In a last-minute change, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to add two new workers to deal with Medicaid programs.
The board had voted down the addition of the employees 3-2 during a testy session last week. This time, approval was unanimous.
The cost to the county will be about $40,000.
Rowan County’s budget and tax rate for the coming year are now official.
Most county residents won’t see a tax increase. It will remain at 63.5 cents per $100 valuation.
On a $150,000 home, the tax bill will be $952.50.
But a few hundred residents in two fire tax districts will be paying more.
Commissioners approved an increase of two cents for the South Salisbury district and one cent for the Mount Mitchell district, which straddles the Rowan-Cabarrus county line.
Vice Chairman Gus Andrews voted against the tax hike for the fire districts. Andrews said he wasn’t against the fire departments, but was sticking to the commitment for no tax increase.
Andrews appeared surprised to get the information about the fire department tax levies. “Has this been in house for a long time? It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”
“In the future, no tax increase means no tax increase. No sneaking in the back door tax increase,” said Andrews.
Commissioner Arnold Chamberlain said he and County Manager Tim Russell met with the South Salisbury department, and they made a good case for a hike.
Chamberlain suggested that in the future, all fire departments should be required to justify their requests to the county. He also mentioned several times that there is a lot of firefighting equipment already in the county.
Most of the budget discussion involved a debate over whether to adopt a final budget or an interim budget. Some feared that the General Assembly might still dip into monies that traditionally come to county, forcing the county into an emergency situation.
Russell recommended adopting the final budget. He repeated that recommendation three times when asked by Chamberlain again and again.
He noted that 60 counties have adopted budgets already.
Chairman Steve Blount lobbied for an interim budget and drew support from Commissioner Leda Belk.
Blount, who is a director of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, said that most of those 60 counties have included large tax hikes.
Blount indicated he wanted to leave the door open for a tax hike, if necessary.
Russell said that if the Legislature has a last-minute change of heart and takes a bite out of county revenue, the county will have to cut 40 or more employees, cut back virtually all departments and still take money out of the fund balance.
But Russell said he doesn’t think that will happen.
Commissioner Frank Tadlock questioned Russell on whether the county could use fund balance to absorb a total hit.
Russell said if the state would take all reimbursements, over $3.5 million, it would be more than the reserves could stand. Russell and Finance Officer Leslie Earnhardt said reserves would drop below the level recommended by the Local Government Commission.
The Commission recommends local governments maintain at least 8 percent of their total budget. The county has just over $9 million in unrestricted reserves, about 10 percent of the $92 million budget.
After much discussion, Blount’s effort to add “interim” to Chamberlain’s budget motion was defeated on a 3-2 vote.
Chamberlain objected to Blount’s effort to amend his motion, saying he would not accept it. Blount ruled against him.
Chamberlain took exception.
Today, Chamberlain said he contacted an expert in parliamentary procedure at Catawba College and was advised Blount acted improperly.
Chamberlain contended that Blount used his position as chairman to advance his on agenda, not to rule impartially.
Blount said today his interpretation of the rule is that as long as the amendment doesn’t change the purpose of the motion, it is in order.
“The motion was to pass a budget. My amendment was to do it in an interim manner.” he said, adding that he did not do anything improper.
After the parliamentary wrangle, commissioners unanimously adopted the budget ordinances, pulling out the fire tax issue so it could be voted separately.
The budget includes six separate funds, with the general fund, the county’s operations budget, being the largest.
The various funds adopted include:
- General fund, $93 million. The largest portion goes to the public schools, $30 million. Social Services gets the next largest chunk, $20. 4 million. Together, school and social service spending exceed the county’s total property tax levy which is expected to net $48 million.
- Fire and Service District fund: Tax levy is expected to total $1.9 million. The district rates range from 3 cents to 6 cents per $100 valuation. The departments adopt their own budgets.
- Emergency telephone or 911 fund: $1.3 million for telecommunication operations and implementation of the geographic information system. The money comes from a surcharge on telephones.
- Risk management, or the county’s self- insurance fund: $1.4 million
- Solid waste fund, $3 million.
- Rowan-Kannapolis Sports Consortium Fund for the operations of Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium: $548,000.
Other business
In other matters, the board discussed, hearing information or acted as follows:
- Adopted a resolution supporting the location of a Federal Express hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Local governments throughout the region are being asked to pass similar resolutions.
- Approved a square foot rental rate for open-faced hangars at the Rowan County Airport. The hangers were originally built by individuals and are now property of the county. The leases are renewed annually.
Russell said the 95-cent per square foot rate will replace a hodgepodge arrangement. The county will receive $5,875 a month in rental, up only slightly from the current arrangement that nets $5,286.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com
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