1996-06-13 Budget Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 13, 1996PAGE 436
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Budget
Work Session on Thursday, June 13, 1996, at 10:15 A.M. in Room 501
of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut
Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr;
Commissioner William A. Caster; and Commissioner William E. Sisson,
Jr.
Members absent were: Commissioner Sandra Barone and Chairman
Robert G. Greer.
Vice-Chairman Mathews called the meeting to order.
DISCUSSION OF FY 1996-97 FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES
County Manager O'Neal reported Chairman Greer had requested
the Board to consider the following items when discussing funding
requests for the schools and outside agencies:
(1)Increase the tax rate by an additional one-half or one cent to
pay the school bond debt service with a majority of the
proceeds being appropriated to the schools and other needs,
such as the Environmental Health Program Specialist position
at the Health Department.
(2)Consider delaying the purchase of property for the Castle
Hayne Library with use of the $300,000 in the Recommended
Budget for schools or other needs.
(3)Consider funding the Lower Cape Fear Hospice $10,000.
Discussion of Funding for the Lower Cape Fear Hospice
Budget Director Griffin reported in the original FY 1996-97
budget request, Hospice included an amount of $10,000 for its
capital campaign. In late May, an additional funding request was
received for $90,000. In the proposed budget presented by the
County Manager, no funding was recommended.
Consensus: After discussion of the services provided by Hospice to
terminally ill patients and the agency's current construction
project, it was the consensus of the Board Members present to
approve funding in the amount of $10,000 to the Lower Cape Fear
Hospice.
Discussion of Funding for the Katie B. Hines Senior Center
Discussion was held on the excellent financial condition of
the Katie B. Hines Senior Center. Commissioner Sisson expressed
concern for funding an outside agency that has such a healthy fund
balance.
Consensus: After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board
Members present to recommend no funding for the Katie B. Hines
Senior Center.
Discussion of Funding for the Community Penalties Program
Budget Director Griffin reported the Community Penalties
Program was established to reduce prison overcrowding by providing
sentencing Judges with alternatives to incarceration of eligible
offenders. After a review of the budget request submitted in the
amount of $13,500, the Human Services Allocation Advisory Committee
was concerned that only 28 cases had been accepted by the
sentencing Judge with a staff of six full-time positions and one
part-time position. The original projection was that 75 cases
would be presented during the year. The Human Services Allocation
Advisory Committee has expressed on-going concern about the low
caseload and the dependence on New Hanover County to provide the
local match. The Executive Director and Community Penalties Board
of Directors have been notified about these concerns.
Vice-Chairman Mathews commented on the importance of keeping
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 13, 1996PAGE 437
eligible offenders out of jail and stated he felt this agency did
save a great deal of money for the County. He recommended
approving funding in the amount of $13,500 for the program.
Deputy County Manager, Andrew J. Atkinson, reported after
working with the Criminal Justice Partnership Program, he was
acutely aware of the need to provide alternatives to incarceration
for eligible offenders. He reported if 28 offenders were kept out
of jail last year, a great deal of money was saved by the County.
Discussion was held on the low case load versus the number of
full-time positions. Budget Director Griffin reported the number
of cases has continued to drop, which was of concern when to the
Committee when trying to equitably distribute funding to the
outside agencies based on the services provided to the community
for the dollars requested.
Further discussion was held on why the Communities Penalties
Program had not actively pursued other funding sources for the
local match. Commissioner Sisson recommended requesting the
Communities Penalties Staff to provide a written explanation as to
why the agency has not pursued another funding source, other an New
Hanover County, for the local match. He recommended approving the
funding request for FY 1996-97 with Community Penalties being
notified that the agency should actively pursue another funding
source for the local match and that the services provided will be
closely monitored during the next fiscal year to ensure that County
dollars are being well spent for the services provided to the
community.
Budget Director Griffin responded that the agency had
investigated other funding sources.
Consensus: After discussion of the importance of providing
alternatives to incarceration, it was the consensus of the Board
Members present to approve a $13,500 funding request for the
Community Penalties Program.
