[0:27] Meeting of the honorable body like to welcome everyone out to another budget

[0:30] work session on June the 4th 2026.

[0:35] Uh, we met yesterday and are continuing today and one thing I'd like to ask of

[0:41] my fellow commissioners is today when we have a presenter, if we could

[0:46] wait until they are finished presenting to ask them questions

[0:51] and let's try to stay on point. I felt like a couple of times yesterday we kind

[0:55] of got out in the weeds a little bit. We could

[0:59] make the questions narrow and to the point, it'll speed this process up.

[1:04] All right. Uh, I'll turn it over to the county manager.

[1:08] » Yes, our first um, speaker today will be the school system superintendent Stokes,

[1:13] so I will turn it over to him for his presentation.

[1:23] » Good afternoon.

[1:27] First and foremost, the Kershaw County schools is pleased um, to be here to

[1:32] share information regarding um, our status. So, first I want to give

[1:37] an update of our capital 888 projects. Um, our school board and our school

[1:43] system is very thankful for the capital 888 reserve.

[1:46] As you know, we've appropriated 80 888,000

[1:50] to us and so as of today of the 27 projects

[1:56] two projects have not done. The reason those two projects have not begun, one

[2:01] is the South Elementary Water Treatment Plant because students cannot be in the

[2:06] building cuz we have to cut water off for that. That's one that we know will

[2:10] be need to have some inconveniences to go carry over to the next fiscal

[2:14] year. And the second one is the drainage for custom cuts that doing some

[2:20] work outside of the school. That will begin next week and will be completed by

[2:24] the end. And so thus far

[2:28] we have of the 888,000,

[2:31] we have a total of 882,300 dollars and 11 cent

[2:37] in cost and work being done. To this date, total reimbursement request that

[2:42] we've sent to this organization has been 97,219

[2:47] dollars and 6 cent. And our next reimbursement we hope to

[2:51] have to you by June 12th will total 536,865

[2:57] dollars and 11 cent. Our biggest um projects are the chillers

[3:02] at both North and South Elementary. They're approximately 50% complete. Um

[3:07] they're on site working with those. And so those of course are the major of the

[3:12] 888 that has not been invoiced. Well, we are expecting to have those invoices

[3:18] coming in before the June 30th deadline. So total money spent encumbered has been

[3:24] 701,000 300 dollars and 11 cent giving us again

[3:28] the total of total remaining projects 100

[3:32] 81 882,311. Once my board meets on Monday, I can

[3:38] send you the written format given the progress. Um but my board has been

[3:43] updated but I would like to make sure that they have approved it before I send

[3:45] it to you.

[3:50] It It asked of us to talk about what were our capital outlay priorities for

[3:55] the upcoming school year. We have not put in a rank on any of those items yet.

[4:00] However, we still have needs regarding from have

[4:05] that pavement, uh some security issues, water and sewer needs at various sites,

[4:12] um some athletic places that could help fix some leaking roofs. So, um once my

[4:17] board has helped me put this list in a prioritized order, I can get it to the

[4:22] county commissioners where we do meet Monday.

[4:27] Uh one of the um concerns I just want to be thankful that um this past capital

[4:32] reserve 888 has been very influential in helping us move in the right direction

[4:37] and keeping our facilities up and running. And we're greatly we're

[4:41] we're definitely appreciative of that. With the same flat appropriation funding

[4:46] that we received last year, we are thankful for that because it could it

[4:49] could have been less. It It does pose challenges to us. However, we will not

[4:55] have our state budget until the state is expected to vote the week of June 15th,

[5:00] um which is we got the next. So, my understanding that election that vote

[5:04] will occur on June 17th. So, we'll know what local

[5:08] current expenses, local staff,

[5:13] health benefits, things will cause will impact our local

[5:16] uh our operating expenses.

[5:20] I now defer to the county commissioners for any questions.

[5:24] » Uh open the floor for questions, gentlemen.

[5:29] Yes, sir.

[5:37] » I I couldn't hear you. I'm sorry. >> Will you have all the capital needs uh

[5:41] cost itemized by the 15th so we can review it prior to voting on a budget?

[5:46] » You're talking for the upcoming school year?

[5:48] » Yeah, mhm. >> I cannot guarantee that, but we will

[5:52] work on that as far as what cost we may have estimates.

[5:55] » I think I think we're responsible for overlooking that money, so it'd be we

[5:59] need that to see >> Yes, sir.

[6:01] » before we vote on it. >> We'll take note of that and get that to

[6:03] you. >> Thank you.

[6:08] » Any other questions?

[6:13] Mr. Dukes, are you going to speak for the school board or are you going to

[6:15] have someone else speaking? >> I am the only one presenting today.

[6:19] » Okay, can I ask another question? >> What Do you have your current fund

[6:23] balance to date? So or the school board?

[6:26] » So our current fund balance is approximately I asked my CFO to come up

[6:30] with a number, but I think I'm almost right. Our current fund balance total

[6:34] restricted and unrestricted funds is approximately 1.9 million.

[6:38] But that 1.9 million that has not we have not removed what

[6:42] we've appropriated for this year's budget from that balance, which right

[6:46] now is between right now at the last presentation I

[6:50] shared with my board was approximately 715,000

[6:53] that has not been re-appropriated yet.

[6:57] » Okay, you say that it's not just unassigned, but that's the

[7:02] entire fund balance? >> 1.9 million, yes, sir.

[7:05] » Okay, do you know what the unassigned is?

[7:08] » The unassigned is less than So less than a million.

[7:13] » Okay. But then that does not include where you had to dip into it for this

[7:18] year, is that correct? >> That does not currently what we've

[7:21] appropriated for this school year, yes, sir.

[7:28] » Any other questions? Mr. Dukes, what um

[7:32] what was the total amount y'all were asking for in capital

[7:35] this time?

[7:38] » Our total ask >> Mhm.

[7:42] » I need my CFO to come up with the exact number.

[7:45] » Okay.

[8:02] » The total asked for capital outlay was a rent roughly 1.2 million dollars.

