The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in special
session regarding the budget on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 4:00pm in the Board
Meeting Room of the County
Administration Building,
348 South Main Street,
Sparta, NC.

Present:  Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Warren
Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly
Richardson, County
Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.   County Attorney Donna Shumate was absent.

Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to order at 4:00pm.  He explained that the County Manager
has done exactly what the Commissioners told him to do in regards to creating a
43¢ budget.

Dr.
Jeff Cox, Superintendent, came
before the Board to discuss the Board of Education’s budget.  He talked about their budget and their
uncontrollable costs.  He further
talked about the teacher allotments from the State is one less for next
year.  He talked about the federal
funding and what the money is used for and how that is two teachers’
assistants short already.  He
further talked about one way to cut expenses is in personnel.  He reminded the Board that this does not
take into consideration the additional programming and other things that they
want to offer.  He reiterated the
problems with the uncontrollable costs.
He talked about the capital side of their budget.   He further talked about the
$65,000 in the Sparta Elementary School construction account, and hoping that
amount could be used for capital projects.
He talked about the rollover amount being around $200,000.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy asked if they are hearing anything about getting any help with the
NCWISE program.  Dr. Cox explained
that no assistance will be provided.
Commissioner Doug Murphy asked about the General Assembly helping with
fuel expenses.  Dr. Cox stated that
he hasn’t heard anything but increases came in regarding diesel fuel
during the year.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson and Dr. Cox talked about heating fuel increase, not counting
fuel for buses.  They talked about the
State pays for the diesel fuel for the buses.

Chair
Ken Richardson talked about the differences between the County Manager’s
number and Dr. Cox’s number for the uncontrollable costs.  He asked what the difference is.

County Manager
Don Adams explained that the main reason is the NCWISE position and the
benefits associated with that position.

Dr. Cox explained the other differences.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Dr. Cox talked
about the importance of the NCWISE position.  Dr. Cox explained how he is viewing this
position and the need for a clerical person to assist with the NCWISE program.

Betsy Dillon stated that she recently looked at
a report of the 25 fastest growing school systems, and Alleghany County
is 20th.

Commissioner Randy Miller and Dr. Cox talked
about 10% of the school population is Hispanic.

Joel Souther stated his appreciation to the
Commissioners for their consideration in these matters.  He talked about programming increases.

The Board of Commissioners stated their
appreciation to Dr. Cox and the Board of Education.

Dr. Gordon Burns with Wilkes Community College
stated his appreciation to the Commissioners for the continued support.  He talked about the benefits of the
college and the socioeconomic benefits of Wilkes Community College.
He presented the Alleghany campus
earnings versus operating expenditures.

Chair Ken Richardson and Dr. Burns talked about
a meeting that Mr. Richardson attended recently regarding community
colleges.

Jayne Phipps-Boger with Wilkes
Community College thanked each
individual Commissioner for their support and for the greenway between Wilkes Community College
and Alleghany High School.  She reviewed a list of their
accomplishments.

Commissioner Milly Richardson stated that she didn’t
realize that the college is reaching that many high school students.

County Manager Don Adams and Jayne
Boger discussed the family literacy program.

County Manager Don Adams reviewed the
items that his recommended budget covers.
They talked about the family literacy program and how State funds have
changed.

Dr. Burns reiterated their appreciation to Don
Adams and the Commissioners for the continuing support.

The Board of Commissioners thanked Wilkes Community
College.

April Hamm, Transportation Director, came before
the Board to discuss the Transportation budgets.  She talked about the CTP grant, part-time
billing clerk and indirect costs changes.
She explained the cost to County has increased because the State decreased
the amount allowed on the indirect costs

County Manager Don Adams explained why
he asked April Hamm to come back before the Board regarding the request of the
part-time billing clerk.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager
Don Adams discussed the line items in the Transportation budget.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and April Hamm
discussed the impact without the additional monies.

County Manager Don Adams talked about
the transportation advisory board and how they have increased fees to cover the
fuel costs.

April Hamm talked about this afternoon’s
transportation board meeting.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked Mrs. Hamm.

