June 2
June 2, 2009
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 2, 2009
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Johnny Myrl Lunsford Heidi York, County Manager
Jimmy B. Clayton
Kyle W. Puryear Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
B. Ray Jeffers
Samuel R. Kennington
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in recessed
session on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ meeting room in the Person
County Office Building for the purpose of a budget work session.
Chairman Lunsford called the meeting to order. Commissioner Lunsford stated in his 15
years of service, he had not experienced as few of people speaking at the public hearing as
appeared on June 1, 2009. Mr. Lunsford feels the citizens of Person County understand the
Board is doing the best as possible with the amount of funding available. Commissioner Puryear
was absent until 6:42 p.m.
County Manager, Heidi York described the spreadsheet titled Summary of Changes from
Recommended to Adopted and asked the Finance Director to provide an explanation of the
spreadsheet.
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Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg summarized to the Board the adjustments from
what was recommended in addition to desired changes the Board requested in the last
budget work session. The total recommended budget for the general fund is $56,806,017.
The last column on the handout shows an equivalent tax rate change of zero (0) since this
was a balanced budget at that point with no property tax increase. Ms. Wehrenberg
started with the changes and adjustments in the revenue column for the general fund. The
first one is a negative adjustment to the earlier recommended sales tax projections by
($137,901). As part of the State’s agreement to take Medicaid payments from counties,
the calculation of who gets Article 44 taxes was adjusted. The first month’s adjustment
was done incorrectly and most counties will be docked due to an over-distribution of
sales tax. Person County is one of the counties that received too much money in the fall
of 2008, therefore a negative monthly adjustment to our sales tax will be recorded until
November 2009. The Finance Office received news from the North Carolina Association
of County Commissioners that revised models now predict a decline of 4% for 2009-10,
on top of a revised 6.5% decline in 2008-09 collections. Ms. Wehrenberg stated the
state's budget will be predicated on sales tax collections roughly 10% below what was
collected in 2007-08, and based on future growth projections, it will take sales tax
collections 5 years to return to 2007-08 levels. Based on these new projections, the
Finance Director and County Manager felt there was no other recourse but to adjust the
sales tax down to be more in line with the new forecast.
Ms. Wehrenberg noted the next item on the handout is a newly created line item
for receiving reimbursed funds from the City of Roxboro for taking over part of their
inspections services. However, this is showing a reduction from the recommended
because it was originally based on a mid-range salary addition. The City of Roxboro’s
actual commitment for this came in lower; therefore the original recommendation was
reduced. Recycling Fees was moved from the General Fund to Person Industries for the
Material Recovery Facility. Planning and zoning fees have been increased due to recent
Board action. Ms. Wehrenberg stated a large revenue change this year was the reduction
in the NC One Grant for Force Protection for $500,000 noting it was originally thought
that Force Protection would meet the requirements for receiving this grant, however, this
will not be the case. The Veterans Grant was restored for $2,000 due to putting the
Veterans position back in. There was a reduction in the 4-H YES Grant from the State
for $5,296. Federal stimulus funds for DSS’s Food and Shelter program has been
budgeted which is 100% federally funded. Ms. Wehrenberg explained that due to all of
these revenue adjustments, she decreased the Transfers from the General Fund and
increased the transfer to the Debt Service Fund from the School Capital Reserve Fund.
