County departments and agencies requested $9.9 million in new equipment, personnel and facilities.

And County Manager Tim Russell has recommended that commissioners approve $4.5 million of those new expenses.

Most of the $4.5 million will come from new tax revenues, but Russell also proposes taking nearly $1 million from the county’s fund balance and $500,000 from the workers compensation fund.

Department Budget expansions or new items recommended this year include:

• A mandatory 26 percent increase in county funds allocated for Medicaid costs, $1.2 million.
• Additional expense for nearly 500 new students, $483,000.
• Employee benefits, including $705,000 for cost-of-living raises and $862,000 to cover county employees’ medical insurance. Russell also is recommending adding two additional employee holidays, Martin Luther King Jr. and Veterans Day.

The county manager is recommending delaying a merit pay plan and reinstating it if the economy improves. He also recommends that the county not pay retiree medical insurance, estimated to cost $100,000.

• The county’s share of a school resource officer at Southeast Middle, $7,000, and a new crew for the planned South Rowan ambulance station to be opened in April 2002, $45,000. Total budget for the new station, including construction and land, is $219,000.

Heads of county department or agencies asked for a total 63.5 new positions; Sheriff George Wilhelm asked for 40.

• Demolish buildings in the 300 block of North Main Street and construct a parking lot, $225,000.
• New parks and recreation facilities, including restrooms at Dan Nicholas Park, $100,000; matching funds for possible grant to renovate and expand Nature Center at Dan Nicholas, $50,000.
• New South Rowan Branch Library, estimated to cost $3 million, debt service payment, $400,000.
• A joint venture to extend a water line to South Rowan, debt service payment, $225,000.
• New or increased appropriations to other agencies: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, $40,000; Waterworks Gallery, $10,000; Rowan County’s 250th Birthday Committee, $50,000.
• Rent space for the child support enforcement section of the Department of Social Services, $40,000.
• Special appropriations, $672,000, though Russell is recommended maintaining funding at this year’s level. Russell recommended only one new special appropriation, the $10,000 to Waterworks.

Among agencies getting major shares of the special appropriations are: Rowan-Salisbury Economic Development Commission, $194,000; Rowan Rescue Squad, $202,000; Rowan Vocational Workshop, $53,000.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com .