[8:13] » I'm not going to direct this question at you, but I'm going to direct it Miss

[8:16] Stokes. I guess if you all asking 1.2, you don't

[8:20] have any plan in places to how much what money is needed for what

[8:26] projects? >> So, NCDPI is requiring us to submit a

[8:30] new facility plan. All LEAs we're currently working on that as well

[8:35] because NCDPI has asked us to if they're going to a new platform for us to do

[8:40] facility plan. So, we're working on that because our last approved facility plan

[8:45] has through some transitions we've had

[8:49] just a a good number of transitions. So,

[8:51] therefore some things have been executed, some things have not. And so,

[8:56] without that plan we contend continue to be in a place where we don't really have

[9:02] the clearest of direction moving forward. And so, our goal is to have

[9:05] that moving forward.

[9:13] » And just a reminder that we are going to having the recommended budget the same

[9:18] amount 400,000 as last year. And as we showed on the

[9:22] slide, we would be looking for the difference. I think it was like 865,000

[9:29] to come from lottery funds. And of course, both boards would have to agree.

[9:34] » Yes, cuz some of the projects that we're looking at

[9:38] require, of course, both boards to agree.

[9:41] Um some planning for some planning regarding that, but I I'm not able to

[9:45] speak at length on it because my board has not made a final decision and

[9:49] direction regarding this. So, I do not want to put anything out there before

[9:53] our board has approved it. >> Your board does realize that we got to

[9:57] have a budget in place by June the 30th, don't you?

[10:00] » Absolutely. >> It looks like they're a little behind,

[10:04] if I might be blunt. >> I

[10:06] do understand. >> Come to us with a request, but yet

[10:10] you're not You're not I'm saying you, but the school system in general is not

[10:14] able to tell us where they need this capital money spent, what it needs to be

[10:18] spent on. Today is June the 4th.

[10:22] We anticipate adopting a budget in 11 days, on the 15th.

[10:27] So, I would suggest your board step up the

[10:31] process a little bit. >> Duly noted.

[10:36] » Any other questions from Mr. Stokes? >> I've got one other question. Mr. Stokes,

[10:40] what's your current enrollment in the Capital County schools?

[10:44] » Our current enrollment as of our last as of our May We have a certain day in

[10:49] each month we pull the numbers. It was 1998.

[10:53] » 1998. And do you know how many how many students you have to pay out of

[10:59] the system, say charter schools and so forth? How much of that money is having

[11:02] to go to other other schools?

[11:06] » Yes, so we have >> It's over 300 students, and I want to

[11:10] say it's about 400,000 we're having to pay for charter school.

[11:14] » 300 students, 400,000. >> It's in the 300s, and we're paying

[11:18] approximately at least 400,000 going to the

[11:21] charter schools. >> Thank you.

[11:28] » Anything else for the superintendent?

[11:33] All right, Mr. Stokes. Thank you very much.

[11:35] » Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.

[11:40] » At this time, we would like to show you about five slides to just help you with

[11:44] some decisions or questions that you may have for the departments that are here

[11:48] today.

[11:54] » Slides that you all see here um is to address Commissioner Claggett's

[11:58] question yesterday regarding uh what two extra paid days off would

[12:04] would cost the county for full-time employees.

[12:08] Um on paper for all two uh

[12:12] So, on paper for full-time employees, the the value is about $113,000.

[12:19] Uh but that but that overstates that that overstates

[12:22] it because more uh for most staff um it is it is not a a cash cost. Salary

[12:31] employees um take the time and are are paid the

[12:35] same. So, so the county would in essence not be be issuing an additional check.

[12:43] Um So, but the the the real cost is in our

[12:46] 24/7 um operations. Um

[12:51] uh so, departments like EMS, 911, detention center,

[12:56] uh sheriff's department where an open shift must be covered and it will likely

[13:02] it would likely be be done so using overtime.

[13:06] Um and that backfill is is estimated at about 74,000.

[13:12] Um it if the if the board moves forward, uh we we believe administratively the

[13:18] the cleanest way is to to add these two um

[13:22] uh paid off days uh to everyone's leave bank with with basically no no

[13:28] restrictions.

[13:38] So, this slide addresses pay increases and bonus cost options.

[13:45] Options the board asked the administration to price.

[13:49] And at 1% pay increase is a recurring cost about 149,000

[13:56] in the general fund and about 160,000 across all funds.

[14:01] Those figures include FICA, retirement, and reflects our budgeted vacancy rates.

[14:09] The one-time bonus at $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for

[14:14] part-time employees would cost about 346,000

[14:18] all in covering roughly 323 employees.

[14:25] One One note on the bonus, a $1,000 bonus for an employee is about $800 in

[14:32] the employees check after taxes and withholdings.

[14:36] Both numbers are estimates and we can we can definitely tighten them once the

[14:40] board signals which direction is preferred.

[14:45] » And also like he was saying as well, I think you

[14:49] will definitely see that number reduced because if you put the 500 hours worked

[14:54] and still active for part-time employees that they would have had to work in this

[14:58] fiscal year starting July 1st to June 30th,

[15:03] it would they would need to have worked those hours in this current period

[15:06] fiscal year that we're in in order to be able to get that. And just remember the

[15:11] 1% raise is a recurring cost and the one-time bonus is not it's a one-time.

[15:23] And for the maintenance, I know there was questions just saying you kind of

[15:27] wanted to see what was funded in FY27 and what was not funded. So, the parking

[15:34] lot pavement for 911 was included. The Havoc at the Ag and building and

[15:41] co-squares included. Water testing is included. Roofing, concession stand and

[15:47] courthouse are included. Tap and meter at Pelham is included. Backflow

[15:53] preventers at Pelham included. Gutter guards,

[15:58] probation and section 8 are included. And what was deferred to a future year

[16:03] is painting the historical courthouse, carpet and flooring at the Ag, fencing

[16:09] at Guilford Mills, carpet and flooring at the courthouse,

[16:13] basement and that's what $144,000 was deferred.