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Ms. Wehrenberg proceeded to summarize the expenditures category. Contracted
services in the Governing Body’s budget have been increased to include the landfill
survey in the amount of $30,000, and the operating expenses in the Governing Body’s
budget was decreased for a total of $10,038. This included the elimination of the retreat
facilitator, other expenses associated with the retreat, expenses for the purchase of coffee,
chamber banquet, half of the dues, and half of the travel reimbursements that agreed at
the earlier budget work session. There was a reduction in the 4-H YES Program’s
expenditures as well to correspond with the reduction in the grant. The Finance Office
decreased one of the vehicles for the Sheriff’s department since it was decided recently to
use leftover funds from a project fund to purchase one now. Telecommunications
decreased the appropriation for uniforms. 5% of the 10% cut to the volunteer Fire
Departments and the City of Roxboro was restored as decided in the last budget work
session. Person Area Transportation Services decreased administration part-time salaries
and fringes. The Economic Development position was restored at 60 % with operating
expenses for $27,804 equating to 22.5 hours per week with benefits. Ms. Wehrenberg
explained the industrial recruitment decrease of $602,589 is associated with Force
Protection only corresponding with the absence of the $500,000 grant and the amount
spent out this year. The County Manager has proposed a further reduction in the
Hospital Appropriation by another $25,000 to balance the budget due to the recent
adjustment in sales tax. The veteran’s position was restored to 60% plus operating
expenses which equates to 22.50 hours per week with benefits. The budget for contracted
services was reduced for the Recreation Arts and Parks Department by $1,000. Ms.
Wehrenberg stated the Finance Office decreased the amount that transfer to other funds
from the general fund by $66,092. Due to the cost savings from a new quote from our
property and liability insurance vendor, Finance restored $45,000 to the recommended
estimate. The new position in DSS created by the stimulus funds revenue noting the
county is not putting any money into this position. The longevity pay for employees was
restored and to balance, the county’s 401k contribution was cut from 5% to 2.5%. Ms.
Wehrenberg stated the reductions totaled $663,883 from the manager’s recommended
budget, noting all revenues and expenditures balance without a tax increase.
Ms. Wehrenberg explained the School Capital Reserve Fund on the revenue side
an increase transferred from the General Fund into the School Capital Reserve fund. This
reflects the amount of change in the sales tax dedicated to school due to adjustments in
the sales tax. To balance this, on the expenditures side an increase was transferred to the
Debt Service Fund.
Ms. Wehrenberg noted in the Person Industries Fund, the revenues side are
increased transfers in Person Industries from the General Fund and decreased transfer in
PI/MRF from the General fund, and recycling fees have been moved from landfill
management in the General Fund to PI/MRF. On the expenditures side, a decrease in the
Person Industries/ MRF white goods account.
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As Ms. Wehrenberg stated the longevity had been restored to all employees while
decreasing the county 401k contribution from 5% to 2.5% which left a difference from
the managers recommended budget of 13,302, which balances on both the revenues and
expenditures side.
Lastly, the Finance Director examined the Reappraisal fund, highlighting the
revenue side by a decreased transfer into the re-appraisal from the general fund. On the
expenditure side, Finance simply restored the longevity and cut the 401k from 5% to
2.5% as we did with the other funds that have employees. There were no changes in the
E911 or Water and Sewer Fund.
Ms. Wehrenberg stated all the adjusted changes equals a final balanced budget in
the amount of $60,743,192 with total reductions from the recommended budget in the
amount of $599,294.
The group discussed options about the hospital appropriation, the EDC position,
the Veterans position as well as the impact of the State of NC budget shortfalls.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers to
adopt the Person County 2009-2010 Budget as presented with the adjustments.
A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Kennington to delay adoption of the Person County 2009-2010 Budget until the next scheduled
work session on June 8, 2009. The substitute motion was defeated 2/3. Commissioners
Puryear and Kennington voted in favor and Commissioners Lunsford, Clayton and Jeffers voted
against.
Commissioner Lunsford directed the Board back to the original motion. As discussion
continued related to Commissioner Kennington’s suggestions of potential items to add back in the
budget, Commissioner Lunsford asked for a motion to suspend rules to allow discussion.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers, and
carried to suspend rules to allow further discussion.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers, and
carried to withdraw the original motion.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Puryear, and
carried to table adoption of the 2009-2010 Budget until Monday, June 8, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner Kennington,
and carried at 7:31 p.m. to recess the meeting until June 8, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Johnny Myrl Lunsford
Clerk to the Board Chairman