Discussion of Funding Request for the Big Buddy Program
Commissioner Sisson commented on the proven success of this
program and recommended funding the $10,000 requested plus an
additional $5,000. He stated the program was a volunteer
organization of adults who give of their time to serve as mentors
to boys and girls in need. He stressed the importance of funding
an agency of this type, who does not have an opportunity to raise
funds in lieu of funding agencies who are capable of raising funds
from the private sector.
Consensus: It was the consensus of the Board Members present to
approve a $15,000 funding request for the Big Buddy Program.
Discussion of Funding Request for the New Hanover Commission for
Women
Discussion was held on past funding for this agency. Budget
Director Griffin reported $1,000 was approved for the Commission of
Women in the FY 1994-95 Budget with no funding approved in FY 1995-
96 Budget. A funding request has been submitted in the amount of
$999 for FY 96-97 with no funding recommended in the proposed
budget.
Commissioner Sisson recommended funding $100 for postage and
supplies with consideration of funding for specific projects when
sponsored by the Commission for Women.
Consensus: After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board
Members present to approve a funding request in the amount of $100
to the Commission to Women to cover postage and supplies with
consideration given during the fiscal year for funding of specific
projects sponsored by the Commission when properly documented and
presented to the Board.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 13, 1996PAGE 438
Discussion of Funding Request for Cure Aids of Wilmington
Commissioner Sisson commented on the funding request presented
at the June 3, 1996, Public Hearing and asked if a budget
notification letter had been forwarded to this agency?
Budget Director Griffin advised that a letter of notification
was mailed to the agency with no response or budget request
submitted by the stipulated deadline. She reported Cure Aids of
Wilmington had reduced its total operating budget for FY 1996-97
from $50,000 to $36,000 and was requesting the County to fund
$36,000.
Consensus: After discussion of no response from the agency in a
timely manner, it was the consensus of the Board Members present to
accepted the County Manager's recommendation and provide no funding
to this agency for FY 1996-97.
Discussion of Funding Request for the Cape Fear River Program
Commissioner Caster stated he thought this agency had received
a $10,000 funding allocation last year. He reported the purpose of
the program is to gather data that has not been provided by any
other study to better understand the natural processes that affect
the water quality in the Cape Fear River. The program's goal is to
preserve and restore the water quality in the river while allowing
continued utilization for recreation, commerce and economic
development in the region. He recommended approving a funding
request in the amount of $10,000.
Budget Director Griffin advised that no funding was approved
for the Cape Fear River Program in the FY 1995-96 Budget.
Consensus: After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board
Members present to approve a funding request in the amount of
$10,000 for the Cape Fear River Program.
Discussion of New Positions
County Manager O'Neal reported the Health Department had
requested two new positions, a Clerical Specialist I position for
the Animal Control Division and an Environmental Health Program
Specialist position for inspection of restaurants. Also, the
Sheriff's Department has requested the following positions:
Sheriff/911 - Clerical Assistant I
Sheriff/Administration - One Deputy Sheriff (Desk Position)
Sheriff/Patrol - One Sergeant and three Deputies for
patrolling high crime areas
Sheriff/Jail - Clerical Assistant from part-time to
full-time position
He reported the Deputy Sheriff desk position in the Sheriff's
Department was badly needed and he recommended approval of this
position.
A lengthy discussion was held on the need for all of the
positions requested. Emphasis was placed on the importance of
patrolling high crime areas, particularly with continued growth in
the County. Deliberation was held on using 911 Surcharge funds for
eligible cost of operation and transferring these funds to assist
with funding the positions in the Sheriff's Department.
Commissioner Caster commented on the amount of funding in the
budgets for the Health Department and Sheriff's Department asked
why these positions could not be funded from the recommended
budgets for FY 1996-97?
Budget Director Griffin reported funds could be found in the
budgets.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 13, 1996PAGE 439
Consensus: It was the consensus of the Members present to approve
the two positions for the Health Department and the six and one-
half positions for the Sheriff's Department with the cost of the
positions being absorbed in the departments' FY 1996-97 Budgets.