[16:19] So, that's just giving you an idea of the maintenance projects that were

[16:23] funded, just broken out and what was not funded and deferred.

[16:30] The next slide, I know you've seen something very similar to this yesterday

[16:35] showing you the FY26 options of savings that we have. We were

[16:42] able the Deputy Finance Director, Ms. Miller, had got me the additional FY26

[16:48] maintenance capital that will not be spent in this fiscal year which was

[16:53] $41,984. So, when you put that with the other the

[16:58] $944,000 that we went over yesterday the net

[17:02] available the total available is $985,984.

[17:09] And on the next slide, it will show you the proposed uses and of course this is

[17:14] at your discretion. You can make changes anywhere that you would like. This is

[17:18] just giving you some options here. If you wanted to do the one-time employee

[17:23] bonus, it has it fully loaded here at 346 338.

[17:29] Um the EMS ambulance remount of $275 and the sheriff's department with the

[17:35] uplift up to six vehicles at $351, which is $972,338.

[17:44] So, I was hoping maybe this would help you when you talked to these

[17:47] departments. Um you know, help you with your

[17:50] questions you may want to ask. >> Mr. Chairman. Yes.

[17:55] And this still on this last page, page number five, with with doing this,

[18:00] there's still no tax increase associated with any of this.

[18:03] » Correct. This is leftover from FY26 um funds that we savings that we have

[18:10] for FY26. And we would come back to the board at the June 15th meeting with a

[18:15] budget amendment. >> Okay. And this is no reoccurring on this

[18:18] either, correct? >> No, it's not reoccurring. These are all

[18:21] one-time, and this just would help um we've got the funds now that we could

[18:25] pay for, and since, you know, we have to go to the LGC for any debt service,

[18:31] this would be a way that we could go ahead and make some of these purchases

[18:34] cuz I know the sheriff's department we are already getting ready to be two

[18:38] cycles behind because there's no cars appropriated for FY27,

[18:43] and then the EMS remount, um I know if we have to wait and take this through

[18:49] the LGC, I'm not sure how much longer it would continue to defer these.

[18:55] » Thank you.

[18:59] All right. Listen.

[19:01] Um looking at page three where you've got the original requested projects um

[19:06] funded in '27, let's just say if you have a another

[19:10] elevator that goes out, $75,000. Where's that money coming from?

[19:15] » We would have to come back for anything that costs that much, we would have to

[19:19] come back to the board and you would have to appropriate at that time fund

[19:23] balance, but keep in mind that's a one-time occurrence. It's not like

[19:28] you're doing something that's recurring out of it. So, we would just have to

[19:32] come back before the board, but I do know he has up to 90,000 for like

[19:37] capital outlay besides these other items that they're also included in addition

[19:43] the 90,000 and then also there's an additional I think 50,000 for if we have

[19:49] issues with have back or electrical, but if we had anything that was of a large

[19:55] cost, we would need to come back up to the board because we we wouldn't have

[19:58] any funding for it. >> Okay, as I mentioned yesterday it's a

[20:01] little bit concerning to me that we're paying cash for the ambulance and now

[20:06] the remount. You know, there's savings we had during the year would you know

[20:10] better than I do as to how our cash looks and how we're looking

[20:13] in relationship to what the state requires.

[20:17] Obviously, we're looking pretty good to be able to do that.

[20:20] » We should be at the 11.1% still and you should there will be some

[20:27] additional savings that can go back and whatever you choose if you choose this

[20:31] is just I provided on the other the last slide some examples of what you can do

[20:36] with the savings. Um you don't have to fund everything I put on there if you

[20:40] decide not to, that's more that will go back into fund balance, but these are

[20:46] things that we could go ahead and purchase and I don't I know Miss Sharp

[20:50] and she can correct me if I'm wrong, but if we had to come back for a one-time

[20:55] purchase, I don't think that the LGC would frown upon that because we will be

[21:00] above and which they don't require, but you know, they say that it's recommended

[21:05] to have at least 8%. We would be above that and they would see that it was for

[21:09] a one-time purchase that was you know out of out of our control.

[21:14] » Okay, but the fund balance and the cash balance can be two different numbers,

[21:18] right? Cash in bank.

[21:21] So that's what I'm saying. Obviously we're in pretty good shape on cash in

[21:24] bank to be able to pay $600,000 for a re-mount a new ambulance without getting

[21:29] in trouble with the state. >> Exactly. Exactly cuz we can pay it's

[21:33] fine to pay the cash for that like you said that's different than with the fund

[21:37] balance.

[21:40] So at this time is it particular departments you would like to call up to

[21:44] hear their request or what questions you may have?

[21:49] » Leaves.

[21:54] Health Department. Mr. Rogers says Health Department.

[22:06] » Good evening. >> Good evening. How you doing?

[22:08] » I'm good. How are you? >> Just have a couple questions for you. I

[22:11] do see uh

[22:14] on one of the slides we had yesterday option for capital purchases from 26

[22:19] savings it had in here uh

[22:26] two vehicles >> Mhm.

[22:28] » for the Health Department. Can you kind of elaborate a little bit on that?

[22:31] » Sure. We have two of the original vehicles that were purchased by the

[22:35] county. They're not part of the fleet. One is a F-150 pickup truck. It has

[22:42] I think uh right around 100,000 miles on it. The four-wheel drive engages

[22:48] uh just sporadically. The staff have um

[22:52] disconnected the four-wheel drive so that it stays in two-wheel drive.

[22:56] Otherwise there's this grind and noise. The air will not switch back and forth

[23:00] between defrost feet, and face, so they're not able to

[23:05] use air conditioner or heat. Um, and

[23:11] I think there's one other tires. It needs new tires.

[23:14] » Okay. >> Um, otherwise

[23:17] it it still is working. They drive it when

[23:20] they have to. They try not to drive it if they don't have to.

