1994-12-29 Special Meeting
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, DECEMBER 29, 1994
NCACC LEGISLATIVE GOALS
PAGE 440
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work
Session on Thursday, December 29, 1994, at 10:00 A.M. in Room 501
of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 203 North
Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
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Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; William A.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; Vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen O'Neal; Assistant
County Attorney, Kemp Burpeau; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F.
Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and reported the
purpose of the meeting was to discuss the 1995 Legislative Goals
prepared by the Legislative Goals Committee, which he co-chaired
during the past year. He informed the Board he was opposed to many
of the goals; therefore, he would like to review the goals in order
for the Voting Delegate, Vice-Chairman Mathews, to present a
majority vote at the Legislative Goals Conference to be held in
Fayetteville, N. C. ~n January 5-6, 1995.
Discussion was held on the following goals:
Consolidate Human Services: Seek legislation to repeal the
population limitation of GS'153A-77 that prevents counties from
choosing to consolidate human services programs. This would
eliminate the need for a separate Board of Health and Board of
Social Services.
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After discussion, it was determined that eliminating these
boards in New Hanover County would not be beneficial at the present
time; however, smaller counties could greatly benefit from
consolidating human services programs because of their limited
resources. The Commissioners decided to support the proposed goal
"only" if counties have an option to decide if they want to combine
the human services programs.
Funding for Public Health' Services: Support additional funds to
provide comprehensive health services to disadvantaged children
w~th the funds distributed in accordance with the public equity
funding policy.
commissioner Barone expressed opposition to the goal because
she feels no additional programs are needed.
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commissioner Sisson reported the question to answer is whether
bringing health standards to children who would not receive these
services otherwise is necessary? In his opinion, if the Health
Directors across the State feel that additional funds are needed to
provide more programs or services to disadvantaged children, there
must be a gap in the services. He emphasized the importance of
t~entifying problems in children at an early age, which is much
l?sS costly than in the future.
Commissioner Barone explained that being opposed to this goal
does not mean she does not support children; however, the continued
expansion of health services only expands the bureaucracy with
Health Departments becoming larger in order to justify their
existence thrpugh the hiring of more people, which ends up costing
the taxpayers more money. She, again, reiterated that no
.a'cidi tional pr;c;>grams are needed.
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commissioner Sisson commented on the need to know the
rationale behind this goal and recommended contacting the Health
,Director, Bob parker, to explain the needs before deciding on this
g~al.
Chairman Greer reported, in his opinion, this a question of
philosophy. There is one group who feels that funds should be
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, DECEMBER 29, 1994
NCACC LEGISLATIVE GOALS
PAGE 441'
appropriated to provide all the services needed to take care of
children, and there is another group who feels that the government
cannot provide all services. There is no right or wrong answer.
Discussion was held on the legislative goals process.
Commissioner Caster expressed concern for the various associations,
such as the Health Directors, requesting legislation through the N.
C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) and inquired as to
whether there is a mechanism in place for these associations to
present needs directly to the legislators?
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Chairman Greer explained at the present time, all goals must
be submitted to the N. C. Association of County Commissioners.
commissioner Caster commented on the Health Care Reform goal
and read the following portion:
The important role of public health agencies as providers of
care and public health services must be recognized and must be
an integral part of the system. This should he acknowledged
by funding public health functions and community-base
prevention services with a set-aside equal to 6% of the total
annual health services expenditures for North Carolina.
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commissioner Caster reported there should be a sliding scale
to change the percentage of funding for public health. In his
opinion, a large percentage of funding goes to doctors, hospitals,
and insurance companies instead of public health functions that
have greatly improved the quality of health by immunization,
cleanliness, sanitation, etc. He recommended increasing a larger
percentage within the state Health Budget to public health
functions to provide preventative services without an increase in
the overall state budget.
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commissioner sisson agreed with commissioner Caster and
reported preventing health problems will avoid huge medical costs
in the future.
Vice-Chairman Mathews reminded everyone that the proposed
goals were prepared before the November election and, in his
opinion, there could be some significant changes in the upcoming
session of the General Assembly.
Further discussion was held on the lack of time to thoroughly
review the 55 proposed goals. Vice-Chairman Mathews requested each
Commissioner to review the goals and provide him with a list of
support or opposition to the goals so he can cast a majority vote
of the Board at the Conference to be held on January 5-6, 1995.
.Chairman Greer commented on being opposed to many of the goals
that were adopted by the Legislative Goals Committee and reported
if all 55 goals should be adopted, the cost would be approximately
$283 million. When serving on the committee, he was opposed to
any goal that would require additional funds and place a heavier
burden on the taxpayers. As to housekeeping goals and the shifting
of funds within the state budget, he would not have a problem with
these goals.
