1988-03-19 Budget Work Session
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MINUTES OF BUDGET WORK SESSION, MARCH 19, 1988
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a
Budget Work Session on March 19, 1988, at 9:00 o'clock A.M.
in the NCO Club at the Fort Fisher Air Force Base.
Members present were: Commissioners Jonathan Barfield,
Sr.; W. Albert Corbett, Jr.; Fred Retchin; Vice-Chairman,
Nolan O'Neal; County Manager, G. Felix Cooper; County
Attorney, Robert W. pope; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. I
Harrell.
Chairman Dolan was absent.
Vice-Chairman O'Neal called the meeting to order
welcoming all present.
DISCUSSION OF 1988/89 BUDGET ?ROCESS
County Manager Couper expressed appreciation to the
commissioners for the opportunity to discuss the 1988/89
budget process. He stated all budget requests have been
received from County departments and calculated into the
documents presented with the exception of the Sheriff's
request for additional positions and the school budget. He
stated based on the current tax rate of $0.71 plus
anticipated growth and the cost of debt service for the
museum bonds, which would require a one cent tax increase,
the proposed budget was computed on a $0.72 tax rate.
County Manager Cooper requested direction from the Board as
to weather to continue processing the budget at the $0.72
tax rate or at the current rate of $0.71.
Discussion was held on the Museum bond issue with the
Director of Finance presenting and discussing the following
estimated revenues and expenditures for the coming year:
1. ESTIMATED NEW REVENUE OVER THE CURRENT
YEAR BASED ON $0.72
I
$2,657,714
2. MAJOR NEW EXPENDITURES WITH PRIORITIES
TO BE ESTABLISHED
a. 5% cost-of-living
County employees.
increase
for
$ 905,000
b. Termination of SAFE Program which
will require funding for seven (7)
positions in the Sheriff's Department,
plus supplies, and operations of the
SAFE unit's vehicle.
f.
Retirement supplement of
401(k) Plan for employees
years or more service.
3% to the
with 10
140,226
90,322
85,621
194,997
81,813 I
c. Receiving Home for abused, neglected
or dependent children.
d. Branch Library at Monkey Junction.
e. NRCD Repayment of AmHoist Grant.
e. Solid Waste Management Plan funding
a Recycling Coordinator and
Collections Coordinator plus $20,000
in 'equipment.
96,331
Discussion was held on budget priorities, establishing
the tax rate for current year, and definition of the "Fund
Balance". County Manager Cooper presented a list of major
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MINUTES OF BUDGET WORK SESSION, MARCH 19, 1988 (CONTINUED)
~85
County Departments with increased budget requests.
Commissioner Retchin commented on the budget request
submitted by the Department of Social Services stating the
Board of Social Services had directed staff to go back
through the budget to reduce costs stating funds requested
for the Receiving Home had already been reduced from $90,322
to $79,000.
I
Discussion was held on the Receiving Home for abused
and neglected children being placed under the Department of
Social Services. 'Commissioner Barfield expressed concern
for placing this home under an institutional type of
environment stating clients react better under other
environmental conditions.
Discussion was held on the increasing number of
posi tions required by the Department of Social Services.
Commissioner Barfield recommended hiring an outside
consultant firm to perform a study of positions and overall
operations. After further discussion, it was the consensus
of the Board to request the County Manager to prepare a
request for proposals to be issued to qualified firms to
conduct a comprehensive study of the operations and
personnel of the Department of Social Services.
I
Discussion was held on the proposed 5% cost-of-living
increase. Commissioner Corbett expressed concern for an
across-the-board increase stating he felt this method of
raising salaries was not equitable. Finance Director
Atkinson stressed the importance of keeping the entire pay
schedule in line with other schedules outside of county
government in order to compete and keep qualified personnel.
Commissioner Barfield expressed concern for the gap between
lower level employees and supervisors. Personnel Director
Mallette stated the Personnel Department has been reviewing,
on a rotating basis, the various classifications of
positions upgrading the service, technical, and clerical
classifications. He also commented on the fact that the
County's pay schedule is 10-15% below entry level salaries
in other areas. After further discussion, . County Manager
Cooper stated he would submit an overall plan that will
address lower paid employees and entry level salaries.
After discussion of holding the line and maintaining
the same tax rate as last year with exception of the one
cent increase for the Museum expansion, Commissioner
Corbett MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman O'Neal to request
the County Manager to prepare a budget based on a tax rate
of $0.72 per $100 of property value with the understanding
that the additional one cent increase in the tax rate will
cover the first payment on the $4.2 million bond issue for
expansion of the New Hanover County Museum. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: Commissioner Barfield
Commissioner Corbett
Commissioner Retchin
Vice-Chairman O'Neal
I
Absent: Chairman Dolan
County Manager Cooper stated he would present a budget
based on a tax rate of $0.72 reflecting his priorities with
a separate schedule showing other priorities and costs
involved.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Barfield MOVED,
Corbett to adjourn. Upon vote,
FOLLOWS:
SECONDED by
the MOTION
Commissioner
CARRIED AS
Voting Aye: Commissioner Barfield
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MINUTES OF BUDGET WORK SESSION, MARCH 19, 1988 (CONTINUED)
Commissioner Corbett
Commissioner Retchin
Vice-Chairman O'Neal
Absent:
Chairman Dolan
)0~e?~=ted'
~ F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 21, 1988
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in
Regular Session on Monday, March 21, 1988, at 9:00 o'clock
A.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County
Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington,
North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Jonathan Barfield,
Sr.; W. Albert Corbett, Jr.; Fred Retchin; Vice-Chairman,
Nolan O'Neal; Chairman, John M. Dolan; County Manager, G.
Felix Cooper; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to
the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Dolan called the meeting to order.
Reverend Shelly Fogleman
Commander John Belk lead the
Allegiance to the Flag.
gave the
audience in
invocation and
the Pledge of
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Dolan asked if anyone from the general public
would like to speak on an item not listed on the Regular
Agenda or an item listed on the Consent Agenda. The
following items were discussed.
POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM ft: 7 , CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF
ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY INDUSTRIAL
FACILITIES AND POLLUTION CONTROL FINANCING AUTHORITY TO
INTERROLL CORPORATION
Mr. Wallace Murchison, Attorney representing the New
Hanover County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control
Financing Authority, requested postponement of this item
until the first meeting in April since final approval has
not been received from the North Carolina Department of
Commerce.
Commissioner Retchin MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman
O'Neal to postpone Item #7 until April 4, 1988, as requested
by Attorney Murchison. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. William Funderburg, a resident of Castle Hayne,
expressed concern for this item being postponed on March 9,
1988, at which time it was advertised as a Public Hearing
and listed on tonight's agenda as a regular item. He
requested the item be placed on the April 4, 1988, agenda as
a Public Hearing due to the fact that the first Public
Hearing was flawed and did not give ample notice since
offices were closed during the Christmas holidays. Mr.
Funderburg stated a telegram dated March 12, 1988, was
forwarded to Mr. William Dunn, Deputy Secretary of the N. C.
Department of Commerce, requesting a second Public Hearing
and as of this date he had not received a reply. The
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