[23:23] » Right. >> The other car is a F-1, I mean a Ford

[23:26] Focus. It has around 72,000 mi on it. There's not really anything mechanically

[23:32] wrong with it. Um, but our care managers drive it. They go out into the far

[23:38] reaches of the county. They're seeing patients that

[23:41] live off the road. It's It's just It's a small car. It's not really meant for the

[23:47] type of driving that they do. Um,

[23:50] I put it in the budget every year just to remind you guys that we have those

[23:55] old vehicles. >> Right.

[23:56] » Um, but if it comes down to me keeping staff employed or being able to give

[24:02] them a raise, we can make do with the cars we have.

[24:06] Um, there's a plan in place right now to um,

[24:11] shuffle cars a little bit because Donnie Powell is retiring and he drives uh,

[24:16] public health because he is technically still partially a health department

[24:20] employee. He still drives that truck. Um, Matt Maynes will start driving it

[24:24] when he um, when he retires and then we'll shift cars down. Um, we'd still

[24:31] like to be able to use the F-150, so if we don't replace it, we are going to

[24:35] have a significant repair cost for it and I don't I think we cut our repair

[24:40] costs in that vehicle repair line item. We may need to adjust that uh, after the

[24:46] beginning of the year. >> Right. Well, that was that was going to

[24:49] be one of my recommendations when I was looking through everything last night

[24:52] is, you know, with with Mr. Powell retiring the end of uh,

[24:56] June there's a vehicle that's going to be

[24:58] open there. So, if we could move the person behind him up to that

[25:03] vehicle and kind of stair-step it up, then we could kind of eliminate that.

[25:07] My last question >> to do that week after next to go ahead

[25:10] and transition that over to Matt. >> My question to you is

[25:15] um it's a two-fold question. One One

[25:20] with that being taken care of the truck, do you think you could

[25:24] deal with the other car you have for another year? And on the backside,

[25:29] um I know the manager's going to take a look at the fleet.

[25:33] Um it's going to take a little bit to do that, but in her doing that, if she can

[25:37] find something within those vehicles that's a little better shape,

[25:42] maybe we could look at trying to move that over to them.

[25:45] » Okay. >> I appreciate it.

[25:48] One other question I have real quickly, Mr. Chairman, Mr.

[25:51] the this last slide you gave us and I'm

[25:55] done. >> Okay.

[25:56] » I think Wait one minute. Somebody else may have questions. I'm sorry. I

[25:59] apologize. >> Hold hold hold hold right there, Mr.

[26:01] Rhodes. Let's finish up with the health department.

[26:04] What year model is the F-150? >> I think it's a 2013.

[26:11] » What about the Ford? >> It might be a 15. The The Focus is a 13,

[26:16] I think. And the And the truck is a 15.

[26:20] » Okay. All right. That's all I need to know.

[26:23] Any other questions for director?

[26:28] All right. Thank you, ma'am. >> I have one follow-up for the manager. Um

[26:31] Madam Manager, due to that being able to handle that issue, was this

[26:36] 985 984, was that including this um

[26:43] was that including the vehicles from the health department into that phone or

[26:46] not? >> Not on the new slide because I had

[26:48] talked >> Okay.

[26:49] » So, right, could take this we could take this 985

[26:54] 984 and add

[26:58] » I have that last slide without the health department the cars in it.

[27:04] They've already been removed. Yesterday had them in but the one I'm I'm

[27:08] presenting today, I had removed them because I had talked to Miss Eastwood to

[27:12] see you know if they were able to go one

[27:15] more year. >> Thank you.

[27:20] » Let's do EMS.

[27:45] » Okay.

[27:53] » Good evening Commissioners. I apologize for not getting the slides in time so we

[27:57] could have them on the screen but in front of you have you just have a brief

[28:01] review and overview for this upcoming year. Um in fiscal year 25 we responded

[28:07] to

[28:11] about 4,000 calls and had about 4,500 reports. Um my eyes aren't as good as

[28:16] they used to be. Um since 2022 we've seen about a 7%

[28:21] increase in call volume and in fiscal year 25 we brought in about a 1.185

[28:27] million um from EMS billing. Um

[28:32] it's misstated on the slide on page two, the second slide slide number four.

[28:37] Um there's an additional portion that is

[28:40] not included in this 1.185 because that's what's used um to offset

[28:45] some of the fee that EMSMC charges. So, our actual revenue should be a little

[28:50] bit higher than what's stated. Um

[28:55] And in 2025, we drove approximately almost 179,000 mi.

[29:03] Um on page three, you can see that we've got two

[29:07] ambulances that have reached the end of their life, pretty much exceeded it.

[29:12] Um and to go along with that, our vehicle repair costs each year have been

[29:16] increasing. In 2024, um we saw vehicle repair costs to 37,000

[29:22] up to this current year so far, we've spent 63,000.

[29:27] Um the three trucks that are have exceeded their useful life or exceeded

[29:33] their expected life. Um 209 is a 2015 F-450.

[29:39] When you factor in not only the actual mileage on the truck, but the engine

[29:42] auto hours, and how you do that is 40 mi per auto hour,

[29:46] um you get up to over 600,000 mi. The same thing with 204,

[29:52] it's over a half a million as well. And 207 is quickly approaching that point,

[29:57] and it's a 2019 F-450. Um

[30:02] on page four, something that we need to look at, not

[30:06] necessarily during budget time, but in the future is a fleet replacement plan.

[30:10] Um our original request included two remounts, and we understand that every

[30:16] department's got to pitch in in cutting the budget so that we're not using fund

[30:20] balance and not proposing a tax increase.

[30:23] Um but a vehicle replacement plan, especially for the ambulances, is

[30:26] something that's sorely needed. Um

[30:30] Also, in the FY27 budget is a $300,000 vacancy allowance.

[30:37] $300,000 equates to four paramedics. Um

[30:42] that will cut the number of trucks, the number of ambulances that we have

[30:46] staffed during the day from four trucks down to three trucks.