Discussion of Hiring a Public Information Officer
Chairman O'Neal presented three options for hiring a Public
Information Officer.
Vice-Chairman Mathews commented on the importance of having a
qualified person to answer calls and refer persons to the right
offices. A lengthy discussion was held on the need to improve
responses to inquires and better inform the citizenry about County
activities.
After a lengthy discussion on the need to identify exactly
what type of position should be created and the need to install an
information line, it was concluded that $35,000 should be placed in
the budget with Staff developing a plan to have the position in
place by January 1, 1997.
Discussion of Housekeeper Positions
County Manager O'Neal reported there are four temporary
housekeeper positions that have been part-time positions for over
a year, and he recommended reclassifying these positions to full-
time positions effective July 1, 1996, in order to avoid losing
these employees. He advised that $13,852 would cover the benefits
for these positions and reported this cost would be absorbed in the
Property Management FY 1996-97 Budget.
Discussion was held on held on contracting out this service.
County Manager O'Neal reported after reviewing the situation, it
was found that in-house services were more cost effective because
of the difficulty in obtaining bids for housekeeping services. He
reported the City of Wilmington and Schools were in the process of
discontinuing contracted services and providing this service in-
house.
After further discussion, there was no consensus.
Discussion of Funding for Schools
Commissioner Sisson stressed the importance of providing more
funding for the Schools and stated he had no problem with raising
taxes to cover the school bond debt because the voters supported
the 1993 bond referendum to build and renovate schools.
Commissioner Caster advised that he supported the Library but
felt that the $300,000 budgeted for purchase of land in the Castle
Hayne area for construction if a branch library should be
appropriated to the schools. He suggested increasing the tax rate
by one-half cent for a total increase of one and one-half cents for
FY 1996-97 with the additional proceeds being allocated to the
schools.
Commissioner Sisson recommended increasing the tax rate by an
additional two cents to support increasing the local teachers'
supplements, repair leaking roofs, and other maintenance projects
as well as develop a plan to have school buildings environmentally
tested to be sure the buildings are not creating health problems
for the children.
A lengthy discussion was held on transferring the general fund
dollars not required to fund the 911 Center to the schools.
After further discussion, it was generally agreed to consider
increasing the funding appropriation for the schools by increasing
the tax rate by an additional one-half cent with the proceeds going
to the schools; transfer the $300,000 budgeted to the Library for
land acquisition in the Castle Hayne area to the schools; and
transfer funds replaced by budgeting the 911-Surcharge to the
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 25
BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 13, 1996PAGE 440
schools.
In summary, the following funding recommendations will be
presented to the Board on June 17, 1996:
Outside Agencies:
Recommended
Funding
Lower Cape Fear Hospice $10,000
Katie B. Hines -0-
Community Penalties Program $13,500
Big Buddy Program (add'l funding over budget request) $ 5,000
Commission for Women $ 100
Cure Aids of Wilmington $ -0-
Bellamy Mansion $ 5,000
Cape Fear River Program $ 10,000
Total Additional Funding 43,600
Less $1,290 to Public Radio 1,290
Total $ 42,310
Discussion was held new positions requested with the following
recommendations:
(1)Approve the Environmental Health Program Specialist position
and Clerical Specialist I position with funds being absorbed
from the recommended FY 1996-97.
(2)Approve the positions requested by the Sheriff with funding
from the recommended FY 1996-97 Budget.
(3)Public Information Officer: Budget $35,000 for six months and
authorize Staff to develop an outline for a Public Information
Officer and Information Line by January 1, 1997.
(4)Schools: No definite consensus was reached; however, the
County Manager will prepare options to reflect not increasing
the tax but using the 911 Surcharge and $300,000 budgeted for
the Castle Hayne Branch Library or increasing the tax rate by
one-half cent or one cent. These options will be presented on
June 17, 1996.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chairman Mathews expressed appreciation to the Budget
Director and Staff for an excellent job in preparing the FY 1996-97
Budget.
He adjourned the Work Session at 12:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board