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county Manager O'Neal commented on the automation of the human
services programs and reported additional funds for this purpose
will prevent the future hiring of employees to provide these
services. In his opinion, there are goals that may require
additional funds, but will greatly reduce funding in the future.
commissioner Barone commented on trying to find out about the
number of children on the waiting list for day care in New Hanover
County and reported she never received an answer from the
Department of Social Services. ,she, also, expressed concern for
providing day care to persons who are not working and for there
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, DECEMBER 29, 1994
NCACC LEGISLATIVE GOALS
PAGE 442
being no system in place to purge the day care list, which
frequently has the names of children who are beyond the day care
age.
Assistant to the County Manager, Pat Melvin, reported persons
are not eligible to receive day care if they are not employed.
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County Manager O'Neal reported he would be glad to forward a
report to the Board on the number of children on the waiting list
and the eligibility requirements.
Chairman Greer commented on being in favor of the state tax
for school capital needs and reported counties will have the option
to enact a local option sales tax if desired.
commissioner sisson reported if the General Assembly does
allow counties to enact a local option sales tax for school capital
needs, and if the County should enact a local option sales tax, a
resolution should be prepared to provide for a sundown provision
that would have to be reviewed and renewed at various periods of
time.
commissioner sisson also expressed concern for no proposed
goal to eliminate the sales tax on food and stated, in his opinion,
this is the most regressive and unfair tax on record.
commissioner Barone responded that she presented the repeal of
this tax to the Taxation and Finance Committee with no success.
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Chairman Greer reported he is in favor of the sales tax on
food because this is the one tax that everyone has to pay, and in
his opinion, there should be no free rides.
commissioner Barone asked if persons on the Food stamp Program
pay the food sales tax?
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County Manager O'Neal reported the sales tax is exempt for the
actual purchase of food; however, the exemption does not apply to
any other products, such as paper towels, alcoholic beverages,
detergents or prepared food.
Discussion was held on seeking legislation to modify the
procedures for resolving funding disputes between Boards of County
Commissioners and Boards of Education. County Manager O'Neal
reported the current procedure is for funding disputes between the
boards to be forwarded to the Clerk of Superior Court. If the
Crerk cannot negotiate a satisfactory arrangement between the
boards, the cases will go to Superior Court. He expressed concern
for the amount of money that can be expended during a lengthy
litigation process and reported these funds could have been used to
meet school needs.
Discussion was held on the school bus replacement go~l.
commissioner Caster inquired as to whether the state provides
funds to replace school buses?
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County Manager O'Neal reported the state provides the funds;
however, some counties have not been satisfied with the number of
buses and .this has become a major issue. New Hanover County has
not had this proBlem.
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COMMISSIONER SISSON AND VICE-CHAIRMAN MATHEWS LEFT THE MEETING
BECAUSE OF .:PRIOR COMMITMENTS
;,;1 commissioner ,Sisson and Vice-Chairman Mathews left the meeting
at 11:05 because of prior commitments.
y, After 'a lengthy discussion of the proposed goals, Chairman
Greer and. cominissioner Barone reported if the goals require
additionalkfunds, 'they would be opposed to those goals.
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~;r:~U?:'!ll~' OF SPECIAL MEETJ:NG, DECEMBER"29,."1994
NCACC LEGISLATIVE GOALS
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Commissioner Caster reported on the need to support certain
goals ,and reported he would like to see funds transferred among the
various programs, who need increased funding, without an overall
increase in the state budget. He also commented on the need to
properly identify and correct the roles of the federal, state, and
local governments. This must be corrected through the definition
of state functions with the collection of monies to provide these
services. For example, the school system is a local function, not
a state function. Counties should be allowed to operate school
systems through taxation authority on the local level and
collection of these monies.
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County Manager O'Neal reported education at the local level in
North Carolina is the responsibility of the state Government as
outlined in the state Constitution. The state is required to
provide the education and all the services involved with providing
education. The counties are responsible for providing the'
facilities. During the years, many services have become
intertwined and corrections need to be made.
After further discussion of the legislative goals process and
the need to focus on goals presented by the counties, not the
various associations, the Board agreed for Chairman Greer to
~xpress the concerns of the Board about the entire process and the
need to revise the process at the meeting to be held on January 5,
6, 1995, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 11:25 A.M.
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~es ectfully submitted,
v/~,..
Lu ie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board
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