[30:51] Um right now we have four trucks that are staffed that are um on the road

[30:55] during the day if we're fully staffed and three trucks at night. This will cut

[30:58] us to three trucks 24 hours. And as you expect, the daytime is our

[31:03] busiest hours. The last page um

[31:07] as Commissioner Ingram is not with us today asked

[31:12] EMS salaries are sorely behind and we're not of any

[31:19] under any illusion that we can compete with the Durham County and Orange

[31:23] County, but I wanted you to see how we compare with other counties because we

[31:28] are competing with the surrounding counties.

[31:31] And it's hard to when you have EMTs that are making $9,000 less than their

[31:36] counterparts in other counties all the way up to paramedics who are $6,000

[31:40] less. I know that's not something that we

[31:42] could fix right here right now, but I wanted

[31:45] you to be aware of it. Um and with that, you have my contact information. I think

[31:50] all of you have my phone number anyway. Um I'm open for questions right now. If

[31:55] you have questions later, feel free to contact me.

[31:58] » Questions.

[32:02] Mr. Yarbrough. >> Yes, sir.

[32:04] » Um looking at that

[32:09] email that that we were looking at through our

[32:13] um budget process. I see the price in here as if you

[32:17] contacted the the company cuz I know when we looked at this, we it

[32:22] was months back. >> Yes, sir.

[32:24] » Is anything is is any cost changed with that?

[32:28] » I spoke to him this morning. He was at the hospital with his wife who was

[32:31] having some surgery done. He said I he couldn't lay eyes on it, but he didn't

[32:34] expect a major increase from the original quote he gave us.

[32:41] » That's truck 204. >> That's truck 209.

[32:44] » 209 is the one you wanted to re-model. >> That's going to be our oldest truck and

[32:49] the one with the most miles on it. >> Well, explain re-mat to me again. I know

[32:53] uh Barry did it when he came before us

[32:57] 12-18 months ago. What are you keeping?

[33:01] » We're keeping the box. We're >> Keeping the box. You're getting a new

[33:04] cab and chassis. >> Correct. And we're taking that box.

[33:06] They're un- un-mounting it from the old truck and putting it on a brand new cab

[33:11] cabin chassis. >> Okay. Okay.

[33:17] I was for some reason I had in my mind that it was right the opposite. You were

[33:21] keeping the cab and chassis and getting a new box, but

[33:24] » No, sir. And in that process, they refurbed um

[33:27] everything that needs refurbing. The HVAC in the back of the truck gets the

[33:31] refurbished as as well as the charging system. The inverter system gets

[33:37] um replaced as well during that process. >> And all that's figured into that cost.

[33:40] » Yes, sir. And it also includes um the stretchers and power loads. That is

[33:45] something that we've not in play that has not been included in the past, but

[33:50] it is sorely needed to be included in these costs. This is a turn-key price on

[33:55] including everything from all vendors. >> The 209 is the one you're talking about

[33:59] doing. >> Correct. That's the oldest one with the

[34:02] most miles on it. >> Okay. All right. All right.

[34:04] » I'm sure. Yes, sir. >> I'm the same place you were with with

[34:09] I don't remember because I do remember him talking about

[34:13] there were uh rules and regulations on the things in the box

[34:20] not being up to standards or new. And that's where that

[34:24] came from because he was talking about that box had to be redone every so many

[34:28] years, too, or so many hours. >> The box

[34:33] our goal is to when we get a new truck like we did in

[34:37] September, that one will reach its useful life and

[34:41] I'm hoping to get 5 years out of it. Once we get to that point of re pla

[34:45] redoing that truck, we will take that box off since it's a brand new box and

[34:50] put it on a new chassis to get us 5 more years out of that box.

[34:53] » And correct me if I'm wrong, John, but that's usually only recommended to do

[34:57] once for safety reasons. >> Correct. Because if you get much more

[35:01] than that, um when you get when if they x-ray the box,

[35:04] they'll see the welds have started breaking

[35:07] and such. >> that was a question

[35:10] that I know myself and former Commissioner Rian had when they're way

[35:14] to x-ray that box to see cracks and if it wasn't wouldn't it still usable.

[35:21] » The chances of it in of it cracking if you remount it more than once are going

[35:26] to increase. >> Okay. Now, I I get that. I did.

[35:29] » There are ways to x-ray it, but once you remount it more than once, that box is

[35:33] probably going to have close to half a million road miles on it

[35:37] in a total of a million miles when you include auto

[35:41] hours. >> Okay.

[35:44] Any more questions? >> Uh John, how many total trucks do you

[35:47] have? >> Right now, we have seven.

[35:50] » Seven.

[35:53] How many

[35:57] on average, how many times in a week are all four trucks out?

[36:05] » Uh we run out of trucks, um

[36:10] I'd like to say once a day, we make calls for standbys, but that's not

[36:14] always the case because we're not always fully staffed.

[36:18] Right now, we have five open positions um that we could hire

[36:24] if we didn't have a vacancy allowance.

[36:30] » Any more questions? >> Mr. Chairman.

[36:32] » Yes. >> John, what uh

[36:35] what is the cost savings on this remount versus a new truck?

[36:39] » So, the remount, I think we have 275 that's in the

[36:43] proposal on the table right now. Is that correct?

[36:47] » Yeah. >> Um

[36:49] a new truck The new truck that we bought in

[36:52] I think was delivered in September was 350.

[36:55] » Do you want >> Um and if you want to add

[36:59] one cost that we didn't equate to that you seen on the contingency fund slide

[37:03] yesterday was the $10,500

[37:07] for tags for that truck that we had to pull out of contingency in September.

[37:11] Nobody equated for that in the original cost.

[37:15] Um and my proposal, that 275 actually includes that.

[37:20] » Thank you. >> So, it actually goes up to about 26 361

[37:23] for a new truck.

[37:26] » No problem. Any more Any other questions?

[37:29] » Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir.

[37:30] » John, uh so you've got a freeze on four positions.

[37:35] » That's >> how's that

[37:36] » Go ahead. >> How's that look? I mean, we've got seven

[37:39] ambulances and you got four a freeze on four positions. How's

[37:43] that look to the public? I mean, what does that amount to?

