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06-05-2024 Meeting Minutes BOCJune 5, 2024 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS June 5, 2024 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Gordon Powell Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager C. Derrick Sims Michele Solomon, Clerk to the Board Kyle W. Puryear Charlie Palmer Jason Thomas The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in recessed session on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.in the Commissioners’ Boardroom 215 in the Person County Office Building located at 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC. Chairman Powell called the recessed meeting to order. PERSON COUNTY MUSEUM OF HISTORY (PCMH) FY23-24 REPORT AND FY24-25 BUDGET REQUEST Person County Museum of History Executive Director, Carrie Currie presented the following: June 5, 2024 2 June 5, 2024 3 June 5, 2024 4 June 5, 2024 5 June 5, 2024 6 June 5, 2024 7 June 5, 2024 8 June 5, 2024 9 Currie thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the FY24-25 Budget Request for the Person County Museum of History. She stated that the museum continues to look to the future, finding ways to encourage visitors and residents to engage in the history of Person County She stated that this work is vital and could not happen without the support of our local community and government. She stated that funds allocated by the County Commissioners have allowed the museum to move forward in a way that they would have been unable to do without additional financial support. She stated that the museum appreciates the partnership and the recognition of the importance of this organization for the community. General Services Director Ray Foushee spoke in reference to money allotted in the budget for County maintenance and repairs for the museum, as it is county-owned property. He stated that the museum has a constant need for repairs and upgrades. He stated that $30K is included in the current budget for maintenance and repairs. County Manager Katherine Cathey went over previous years’ budget requests from the museum. She stated that for FY24-25, the recommended budget amount is $20K for the special appropriation, which is in addition to the $30K allocated for maintenance and repairs. June 5, 2024 10 PERSON COUNTY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL CENTER (PCBIC) FY24-25 BUDGET REQUEST PCBIC President Phillip Allen provided background information on the PCBIC and its history. He stated that PCBIC looks forward to the continued partnership with Person County and to promoting and increasing economic development. He thanked the Board for the opportunity to provide more detailed information relative to the FY24-25 budget request. He turned the presentation over to PCBIC Vice President Scott McKinney. McKinney stated that this is the first time that PCBIC has really engaged in this process with the County, in terms of coming up with a formal budget request. He stated that for many years, PCBIC had been utilizing a pool of funds that had been donated and granted to them for supporting economic development. He stated that the proposed budget includes an increase in PCBIC’s business park maintenance fees and that PCBIC wants to be self- sustaining; therefore, they are increasing those fees to the tenants of the park. He stated that the request submitted to the County Manager represents the bare minimum necessary to keep this nonprofit organization functioning with the exception of one line item. He stated that the line item titled as legal includes a place holder in the amount of $50K, which is for anticipated expenses to be incurred for the County’s benefit as existing economic development projects mature and entirely new projects spring to life, rather than known expenses. Commissioner Puryear expressed thanks to Allen and McKinney and the entire PCBIC Board for their tireless commitment to our community and the future economic growth of Person County. Chairman Powell expressed thanks to Allen and McKinney for their presentation and stated the need for PCBIC and EDC to be separated. Vice Chairman Sims expressed thanks to the PCBIC and for what they do for Person County. He stated the need for self-sufficiency. McKinney stated that the members of PCBIC are working towards becoming self-sufficient and have made mention of future fundraising ideas to accomplish self-sufficiency. County Manager Cathey advised the Board that for the FY24-25, $20K has been allocated for PCBIC and funded through the Economic Catalyst fund. Commissioner Puryear stated that he is fully supportive of the amount that PCBIC requested in the amount of $62,800. Chairman Powell stated that he is not supportive of the full amount requested by PCBIC; he would support $25K less than the requested amount, which is $37,800. A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear to fully fund the PCBIC with the additional $42,800, for a total of $62,800 for FY24-25. A substitute motion was made by Chairman Powell to fund $25K less than the $42,800, which is $17,800, for a total of $37,800 for FY24-25 to be allocated to PCBIC. The substitute motion failed to carry 1-4, with Chairman Powell recorded as in favor of the motion. Commissioner Puryear’s motion was not needed due to the outcome of the substitute motion. June 5, 2024 11 ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET Commissioner Puryear stated that in the past there has been some unanticipated revenues that show up right at budget session and asked finance if there were any unanticipated revenues. Finance Director Amy Wehrenberg stated that she is not aware of any at this time. Puryear stated that he is not in favor of a three-cent property tax increase. He stated that he does support the two requests that were presented today. He stated he hopes by the end of this budget work session, that the Board will figure out a solution to reduce the proposed tax increase and fund these projects. He asked Tax Administrator Russell Jones to speak in reference to the collection rate and property taxes. Jones stated that the collection rate as of today, was at 97.13%. He stated that the County’s best collection rate ever was in 1997 at 99.5%, and again in 2021 it was at 98.63%. He stated that with GKN leaving, he estimates that $35-$38M in equipment being gone for next year’s budget, which would equate to a loss in tax revenue of roughly $300K. He stated the building will still be there. Commissioner Puryear asked finance if he could get a dollar amount from the fund balance over the 30% threshold. Wehrenberg stated that the total fund balance as of this date is $34,431,093.32, and FY23 was $45,319,725.36. Cathey stated that Wehrenberg had projected the year-end balance at the time of the budget retreat, and there was a rough projection of ending the year at the 30% mark, but now some things have changed since that time, and we cannot be certain that it is going to be above 25%. She stated that the budget was constructed with an approach for the County to be able to maintain the 25% fund balance going into next year. Vice Chairman Sims had questions related to the Detention Center line item Jail Provisions and EMS line item Contract Services. Cathey stated that the request for the Detention Center is for a one-time expenditure for mattresses and storage boxes, not recurring every year, and to be replaced as needed, and this year is the needed replacement. Director of Emergency Services Thomas Schwalenberg explained that the contract for EMS would be a 10-year contract and the equipment would be leased. He stated that the equipment will aid in patient transport. Commissioner Puryear suggested that based on Jones estimating at least a minimum of 30% of real property increase, that he is proposing that the County take the three-cent tax rate increase of $1,657,950.00 from the general fund along with the $20K for the Museum, and the Board could discuss how they want to allocate the money for PCBIC from the Economic Catalyst fund. Wehrenberg stated that she would look over the budget and see if there is anything that she can bring forward to help fill the gap rather than appropriate fund balance. June 5, 2024 12 RECESS: A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to recess the meeting at 11:25 a.m. until Monday, June 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Boardroom 215 in the Person County Office Building located at 304 S Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC. _____________________________ ______________________________ Michele Solomon Gordon Powell Clerk to the Board Chairman