06-10-2024 Meeting Minutes BOCJune 10, 2024
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS June 10, 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 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.
Chairman Powell called the recessed meeting to order.
County Manager Katherine Cathey advised that we are back in session today to
discuss adjustments to the Manager’s recommended budget. She stated that the direction
that was provided by the Board at the last budget work session was to go back and look at
ways to remove the three-cent tax increase and to report back to the Board with suggestions
on how that may be done, and fund the recommended budget.
She provided the Board with the following spreadsheet:
June 10, 2024
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Cathey explained the spreadsheet and advised that the three-cent tax increase has
been removed, which indicates a decrease in revenues of $1.52M. She stated that after
adjusting the property tax collection rate from 97.5% to 98%, that added in $187,729 in
revenues. She stated that the three-cent DMV tax revenue projections were removed, which
was a decrease of $103,449. She stated that included on the spreadsheet is a transfer from
the Capital Investment Fund (CIF) for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project for the
Person County Office Building (PCOB) HVAC system of $1M back to the General Fund.
She stated that this is a fund balance allocation, as in this year’s budget, the County
advanced $1M through a Budget Amendment that was done within the past couple of
months. She stated that this was done so the County can go forward with the purchase of
the equipment needed for this CIP project in the new fiscal year. She stated that the $1M is
in the budget for next year, and the intent was for it to go back in to the fund balance to
repay what was advanced this fiscal year. She stated that is available to reallocate. She stated
that the $455,740 is a transfer from the Airport Project Construction Fund. She stated that
this funding is a receipt from grant funding, and can cover some of those expenses incurred
from the new Corporate Hangar at the Airport, as funds were advanced from the General
Fund to pay for this project. She stated that $20K was added to the General Fund to fully
fund the special appropriation for the Museum. She stated that this is County staff’s
suggested actions to take for balancing the General Fund Budget. She stated that under
Other Funds, the Fire tax collection rate was increased from 97.5% to 98%, which results
in an additional $11,125 in revenues. She stated that there is an increase to the unallocated
line item within the fire tax district fund by the same amount. She stated that in order to
fully fund PCBIC’s request for their special appropriation for FY25, the fund balance
appropriation has been increased within the Economic Catalyst Fund by $42,800. She stated
that the other adjustment, reduction in the E-911 Telephone Fund, would be $12,394 less
than anticipated, as the County received notice from the E-911 Board at the State level. She
stated that the County has plenty of funding in the 911 Telephone Fund Balance to make up
that difference.
Commissioner Puryear stated that he had concerns in reference to EMS and the
Stryker equipment lease. He asked if Stryker was the only one to respond to the RFP. Cathey
advised no RFP was done, as the County already has Stryker equipment, which is the
majority of the equipment used. She stated that the lease is a way to transition the current
equipment into the updated method of funding it. She stated that in the past, the County has
used Operating Funds and Debt Financing when needed to purchase new equipment for
EMS. Chairman Powell asked about the cost of implementing the lease with Stryker. Cathey
replied the amount is $366K, which is a locked in amount, and recurring for ten years.
Powell inquired about ARP money, and if the equipment could be purchased using that
money. Cathey stated that the ARP money could be utilized and allocated at the Board’s
discretion. Vice Chairman Sims requested to see a copy of the Stryker Equipment Lease.
Cathey sated that when the Stryker lease is removed, staff will need to reduce either the
transfer from the CIF, or the transfer from the Airport Project Construction Fund. She stated
that her suggestion is to reduce the transfer from the Airport Project Construction Fund.
June 10, 2024
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A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 for staff to prepare
a Budget Ordinance, reflecting the changes, minus the EMS Contract with Stryker, to be
decided by the Board of Commissioners at a later date, and to reduce the transfer from the
Airport Project Construction Fund.
Cathey stated that a Budget Ordinance will be prepared by staff for approval by the
Board on the June 17, 2024 scheduled meeting. She stated that staff will prepare a
presentation for the Board on the Stryker lease, to be presented to the Board at the June 17,
2024 or July 15, 2024 meeting.
ADJOURN:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting
at 9;19 a.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Michele Solomon Gordon Powell
Clerk to the Board Chairman