BOC Minutes June 6 2018approve
June 6, 2018
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 6, 2018
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Tracey L. Kendrick Heidi York, County Manager
Gordon Powell
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in a
special called session on Monday, June 6, 2018 at 9:30am in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building for the purpose of a work session focusing on
the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Budget.
Chairman Kendrick called the meeting to order.
County Manager, Heidi York welcomed the group to the first budget work session.
In an effort to set an agenda, Ms. York offered the following as a starting pointing for
discussions:
Assistant Finance & Budget Manager, Laura Jensen would provide clarification on
a couple of adjustments to the proposed budget,
Two new requests to the Board:
o 1) City of Roxboro request to fund $4,750 toward the Fireworks, and
o 2) Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce request to fund $2,500 toward the
Personality Festival, and
Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) funding
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET:
Assistant Finance & Budget Manager, Laura Jensen updated the Board on the
following adjustments that do not impact the overall total in the Manager’s proposed
budget:
1) 911 Telephone System Fund: The 911 Telephone System Board requested the
County use $68,143 in available 911 Telephone System Fund Balance which
would reduce the state allocation by the same amount.
2) Fund 250: The Fire Tax District Fund – the $100,000 state grant being
appropriated into Fund 250 caused administrative burdens for the VFDs so staff
has pledged that $100,000 against the County’s purchase of VIPER radios for
the VFDs.
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VOLUNTTER FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDING:
County Manager, Heidi York stated in the Manager’s Proposed Budget the
following are included:
Sets fire tax at .0182 = $669,000
Sets property tax at .6818
Includes a General Fund appropriation of $330K
Ms. York outlined the Board’s Property/Fire Tax Rate Policy as dedicated funding
source (fire tax only) vs. mixed revenues (currently proposed using a combination of both
a fire tax and an appropriation from the General Fund).
Ms. York highlighted her proposed budget was tax payer neutral (.6818) to offset
the fire tax at .0182 (only the City of Roxboro residents will see a decrease). The total loss
of revenue in the proposed budget was $812K vs. an efficient use of revenues (maintains
the current property tax rate .70, and provides consistency). Ms. York stated should the
Board make an adjustment from her proposed budget to stay at .70 tax rate, the budget
would have a surplus.
Commissioner Jeffers spoke in favor of fully funding the fire tax at .0272 for the
$1M appropriation and to maintain the property tax rate at .70. Amy Wehrenberg, Finance
Director estimated a surplus on the proposed budget at $1M or so.
Commissioner Puryear stated support for the proposed budget as presented.
Chairman Kendrick advocated for leaving the property tax rate at .70 and not lose
the tax revenue from the City of Roxboro residents for a decrease in the rate as well as any
future growth revenues. He noted support to the VFDs and suggested he could agree with
a one cent or so fire tax.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers to set a fire tax at .0272 and keep the
property tax rate at .70 with direction to staff to bring back a budget ordinance reflecting
those changes.
A substitute motion was made by Chairman Kendrick to defer action on this item
until the next meeting.
Commissioner Jeffers and Chairman Kendrick agreed to withdraw their motions
respectively to allow further discussion and deliberations.
Chairman Kendrick reiterated his support for the property tax rate to remain at .70
with a fire tax being set at .01 to allow an opportunity of economic growth to make up the
difference.
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Tax Administrator, Russell Jones offered another option to the Board for
consideration: set the fire tax at .0272 to fully fund the fire tax for the $1M appropriation
to VFDs and reduce the property tax from .70 to .69 for a combined rate of .7172.
Vice Chairman Powell stated the expectation for the VFDs to achieve a lower ISO
rating for homeowners within the fire district although, it may take some time to do so.
Commissioner Puryear asked for a printout or slide with the numbers discussed in
the options for the Board to consider at the next budget work session.
Chairman Clayton stated opposition to reducing the property tax rate.
A motion was made by Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to keep the property
tax rate at .70 and set a fire tax rate at .01.
Ms. Tate presented to the Board an estimated surplus to the budget based on the
above motion was $411,000.
CITY OF ROXBORO REQUEST TO FUND $4,750 TOWARD THE FIREWORKS:
Commissioner Puryear advocated for the City of Roxboro’s request to assist in the
funding for the biggest event in Person County.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to appropriate
$4,750 to the City of Roxboro for the Independence Day Fireworks. This appropriation
would be funded from the budget surplus noted above.
ROXBORO AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REQUEST TO FUND $2,500
TOWARD THE PERSONALITY FESTIVAL:
Chairman Kendrick presented a request by the Chamber of Commerce for the
County to assist in funding $2,500 in support of the Personality Festival.
Commissioner Puryear requested the Board to recuse him from discussion and
action on this item due to his wife being employed by the Chamber.
A motion was made by Chairman Kendrick and carried 4-0 to recuse
Commissioner Puryear from the request by the Chamber of Commerce.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 4-0 to appropriate
$2,500 to the Roxboro Chamber of Commerce toward the Personality Festival. This
appropriation would be funded from the budget surplus noted above.
Staff noted the balance in the surplus based on all actions above was estimated at
$403,750 or so.
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Vice Chairman Powell asked about economic catalyst funding. Ms. Jensen stated
the Economic Catalyst Fund Balance total was at $1.88M at last audit and $634,000 was
budgeted to be paid out of this fund for economic incentives during the upcoming fiscal
year. Chairman Kendrick suggested Vice Chairman Powell to take this information back
to the economic board with any future needs to be brought to the Board for funding from
Contingency or the General Fund.
Vice Chairman Powell stated a decision was forthcoming related to filling the
economic development director position using the services of a consultant. He stated his
preference to use the surplus budget to pay the associated fees versus the budget
appropriation in the Economic Catalyst Fund. Ms. York said she would be bringing a
proposal at the Board’s next meeting for consideration to hire a consultant as the recruiter
for that position.
A motion was made by Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 for staff to prepare a
Budget Ordinance based on the actions above with the remaining surplus funds of the
Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Budget placed into the Contingency Fund.
Commissioner Clayton asked about the Board’s second budget work session. Clerk
to the Board, Brenda Reaves stated the second budget work session (June 13, 2018) was
not officially noticed, and was set only if needed by the Board. The Board, by consensus,
agreed the second budget work session was not needed, and therefore no budget work
session would be held on June 13, 2018. The next Board meeting would be its regularly
scheduled meeting on June 18, 2018 at 9:00am.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 10:29am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Tracey L. Kendrick
Clerk to the Board Chairman