By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
While the economy wasn’t on the agenda for county commissioners Monday evening, it quickly became a hot topic.
Shortly after being elected as vice chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, Jon Barber called for a cut in department budgets and the creation of an efficiency committee.
Faced with dwindling sales tax revenues and other potential revenue losses, Barber urged the board to call for an immediate mandatory 3 percent cut in departmental spending, possibly increasing to 5 percent.
In October, the county instituted a freeze for all hiring except emergency positions.
Barber also asked County Manager Gary Page for updated estimates on the county’s financial situation.
Page said he will have more information on sales taxes and payment of property taxes by the Jan. 5 meeting.
“We’ll have a much better picture” at that time, Page told the board.
Sales tax receipts for the first two months of the fiscal year came in at 4 percent below the budgeted amount.
Page noted payments of property taxes are running well above the 2007 rate, but a major portion of the payments come in late December and early January.
He also pointed out county departments are traditionally frugal, never spending all their budgeted funds. In most years, 5 percent of funds go unspent.
In 2007, the county included $11 million from its fund balance, or savings account, to carry out programs. Instead of coming up short $11 million, the fiscal year ended with the fund balance growing by $1.2 million.
Commissioners agreed to wait until January for the update and to see if additional cuts are necessary.
The board did agree with Barber’s proposal to name an efficiency committee to look at ways to save money in planning for the next budget year.
Page said Tuesday he will likely select three department directors to work with him in a review of all spending.
Page said he will meet with department directors next week to discuss the overall financial picture and the need to be frugal.
In another matter, the board voted to delay appointments to the county Parks and Recreation Board and Rowan County Planning Board.
Chairman Carl Ford and commissioners Chad Mitchell and Tina Hall voted to delay the appointments and advertise for more applicants. Barber and Commissioner Raymond Coltrain voted against the motion.
Currently, there are five seats available on the Planning Board and four on the Parks and Recreation Board.
Application forms are available on the county Web site, www.co.rowan.nc.us, or for more information, contact the county manager’s office at 704-216-8180.