merger/consolidation
-Short-term costs/savings
-Long-term costs/savings
-Salaries and budget
-Equipment, uniforms costs, etc.
-Employee morale
-policies and procedures
-Staffing
BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
A bond referendum will be held on March 8, 1994, in the amount
of $53.8 million comprised of the following components:
New Hanover County Schools $39.9 million
for construction of new schools, renovations and expansion of
existing schools, furniture, equipment, and land purchase, if
necessary. The tax rate will increase 4 cents phased in over
a construction period of 3 to 4 years.
Cape Fear Community College $13.9 million
for construction of new facilities and upgrading of existing
facili ties. The tax rate will increase 1.5 cents over the
construction period.
The maximum impact of the two bond issues, if passed, is 5.5
cents over the extended period of time as the bonds are issued from
year to year. If the bond issues do not pass, and the Board of
Education and Cape Fear College request $53.8 million dollars
annually, the tax rate would be impacted as follows:
1995 - $20.8 million (27 cents on tax rate)
1996 - $19.1 million (24 cents on tax rate)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 14, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 768
1997 - $ 4.1 million (05 cents on tax rate)
1998 - $ 9.8 million (11 cents on tax rate)
Other needs requested by the schools are supplements for
teachers; computers in classrooms; maintenance of existing and new
buildings; and other capital issues, such as a new high school.
ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
In the Economic and Physical Development function, there are
two County Departments, the N. C. Cooperative Extension Service and
the Planning Department. The remainder of this function is
comprised of the following outside agencies:
DARE
Soil & Water Conservation
Port, Waterway & Beach Commission
Cape Fear Council of Governments
Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
New Hanover International Airport
Beaches
Committee of 100
The Commissioners were requested to provide direction on how
these agencies are to be handled in the budgetary process. Major
issues to consider are urbanization of the County and the services
provided by the Cooperative Extension Service; implications from
adoption of the revised Land Use Plan; continued funding of outside
agencies; and the Room Occupancy Tax. The amount of funding
reserved for erosion control continues to grow; however, if the
County should have to fund beach renourishment, these funds would
be used quickly.
County Manager O'Neal commented on the urbanization of New
Hanover County and recommended a thorough review of the traditional
services rendered by the Cooperative Extension Service. This
agency plays an importance role in the County with the Arboretum;
however, other programs may not be relative to an urban community.
Commissioner Barone inquired as to the amount of funds
appropriated to the Cooperative Extension Service?
Budget Director, Cam McAbee, reported $210,000.
Assistant County Manager, Dave Weaver, reported the
Cooperative Extension Service is in the process of redefining its
role and is trying to provide more urban oriented services. For
example, the local agency has filed a grant application that would
allow the Cooperative Extension to provide child care to certain
areas of the County through the 4-H Program. The question to be
answered is whether or not the Cooperative Extension Service is the
appropriate agency to provide child care services?
Commissioner Barone expressed appreciation for the budget
presentation, which was most informative, but expressed concern for
no information presented on sunsetting, eliminating, or privatizing
some of the functions now provided.
County Manager O'Neal reported during the budget process, each
department is requested to review each service being rendered to
see if any service can be contracted out. As to sunsetting, this
process involves outside agencies and the services being provided.
The question to be answered is whether outside agencies should be
funded, or do these agencies provide important services that cannot
be provided by the County?
BUDGET WORK SESSION SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 28, 1993
County Manager O'Neal announced the next Budget Work Session
will be held on October 28, 1993, at 9:00 A.M.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 14, 1993
BOOK 23
PAGE 769
Staff was requested to discuss large funding requests to see
if expenditures can be reduced; prepare figures reflecting how
federal, state, and county funds are used in each individual
department to know exactly how taxpayers' funds are spent;
specifically define the entire budget which is $100 million
including WASTEC and the Water & Sewer District instead of the $89
million under the general fund; and watch very closely the impact
of the Land Use Plan on the budget.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board