The $79 million total budget, which includes a $69.6 million General Fund, represents an overall 1.5 percent increase over the 2003-04 budget.
“The tax rate is maintained,” County Manager Steve Wyatt said. “Local government priorities are maintained.”
In retaining the existing property tax rate of 47.5 cents per $100 valuation, the new budget reflects goals established by the commissioners in planning sessions held in November and again in the spring. The budget also retains the 4-cent tax rate for emergency medical services.
However, the budget falls far below the requests of the Board of Education, which had submitted a budget proposal seeking a 10.5 percent increase in school funding. The budget increase for the schools is 2 percent.
Wyatt reported earlier that the budget contains $22.4 million for both the public schools and Sandhills Community College. That’s an increase of $438,902 for both the schools and the college.
Prior to adopting the budget, Commissioner Bob Ewing made a motion to amend the budget to appropriate an additional $179,000 for the college. The addition would come from the fund balance and would not change the overall total or the tax rate. His motion died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Virginia Saunders made the motion to approve the original budget recommendation, and Commissioner David Cummings made the second. There was no other discussion.
The new budget goes into effect July 1.
It was the first budget prepared and submitted in its entirety by Wyatt, who assumed his duties with the county in May 2003. In addition to the planning sessions, the commissioners conducted one half-day work session on the budget in May.
Social Services Honored
In other business, the commissioners paid tribute to the Department of Social Services for a series of commendations for achievements in the food stamp, Work First and adoption programs.
Janet Parris, supervisor and administration assistant, made the report on behalf of Social Services Director Beth Duncan.
Parris reported that the state Division of Social Services has commended the Moore County staff for 100 percent accuracy in monitoring all records. She said the final Quality Control Food Stamp Audit shows 100 percent accuracy with all areas in compliance.
In addition, Parris said the state has notified the county that it will receive $15,487 from the 2003-04 Federal Adoption Incentive Fund. The county agency can now use that money to continue promotion of its successful adoption program.
Parris was accompanied by a number of social workers and supervisors responsible for the commended programs. They were introduced and greeted with a round of applause from the commissioners.
”I’ve really been enlightened by the work they do,” said Cummings, who serves on the Board of Social Services. “Their work is hard, and they do a lot of work we don’t see.”
Carthage Bypass
The board also complied with a request from the N.C. Department of Transportation to endorse a functional classification system change in connection with the proposed Carthage bypass of N.C. 24-27.
Planning Director Richard B. Smith displayed a map of the proposed bypass route and said the change would affect classification of portions of the route, used by NCDOT to assist the state agency in planning and design. The change does not affect the route or the schedule for the bypass, which does not yet have state funding.
Smith reported that the Carthage Town Board approved the request at a May meeting.
Airport Fuel Farm
At the recommendation of interim Finance Officer Michael S. Talbert, the board approved appropriation of $57,322.90 from the General Fund balance to pay off the outstanding balance on the fuel farm loan at the Moore County Airport.
Talbert said the interest rate on the loan, executed in 1994 when rates were higher, is “very high by today’s standard.” He recommended that the county pay off the loan by July 1 and not enter into further refinancing.
The 2004-05 airport budget covers $34,000 in principal and interest toward that loan, leaving the $57.322.90 to come from the fund balance, thus relieving the county of this debt in the future.
Talbert is serving as finance officer on a temporary basis, until County Manager Steve Wyatt hires a successor to Central Services Director John G. Frye, who has resigned.
When Ewing asked a question about airport operations, Talbert admitted he was unfamiliar with that aspect of county operations.
Board Chairman Michael Holden explained that Talbert is new to county finances and is not associated with airport operations. But Holden said the mistake was understandable.
“He’s qualified to run the airport because he’s named Michael,” Holden said. “Every airport director we’ve had has been named Michael.”
His reference was to Michael Nash, the first director after the airport authority was formed, his successor, Michael Bamford, and to the latest director, Michael Shouse, who recently resigned. On an interim basis, Nash is again filling in at the airport.
At the end of the regular agenda, the board voted to go into closed session to discuss issues relating to personnel matters and attorney/client privilege. When they returned to open session, the commissioners announced that they had nothing to report in public. The minutes of the closed session were sealed.
