SALISBURY — Despite school officials’ request for a nearly $5 million funding increase, county leaders plan to cut funding by more than $200,000 if the proposed budget is approved.
Rowan County Manager Gary Page said he expects the school budget to be the biggest point of contention at Monday’s public hearing on the proposed budget.
“The schools came in and said to maintain services just like last year they’d need a $4.5 million increase,” Page said. “You can tell there’s quite a bit of swing difference from where we are. Monday’s going to be the public hearing on the budget. That’ll give anybody with concerns on the budget a chance to speak.”
In a proposed budget released two weeks ago, Page said the Rowan-Salisbury School System was expected to lose 142 students. Funding is equated to the number of average daily memberships. At $1,587 per student, Page said, the reduction reflects the combined student loss.
The hearing will follow a 3 p.m. commissioners’ meeting on the second floor of the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Administration Building at 130 W. Innes St. It is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Page said he expects commissioners to schedule a budget workshop to clear up any additional questions among board members. He said the budget could be approved at a June 17 commissioners’ meeting.
Page expects the county to see an increase in property tax revenues for the upcoming year.
Collections are projected to increase more than $400,000 at a tax rate of 62.25 percent, according to the budget.
The proposed General Fund budget for the year is about $471,000 more than last year, totaling about $129 million.
But with the proposed budget cuts and increased revenues, the county would need to move $7.4 million from the General Fund reserves to balance the budget — an increase of about $438,000 over last year’s budget.
Page’s budget memo ended with a warning to commissioners.
“In developing this year’s proposed budget, it became obvious the county is at a financial crossroad,” Page wrote.
“With revenues showing minimal growth during the last four years, we have relied upon our reserves to balance the budget. The philosophy of cutting overhead expenses and drawing-down reserves to weather a poor economy is no longer sustainable even for another year.”
Page said the county can’t continue to siphon from the reserves fund.
In the memo, he added he wouldn’t be surprised to see a 3-cent property tax increase recommendation for county leaders next spring — raising the rate from 62.25 cents to $65.25 per $100 valuation.
“Without a better economy, the tax base and sales tax will lag and force the board to consider raising property taxes in order to balance,” the budget in 2014-15.
The budget also calls for continued raises for county employees.
Last year, commissioners approved a pay plan according to employee seniority.
“We did pay increases similar to last year,” Page said.
Those who have been employed less than a year will not receive an increase, he said. Workers who have been employed for one to five years can receive a 1 percent pay increase; five to 10-year employees could see a 1.5 percent raise; 10 to 15-year employees could see 2 percent boosts; those who have worked for the county for more than 15 years are eligible for a 2.5 percent raise.
Four full-time positions will be cut if the proposed budget passes.
But Page said three of the four employees have been reassigned to other positions.
The budget calls for two detention center nurses, one custodian and one facilities management mechanic to be cut.
As a part of the county’s 911 center consolidation — which will begin providing coverage for the city of Salisbury — the county will take on 11 telecommunicator positions.
“That saved the city over $400,000,” he said.
A one-quarter cent sales tax for public safety will fund the new full-time positions, Page said.
“We wanted all the dispatching to be under the county,” Page said. “It’ll accommodate those 11 employees. We’ll be treating Salisbury like any other municipality,” he said.
Page also recommended commissioners add an assistant county manager position.
“The position would perform special projects and begin the process of a succession plan for the county manager,” Page wrote in the budget. “The estimated cost is $149,549.”
Also in the continuation budget, Page proposes the addition of 19 vehicle purchases for various county departments.
The Sheriff’s Office is slated to get 11 patrol cars, two SUVs and a van. EMS would receive two ambulances; the planning department would get an SUV; Rowan County Animal Control would get a new light truck and facilities management would have a new van, if the budget passes.
Page called the Sheriff’s vehicle rotation “pretty typical.”
“If we rotate out all his cars every four years, we need to do 12 to 14 vehicles,” Page said. “If you look at his fleet and rotate it, he doesn’t get any vehicle with more than 150,000 miles.”

Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.