[37:47] What's the result of that? >> Right now, we have 24 positions that are

[37:51] 24-hour set and 24 hours on 72 hours off. And we also have four positions

[37:57] that work a what we call a 223 schedule in which they work 12 hours. Um

[38:02] and they'll work 36 hours one week and 48 the next. Those four positions will

[38:07] be eliminated because they only work 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

[38:11] Those four positions will be put not eliminated, but put on hold because of

[38:15] the vacancy allowance. >> How's that going to affect service time

[38:18] and response time? >> Um

[38:21] if we have to do that, we'll probably bring all three trucks back to

[38:24] Yanceyville instead of having trucks at out bases.

[38:28] Um, that's going to increase response times to the edge far edges of the

[38:32] county.

[38:38] » Any more questions?

[38:42] All right, thank you. Who else do we have?

[38:47] Madam Manager? >> Um, you have the Sheriff's Department.

[38:50] » All right. Sheriff, you coming up?

[38:59] » Afternoon.

[40:13] » All right, questions.

[40:18] Sheriff, I know we don't. I think it was originally put in there for 10

[40:22] 10 vehicles.

[40:25] Would these six go a long way to to help him alleviate

[40:30] some issues you have?

[41:12] Sheriff, as you know, we've got a freeze on all vacancies. How many vacancies

[41:15] does the department have?

[41:34] What's your total number of vehicles?

[41:48] Yeah. Yeah. Got you.

[41:54] I'll get back to Mr. Rose's question. If we can't we can't do 10, if we can do

[42:00] five or six, I'm taking it that would help.

[42:04] Okay.

[42:13] I understand. I understand. >> Sheriff, would these be replacing your

[42:17] high pursuit vehicles that have the high mileage and wear on them?

[42:37] » Any other questions?

[42:42] All right, Sheriff. Thank you very much.

[42:50] » And then we have our maintenance department.

[42:52] » All right. Mr. Hayes.

[43:14] What questions y'all have for maintenance director?

[43:19] I have a number of questions. I think Melissa's answered a lot of my questions

[43:22] today. And um

[43:24] yeah, I just want to make sure that your funding was sufficient to see you

[43:28] through next 12 months. I'm concerned and and what we would do in the case of

[43:34] an emergency or major repair, where that money come from, and she's addressed

[43:38] that. So, um I guess uh

[43:42] day-to-day maintenance, uh you've got money for

[43:46] maintenance and and I know you've got some personnel on freeze, too.

[43:50] Is that correct?

[43:53] » There's one cleaning um one on the cleaning crew that we have.

[44:04] » I'd like my comment. Um

[44:08] I really I I'd say you probably run the tightest ship in this county.

[44:12] And I just want to let you know I appreciate it.

[44:18] » No questions, Mr. Hayes? >> Mr. Chairman.

[44:20] » Yes. >> I don't really have a question. I mean I

[44:23] I think he knows as well as I do that, you know, everybody's had to

[44:28] to struggle this budget cycle and everybody's had to

[44:32] but um cut back.

[44:36] But I guess going off what um Commissioner Hope

[44:41] said, I I've seen you

[44:45] take nothing and make something out of it and I appreciate it.

[44:48] That's not taking away from any of other fire department heads cuz all of them do

[44:51] a great job and I appreciate everything they do.

[44:55] But your kind of task at some point in time when their stuff breaks is trying

[44:59] to get it fixed and um I do appreciate everything you do and um

[45:03] I know it is had been a struggle with this budget.

[45:07] That's all I have, Mr. Chairman.

[45:19] » No questions? Thank you, Jody.

[45:23] » And we have our solid waste director here.

[45:26] » Mr. Feagins.

[45:41] » Afternoon. Thank you for being here. So um most of

[45:45] you are aware the fees did go up. Um and as we've been speaking since

[45:51] middle of last year majority of the fees are going to the

[45:55] monitoring wells that the state is requiring us to put in additional

[45:58] monitoring. Excuse me. As well as the contract we

[46:03] have one more year left with First Piedmont and their fees went up as well

[46:07] for the disposal side. I can go over anything you want. I have documentation

[46:12] we can look at stuff if you got any questions, I'm open.

[46:16] » Questions. Total amount what total cost on those

[46:20] monitoring wells we're going to have to install?

[46:23] » It was around 118,000, right?

[46:28] » Yes, let me um >> I'm sure it's in here, but I you've got

[46:33] it you're closer than I have. >> Yes, so the monitoring wells, it's

[46:40] around 118,000 increase. But that includes putting the new wells

[46:44] in, testing all the wells for P fast as well as the lab fees for the dish the

[46:50] current testing we're doing

[46:54] um and establishing roads to the monitoring wells as well as to the um

[46:58] surface water samples that we have to do and we're doing a lot of that stuff in

[47:03] house to cut cost. >> Is

[47:05] is the state giving you a definite number on how many wells?

[47:09] » Yes, sir. So right now we're at two. We did have some money left we did test our

[47:15] our supply well at the landfill. Um I got them to go ahead and do that

[47:21] and that was negative. So that contributed to the number. So we're only

[47:25] doing two and they're clustered kind of together so that also saves on money

[47:30] getting a road in. >> How does

[47:33] How does the monitoring well just compare to a conventional well that

[47:37] someone might have at their home? >> Um the depth the depth is very shallow.

[47:43] Some are a lot shallower than your normal drinking well and I could get my

[47:46] other book and tell you exactly the depth, but we won't go there unless you

[47:49] want to know. >> No, go ahead.

[47:51] » Um basically if you think about a 3-in pipe in the

[47:55] ground and it's cased and when they get ready to test it, they stick a tube down

[48:00] in it and they hook it they have different pumps depending on the volume

[48:04] of that well and they pump out water and they put it in a tube sample and it's

[48:09] encased at the off of the ground in concrete and locked and that's something

[48:13] the state requires. We have to check the locks and all.

