MINUTES

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA                                          BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COUNTY OF HENDERSON                                                                                 JUNE 13, 2002

 

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners= Conference Room of the Henderson County Office Building at 100 North King Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina.

 

Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Vice-Chair Marilyn Gordon, Commissioner Grady Hawkins, Commissioner Don Ward, Commissioner Charlie Messer, County Manager David E. Nicholson, Finance Director J. Carey McLelland, Assistant to the County Manager Selena Coffey, Deputy Clerk to the Board Amy R. Brantley, and Public Information Officer Chris Coulson.

 

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME

Chairman Moyer called the meeting to order. He spoke briefly regarding a State proposal that would result in the closure of the Correctional Facility located in Henderson County, and the impact to the community. He then welcomed the members of the Board of Public Education to today=s budget workshop.

 

FY 2002-2003 BUDGET WORKSHOP

SCHOOLS

Ervin Bazzle presented the School budget to the Board of Commissioners. He began by breaking  down the three areas of uncontrollable expenditures:

1.         Decrease in County Appropriation

2.         Unbudgeted salary cost as a result of $625 non-certified salary increases

3.         2 year Career/College Advisement Centers not funded by the County

 

Mr. Bazzle reviewed their new position requests, which included one Special Needs Teacher, five Regular Classroom Teachers, and a Custodial position. Their program requests included a $200 per high school teacher instructional supply allotment. The expenses totaled $481,247 for uncontrollables, $31,635 for program requests, $338,954 for classroom reduction, and $315,534 for new positions.

 

There was discussion regarding the use of regular buses versus the need for activity buses. There had been an original request for two buses, which was reduced to one based on the County Manager=s budget.

 

Dr. Burnham reviewed the proposed State allotments, which were based on a targeted enrollment of 12,170 students for the 2002-2003 school year. He reviewed a number of budget scenarios based on this expected enrollment which affected the number of teachers, and the custodial and support staff. He then discussed the proposed Senate budget, and what types of cuts would come from this budget. The Senate scenario is the best one Dr. Burnham has seen, and it would result in a $1.3 million dollar loss.

 

Mr. Bazzle stated that the Board had requested they look into possible surplus property. Two properties have been identified as possible surplus property. First is property in Tuxedo which is approximately 24 months from being available for surplus, and the second is the fairground property. 


 

Dr. Burnham spoke briefly about the Science and Math initiatives. He spoke to new equipment that has been added to classrooms, such as microscopes and data gathering probes.

 

Commissioner Ward questioned a budget amount of $1.2 million for projected capital reserves. Mr. McLelland explained that money is cash available in the school capital projects fund, money that is sitting in the school capital reserve now, and the $1 million we will receive from the school system, less projected expenditures for the school projects including outstanding contracts. At the end of these projects there will be $1.2 million remaining that could be rolled into the next set of projects. There was much discussion concerning the use of this money.   

 

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Dr. Ed Bell stated that he had reviewed the Governor=s budget which called for a 12% reduction in their funding. It was his opinion that BRCC could withstand an 8% reduction without having to reduce staff or limit enrollment. The Blue Ridge Community College budget request has been fairly flat for the past several years. He answered a question from the Board concerning the breakdown in funding for the different types of classes. He stated that BRCC is paid less for continuing education classes, more for curriculum classes, and nothing for summer school.

 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Tom Bridges from the Health Department reviewed their budget request. He reviewed with the Board four key areas that the Health Directors Association has identified as areas of concern. He felt that the Senate version of the budget looked better for their department than the Governor=s budget. He also stated that he was in favor of the County Manager=s proposed budget given the current budget crisis. Mr. Bridges answered several questions from the Board concerning specific line items within the budget.

 

Chairman Moyer questioned how a 3% across the board cut would affect the Health Department. Mr. Bridges outlined several areas of possible cost savings that have been identified for the Health Department, Environmental Health and Animal Control including but not limited to professional services, vehicle maintenance, travel and staff development, medical supplies, and departmental supplies. He reviewed the 3% cut to environmental health, resolved mainly by an increase in fees to the users of those services.

 

Chairman Moyer made the motion to cancel the budget meeting scheduled for the Fire Departments. Following much discussion, Chairman Moyer called the question on the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Commissioner Hawkins made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

 

Attest:

 

______________________________________        ______ ____________________________

Amy R. Brantley, Deputy Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer, Chairman