The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met=
in
special session on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at 3:30pm in the Commissione=
rs
Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street,
Sparta, North Carolina. The p=
urpose
of this meeting is to discuss recent legislative actions.
Present:
Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Doug
Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County Manager Don Adams and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans. Commis=
sioner
Randy Miller was present but arrived late.=
County Attorney Donna Shumate was absent.
Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to orde=
r and
explained the purpose of the meeting.
Commissioner Randy Miller arrived at 3:35pm.
Chair Ken Richardson continued explaining the p=
urpose
of the meeting. He talked abo=
ut
House Bill 1492 explaining that the County is exempt from the C&D
regulations.
County Manager Don Adams explained that a $2-pe=
r-ton
charge to landfills will be charged state-wide from this bill. He further explained how the monie=
s will
be distributed including 37½¢ that will go to the counties. He talked about how this will impa=
ct
Alleghany County having to pay an additional $2 per ton charge. He continued talking about how thi=
s bill
impacts Alleghany County.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don=
Adams
talked about the 37½¢ has to be used on solid waste needs.
Chair Ken Richardson asked about Senate Bill 83=
1;
cell tower regulations.
County Manager Don Adams talked about Senate Bi=
ll 831
and how it could impact Alleghany County’s ordinance regarding
co-location of cell antennas.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about House Bill 17=
55 and
how it changes 911 systems.
County Manager Don Adams explained that this bi=
ll
will benefit the citizens by decreasing the 911 fees to 70¢, which wil=
l go
to the State then the State will distribute the funds according to populati=
on. He talked about the bill does rele=
ase
the fund balance to the general fund that can be used for any purpose. He stated that the County will hav=
e to submit
a budget to the State regarding the 911 fund.
Chair Ken Richardson and County Manager Don Ada=
ms
talked about releasing these funds; which can be used for any government
expenses. County Manager Don =
Adams
further talked about he recommends that these funds be used for safety need=
s.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don=
Adams
talked about the timeline on the current 911 system. County Manager Don Adams further t=
alked
about creating a plan for the dispatch room.
Commissioner Milly Richardson and County Manage=
r Don
Adams talked about upgrades of the equipment during the last 10 years and t=
he
needed upgrades.
Chair Ken Richardson, Commissioner Warren Taylo=
r and
County Manager Don Adams talked about putting the fund balance from the 911=
fund
into the General Fund at any time.
County Manager Don Adams talked about the current system and having a
consolidated system.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about Senate Bill 4=
90
concerning industrial machinery inspections, which will not be subject to t=
he
building codes.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about Senate Bill 1=
245
retaining payments on public construction contracts.
County Manager Don Adams explained the bill and=
his
discussions with the NCACC about this bill.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about House Bill 16=
88
regarding modernizing motor vehicle collections. He explained how this bill should =
make
the vehicle tax collection rate close to 100%. He stated that this is the next st=
ep in
allowing the county tax offices to issue motor vehicle tags.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about House Bill 14=
99
regarding Homestead Exemption changes.
County Manager Don Adams explained that the inc=
ome
limits have been increased to $25,000 and increased the amount of value to
$25,000 or 50% of the value, whichever is greater. He further explained the second pa=
rt of
the bill is effective July 1, 2008, is if you make between $25,000 and $37,=
500,
you can get a 5% reduction in value.
Commissioner Milly Richardson and County Manage=
r Don
Adams talked about getting this information to the elderly.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager D=
on
Adams talked about the way the homestead is handled.
Commissioner Doug Murphy mentioned posting these
changes at the Tax Office.
Chair Ken Richardson and Commissioner Milly Ric= hardson talked about including something in the tax bills regarding these changes.<= o:p>
Chair Ken Richardson talked about the need to w=
atch other
bills that will be in the short session next year. He further talked about his
understanding of the Medicaid relief.