[48:18] But they drill them on a well drilling skid

[48:21] and you know, they drill and they have a certain amount they don't hit, we have

[48:26] to move. >> They don't hit water on

[48:29] » They don't hit water, that's correct. And then we have to develop the well

[48:33] and if the well doesn't produce enough, then we have to come back. So we try to

[48:37] make sure when they drill, I'm on site with them. We try to make sure we hit

[48:41] enough water where it will develop to save cost to having to come back.

[48:50] Uh I can go get my beef at my well book and tell you I don't know off top of my

[48:55] head. So they they're pumping them off of 12

[48:59] volt pumps. So I would say maybe a gallon less than a gallon a minute.

[49:03] » Can't be much if they're doing it like that.

[49:04] » Yep.

[49:08] » I was expecting you to say it's going to be a thousand feet deep as much as this

[49:11] cost. >> No, so um

[49:18] So for example and I can tell you a little bit more to break it down. So

[49:22] they're doing a weep sweep and sampling. So basically a representative from SM&E

[49:28] and myself is going to walk from the creek property line. There's two creeks

[49:32] on the property. We're going to walk from one of them from property line to

[49:34] property line and do them both.

[49:37] And they're going to look for any settlement

[49:40] or and they're going to take samples of settlement or anything in the quick

[49:44] creek. That's $7100, okay? To install the two wells is $3900.

[49:52] Okay? And then they have to develop the wells,

[49:55] which is around 4,000. Um there's two sampling events, and that

[50:01] includes the PFOA sampling of those two wells and the lab costs and my already

[50:06] in-ground wells, which is around $28,000.

[50:12] And we have to pour the water, um which I'm thinking is part of their

[50:19] development, and that is right at $6,000,

[50:23] as well as we have to do assessment report for the PFOA to the state, which

[50:27] is another $7,000.

[50:32] And then I mean in in the proposal well monitoring, I have to buy rock to get

[50:38] rock to the wells so that they are a all-weather road, so they can get their

[50:42] vehicles to the wells. And we'll install the rock ourselves, so

[50:47] we're not paying somebody to do it. >> Are these the only two you'll have to do

[50:51] the PFOA sampling on? >> No, sir. I got to do them on every well.

[50:55] Yes, sir. 13 of them, plus I currently do three groundwater samples, and I've

[51:00] added I mean, excuse me, surface water, and we added four more, so a total of

[51:04] seven surface waters as well. >> Correct me if I'm wrong. We were on the

[51:09] verge of coming off any type of monitoring because the

[51:14] landfill's been closed for a number of years.

[51:17] » Until the state decided to start to test for PFOA.

[51:22] » I I was thinking that was what you had told us. Yes, sir.

[51:25] » Um >> AJ, you said we contract First Piedmont

[51:29] now, correct? >> Yes, sir.

[51:32] » And those It looks like those fees increase in

[51:35] year after year after year. >> That's correct.

[51:38] » How how many other companies around are you

[51:42] able to get quotes from? >> I've done two RFPs since I've been the

[51:48] director um over the time frame um

[51:53] and nobody will bid against them. They're the only company that will turn

[51:56] a bid in. I send it out Excuse me, we put it on the website. I'm happy to do

[52:01] whatever we need to do to get some other companies. Um it will become next year

[52:06] will be time to bid. I'll have to build a RFP, put all the data in it, and we'll

[52:10] have to put it out next year. >> What What is the main cost associated

[52:14] with? Is it with the hauling or is it with the trash space within their

[52:17] landfill? >> The tipping is the most expensive, but

[52:20] the hauling costs as well. >> Right.

[52:23] Um have you ever thought about looking at seeing what um

[52:28] if there's any savings or it could be more cost. I don't know of

[52:33] us actually hauling it if you know, I don't know. I'm just asking So we can

[52:37] ever looked at that. We can look at that if y'all want to form a committee so we

[52:41] can put some ideas and thoughts in there. Um we could um

[52:45] we could haul the open tops from the Yancey Center and let them continue to

[52:48] do the packer boxes. Or we could take it over all, but I will

[52:52] tell you I can't do it with on the staff I have and I can't do it with the trucks

[52:57] I have. >> Yeah, and I'm not I'm not saying that's

[52:59] something we need to change. I said I guess I'm looking at it from the aspect

[53:02] of if we took a look at that to see if if

[53:06] there is some cost savings because I mean

[53:11] it's two things that I think feel like a life's not going away. Taxes not going

[53:14] away and trash. >> Right. And I will tell you two things on

[53:17] that statement you just made. Um we can definitely take a dive into it

[53:23] before we put the RFP out, but I will tell you that um

[53:28] if I come and say, you know, I can haul for $100,000 less,

[53:32] you can't say oh we saved $100,000 because I've already been told

[53:36] if I take the hauling from them and I go to their landfill, they're going up on

[53:40] your tipping fee. >> Okay.

[53:42] » So you're going to have to you're going to have to adjust.

[53:44] » And I think that we're kind of

[53:48] at their mercy, for lack of a better words.

[53:51] » And we may be able to contract with another landfill. You know, I can put

[53:55] the fillers out once we get through the budget, we can start planning, maybe put

[53:59] a little committee together, get some ideas of is it cheaper for us to haul

[54:03] half of our stuff and they haul half or contract with somebody else

[54:07] and see where we can go from it before we put the RFP out.

[54:11] » Cuz I mean, it looks like it's been every year it it continuously keeps

[54:14] going up and up. >> And you you know, every time we do the

[54:17] contract, um you're going to get a big spike.

[54:21] And that's next budget. And I hate it. And I argue with them I

[54:25] mean, it just, you know, >> Right. And I don't even I don't know if

[54:30] it would actually be any cost savings to the county if to do this. I have no

[54:34] clue. >> Right. We can look into it.

[54:36] » Um I just know that and and and I guess one thing I I've

[54:40] been doing some looking at some stuff and and and I

[54:43] guess the board at some point in time needs to be very

[54:46] aware of it. Um A lot of these landfills are limited in

[54:51] space that they will take other trash from other counties.

[54:55] So, they cut you back. And they only take so much.

[54:59] Um >> They'll take whatever we send them.