County Manager
Don Adams reviewed the fee schedules; building inspection with one change, fire
inspection fees, EMS fees, recreation fees, ropes
course fees, transportation fees with the noted changes and solid waste
disposal fees.  He talked about the solid
waste fee changes; residential and weight accounts.  He further talked about the transfer
facility budget including the unknown environmental costs, disposal fees, 4%
CPI increase, 9% fuel recovery costs, and the purchasing of a loader.  He reiterated the changes in fees;
building inspections, transportation and solid waste.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to
approve the fees that aren’t proposed to be changed; fire inspections,
EMS, recreation, ropes course.  Commissioner
Warren Taylor seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented
information to the Board regarding salaries.  She asked the Board to look at the
information when they have time.
She explained where she obtained the information.  She said there is information about job
duties and requirements.  She said
she is talking about tax office employees’ salaries and capital.  She stated that they are thankful for
their jobs and are fortunate to live and work in the county.  She talked about the salary study and
the need for another study to be completed.  She talked about comparing Alleghany County to the surrounding counties.  She requested the Board to review the
salary information.  She asked the
Board to consider salaries because the cost of living has greatly
increased.  She explained that all
tax office employees are cross-trained to do other jobs.  She talked about the certifications required
and the amount of the trainings, cost increases and the importance of the
certifications.  She explained why
she is asking for the $1,520 in capital for furniture for Georgia Billings.  She further explained the information in
the packet.  She talked about trying
some type of incentive when employees obtain their certifications.  She stated her appreciation for what the
Board does.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Mary Walker talked
about the number of parcels in Avery
County being around
19,000.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that the tax
office is not the only department that has this concern.  He explained that the Board has had lengthy
conversations about this numerous times.

Chair Ken Richardson declared a five-minute
recess at 5:23pm.

Kathy Murphy came before the Board to discuss
the Planning budget.   She
explained that she had requested a summer intern.  She talked about the Administrative
Assistant in the department and how she is shared with Recreation.  She talked about the types of the
activities for the intern to do.  She
said she is looking to hire a summer intern for 30 hours a week for 15 weeks at
minimum wage for a cost of $2,978.  She
talked about how they are covered up in the summer time, non-stop in the office
and the need of some assistance.

Kate Cosner came before the Board
to discuss the Elections budget.  She
gave the Board an article regarding a GIS-based election support system.  She said this is an example of off-season
work.  She talked about the re-classification
of the election staff.  She provided
the history of the administrative assistant to deputy director and elections supervisor
to director of elections.  She
talked about the revised job descriptions.
She further talked about taking the administrative assistant position to
the deputy director position, number of office tasks that should not be
completed by anyone except a deputy director, reasons to reclassify the
position and the impact on Board of Elections if this person leaves.  She presented reasons to reclassify the election
supervisor to director of elections. She talked about the average pay grade for
both positions.  She reiterated the
need to have the administrative assistant on full-time.  She reviewed the statistics for the new
voter registrations and changes, amount needed in travel money and special
elections.

County Manager Don Adams and Kate
Cosner talked about the travel portion and election expenses.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and Kate Cosner
discussed the number of people who has voted in the special election.

Pam Sizemore came before the Board to discuss
the Family Resource Center
budget request.  She reviewed
information that was presented to the Board.  She discussed the course.  She talked about the people that the Family Resource
Center serves.  She further talked about the need for
the services.

Lisa Osborne with Social Services talked about the
court orders parents to attend this class.
She talked about if this isn’t supported, Social Services costs
will increase.

County Manager Don Adams and Lisa Osborne talked
about court-ordered parents are not required to pay.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Lisa Osborne talked
about this class reduces the Social Services clients.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and Pam Sizemore
talked about how this class has been funded in the past and the need for the
funding.  They talked about the estimated
population is around 48 adults and 36 children so far this year with the bulk being
Social Services mandated clients.

County Manager Don Adams, Pam Sizemore
and Lisa Osborne talked about the way the sessions are held and number of repeat
customers.

Chair Ken Richardson and County Manager Don
Adams discussed this is a new program that is not in the budget.

Pam Sizemore explained that the $10,000 is for the
additional staff time and parenting materials.

Commissioner Randy Miller stated his
appreciation for their work.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked them for coming.

Chair Ken Richardson asked the Board how they
want to proceed with the budget.

Commissioner Randy Miller talked about putting
the tag office money back in.

County Manager Don Adams handed out
the running budget showing the changes.
He talked about the fund balance appropriation.

Chair Ken Richardson talked about the Board had
scheduled four meetings and having discussions on June 25 then on June 27, if
needed, with the public hearing on the 30th.

Chair Ken Richardson recessed this meeting until
4:00pm on Thursday, June 12.

Respectfully
Submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to
the Board

Attest:

Ken
Richardson

Chairman