He explained this is a three-year phase out, State gradually assumes
Article 44 ½¢ and will change Article 42 to a point of delivery,
each County will be held hold harmless at $500,000, additional revenue, sta=
rts
in October 2007, State taking ½ of ADM monies onetime, decreases in =
year
two and year three.
County Manager Don Adams talked about the proje=
cted
numbers that have been handed out to the Commissioners. He further talked about the impact=
to
Alleghany County and the Board of Education because of the change in sales =
tax
distribution.
County Manager Don Adams and Commissioner Milly
Richardson talked about this is a combination of monies budgeted and monies
that will be received from Raleigh.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about taking some o=
f this
money and apply it to the debt load.
He used an example of comparing it to a credit card. He stated that we are about $9,000=
,000
in debt. He talked about goin=
g to
the Local Government Commission showing that the County is reducing the debt
load.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don=
Adams
talked about the debt spreadsheet showing the annual payments.
County Manager Don Adams stated that the County
isn’t at the maximum capacity.
He used the example of $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 does max out the co=
unty’s
borrowing ability.
Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about looking=
at
this not being used to pay for ongoing expenses. He stated he agrees with the Chair=
man to
pay down debt.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don=
Adams
talked about the benefit of paying down debt now.
Commissioner Milly Richardson stated that she t=
hinks
it is a great idea to reduce the debt especially because of the current
economic situation.
=
Chair
Ken Richardson talked about additional revenue options that the General
Assembly has approved; transfer tax and local sales tax. He stated that both require a refe=
rendum,
and it is up to the Board of Commissioners to decide which option to
pursue. He talked about the
deadline of having this on the November ballot is September 4. He stated the Board needs to discu=
ss
when to hold the referendum. =
He
explained that the transfer tax is 4% and sales tax is ¼¢ point=
of
delivery. He talked about the
revenues created by each tax and how each tax will affect citizens.
=
Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Chair Ken Richardson talked about options available to the
Commissioners; do nothing, put both on referendum or put one on referendum.=
=
Commissioner
Warren Taylor talked about everyone needs to realize the impact of developm=
ent
with the costs to provide services countywide. He further talked about directly
increasing the burden on the school system, volunteer fire departments and
garbage service, which will gradually increase over the years. He said that he is not sure if the=
extra
money from property tax valuation will be enough to balance all of the extra
needs out there. He stated th=
at the
tax is a fair way to get the money from the people doing the developing.
=
Commissioner
Milly Richardson and Commissioner Randy Miller agreed.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about using the tra=
nsfer
tax to help the five volunteer fire departments and rescue squad for the fi=
rst
year to get their equipment up to date.&nb=
sp;
He stated that he would like to earmark a certain amount to these ne=
eds.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he is no=
t in
favor of increasing sales tax because the County loses enough sales tax as =
it
is.
Commissioner Milly Richardson agreed.
Commissioner Doug Murphy reminded everyone to k=
eep
the schools in mind because of the sales tax mandated amount will change.
Commissioner Warren Taylor, Chair Ken Richardso=
n and
Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about putting the issue on a referendum
and educating people regarding the need for the transfer tax.
County Manager Don Adams stated that he will be
coming to the Board soon regarding hiring a consultant to do a need assessm=
ent
for all safety departments. He
talked about the report will show immediate needs, 5-year needs and 10-year
needs.
Commissioner Randy Miller and County Manager Don
Adams talked about an estimated cost of $10,000 to $20,000 for the assessme=
nt.
The Board of Commissioners talked about the nee=
d to
address these issues.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about the costs of =
having
a separate referendum and timing of the referendum.
The Board of Commissioners talked about not hav=
ing
the referendum on the November ballot, and wait until a regular election.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about the NCACC cla=
ss on
September 19 in Raleigh about how best to educate the public on the
referendums. He stated that he
plans to attend.
The Board of Commissioners and County Manager D=
on
Adams talked about passing a resolution regarding having a referendum in the
Spring about the land transfer tax.
&nb=
sp; Being
no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 4:46pm. Chair Ken
Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Ken Richardson
Chairman