The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners reconvened the recessed budget meeting from Wednesday, May 31, 2006, on Thursday,

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

&= nbsp; Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair W= arren Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner M= illy 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 creati= ng a 43¢ budget. <= /span>

&= nbsp; Dr. Jeff Cox, Superintendent, came before the Board to discuss the Board of Education’s budget. He talked about their budget and t= heir uncontrollable costs. He furt= her talked about the teacher allotments from the State is one less for next year. He talked about the fed= eral 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 do= es not take into consideration the additional programming and other things that th= ey want to offer. He reiterated = the problems with the uncontrollable costs.&nb= sp; 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 th= at amount could be used for capital projects.= He talked about the rollover amount being around $200,000.

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

&= nbsp; Commissioner Milly Richardson and Dr. Cox talked about heating fuel increase, not counti= ng fuel for buses. They talked a= bout the State pays for the diesel fuel for the buses.

&= nbsp; 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.

&= nbsp; County Manager Don Adams explained that the main reason is the NCWISE position and the benefits associated with that position.&nb= sp;

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 viewin= g this position and the need for a clerical person to assist with the NCWISE progr= am.

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

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 increa= ses.

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

Dr. Gordon Burns with Wilkes Community Co= llege 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 Co= llege. He presented the Alleghany ca= mpus earnings versus operating expenditures.&nb= sp;

Chair Ken Richardson and Dr. Burns talked ab= out a meeting that Mr. Richardson attended recently regarding community colleges. <= /p>

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

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

County Manager Don Adams and Jay= ne Boger discussed the family literacy program.

County Manager Don Adams reviewe= d the items that his recommended budget covers.&= nbsp; They talked about the family literacy program and how State funds ha= ve changed.

Dr. Burns reiterated their appreciation to D= on Adams and the Commissioners for the continuing support.

The Board of Commissioners thanked Wilkes Community College.

April Hamm, Transportation Director, came be= fore the Board to discuss the Transportation budgets. She talked about the CTP grant, pa= rt-time billing clerk and indirect costs changes.&= nbsp; She explained the cost to County has increased because the State dec= reased the amount allowed on the indirect costs

County Manager Don Adams explain= ed 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 fe= es, ropes course fees, transportation fees with the noted changes and solid waste disposal fees. He talked abou= t the solid waste fee changes; residential and weight accounts. He further talked about the transf= er 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. &n= bsp; 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 abou= t 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 certification= s 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 informat= ion in the packet. She talked about = trying some type of incentive when employees obtain their certifications. She stated her appreciation for wh= at the Board does.

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

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that the t= ax office is not the only department that has this concern. He explained that the Board has ha= d 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 week= s at minimum wage for a cost of $2,978. <= /span>She talked about how they are covered up in the summer time, non-stop in the of= fice and the need of some assistance.

Kate Cosner came before the B= oard 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 pr= ovided the history of the administrative assistant to deputy director and election= s supervisor to director of elections. She talked about the revised job descriptions.= She further talked about taking the administrative assistant positio= n 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 reclassif= y the election supervisor to director of elections. She talked about the average pay grade= for both positions. She reiterate= d the need to have the administrative assistant on full-time. She reviewed the statistics for th= e 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.<= /o:p>

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 t= he Family Resource Center serves. She further talked about the need = for the services.

Lisa Osborne with Social Services talked abo= ut 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 ta= lked about court-ordered parents are not required to pay.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Lisa Osborne ta= lked 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 th= e estimated population is around 48 adults and 36 children so far this year with the bu= lk being Social Services mandated clients.

County Manager Don Adams, Pam Si= zemore and Lisa Osborne talked about the way the sessions are held and number of r= epeat 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 f= or 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 putti= ng the tag office money back in.

County Manager Don Adams handed = out the running budget showing the changes.&nb= sp; 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 30^th.

Chair Ken Richardson recessed this meeting u= ntil 4:00pm on Thursda= y, June 12.

Res= pectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans

Cle= rk to the Board

Att= est:

Ken Richardson

Cha= irman