[55:02] All of your MSW, which is your bagged trash and garbage, goes to the transfer

[55:08] and then we pay them to haul it to the transfer and then haul it to Reidsville.

[55:11] All of our C&D, like your couches and stuff that you throw away at the

[55:15] landfill, that goes in their landfill. >> Okay.

[55:21] But that's that's where the First Piedmont takes their stuff. They don't

[55:24] deal with Alamance over here anything like that.

[55:26] » No, sir. All Pennsylvania County anywhere and I can check and see.

[55:29] » Who hauls Who hauls Is there any companies out of Alamance

[55:34] that haul? >> Republic's out of Alamance.

[55:38] » Okay. >> So, they don't own a landfill in

[55:41] Alamance. >> Right. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman.

[55:43] » Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir.

[55:45] » Let me Let me ask this. Um how many sites around the county, not counting

[55:49] the the the main

[55:51] » Eight. >> Eight.

[55:53] What's the percentage of trash? I mean, is that

[55:57] majority of it or I mean, I don't have to have numbers,

[56:01] but you kind of know is most of the trash coming from these

[56:05] other eight sites? >> Yeah, so um I can give you the breakdown

[56:09] of what comes out of the landfill, what we call the landfill, like when you

[56:13] cross the scales to throw something. And excuse me, what comes from the packer

[56:17] boxes cuz I get it separated. Um but yeah, your majority of your

[56:22] weight is coming out of your packer boxes except for the landfill. Your

[56:26] business site is Pelham. >> Let me ask this question. How many

[56:29] counties are still doing it the way we are because I know

[56:34] the other counties at least a lot of them, you know, they

[56:38] have trash pickup. So, how many how many counties do you

[56:41] think still left in North Carolina that are doing it?

[56:45] » It's quite a few. I know um if you get down towards the coast and up

[56:49] to the mountains, they have convenience sites now far as

[56:53] counties touching us, not many. But there is quite a few counties that have

[56:57] the convenience sites like we do or either they have convenience sites like

[57:00] we do, but they have a county employee sitting in a house, hut, or building

[57:05] there all the time. When it's open.

[57:08] » So, the trash that's at um I'm going to call it the landfill over

[57:12] here, but um you're going to get paid for whatever

[57:15] comes in there. >> Yes, sir. It

[57:17] » What tax is that one's really not costing us?

[57:21] » So, we we break even on that with the exception of we take free trash uh the

[57:25] county county trash like if, you know,

[57:28] depending on the project um we have a good neighbor policy like we don't

[57:33] charge the churches and the nonprofits as well as uh NCDOT when they do

[57:38] roadside cleanup and stuff, they dump for free as well.

[57:42] Um, so we do have some free stuff, but the fees at the landfill

[57:47] cover that majority and renting the dumpsters out covers the landfill cost.

[57:54] It's about $450,000 out of the landfill itself.

[58:01] » Any more questions for Mr. I've got one. AJ, going back to the

[58:06] monitoring wells, if we find that we've got a problem with

[58:09] the results exceed the limits, can we treat through the well itself or do you

[58:14] have to go another step? >> So, you asked me that one time we were

[58:18] talking about it and I asked my job principal geologist Ed

[58:23] and he says we can if need to be. If we we could, but the probably the best

[58:28] thing to do would be actually put a treatment well in and treat. Sometimes

[58:32] it's like blowing air into the ground or whatever.

[58:35] Um, but he doesn't feel like we we're going to be in that risk right now by

[58:40] the studies and data, you know, that they've looked at. Uh, but we can treat

[58:44] through the well if we have to. But it's not a normal practice.

[58:51] » Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Bigger.

[58:56] I believe Mr. Rose has a question for someone from the school system. Mis- is

[59:02] it super- uh superintendent Artega? Okay. I know and quote me if correct me

[59:07] if I'm wrong, he said that the school board was going to meet Monday

[59:11] to come up with their capital stuff.

[59:19] I can't hear you. I'm sorry.

[59:25] » So, if I heard him correctly, I think it's just going to be a presentation of

[59:28] what the 888 we are at and then we're going to present that to y'all and then

[59:33] it was also going to be a presentation of what we're expected to do for next

[59:38] fiscal year.

[59:43] Cuz again, we still need that facilities plan and that's going to drive a lot of

[59:47] the things that we're looking at.

[59:52] » Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome.

[59:56] » Is that all the departments been requested?

[59:58] » Yes. >> All right. Gentlemen, yesterday before

[1:00:03] we adjourned the manager and myself both asked if

[1:00:08] there were any specific questions related to the budget numbers that you

[1:00:13] all have. No one had any at that time. Does

[1:00:17] anybody have any today? Specific numbers that have stuck

[1:00:23] with you that you're not comfortable with.

[1:00:27] You have a question about.

[1:00:32] All right, since no one has a question about anything specifically

[1:00:37] in the budget let's dig into this.

[1:00:41] Can we go back to that screen from the five

[1:00:46] » The last one. >> Yeah, the the page number five.

[1:00:51] Right there.

[1:00:54] Yeah. Yeah, that's it. Now this

[1:00:58] this uh

[1:01:01] Okay, let me get my numbers right.

[1:01:06] I believe you said Madam Manager that there was

[1:01:14] 985 984 available

[1:01:19] and you know things we money we can have that we can

[1:01:24] use if the board is so inclined. >> Correct.

[1:01:27] » And you gave these suggestions or possibilities, let me just call it

[1:01:32] that, not suggestions. I won't put words in your mouth. So, you suggested them.

[1:01:37] Uh these items on page five for using the

[1:01:43] majority of that money, not quite all of it, but the majority.

[1:01:46] » into consideration cuz I knew the EMS ambulance remount was a high priority

[1:01:51] and the sheriff vehicles and I know that you as the commissioners wanted to give

[1:01:55] something back as well to the employees. That's why I chose the ones that I did

[1:02:00] on here, but by all means, you can change that.

[1:02:03] » Right. Right. All right. I just want to know the board's feelings

[1:02:08] on what you see there on the screen five, but you've got it in

[1:02:13] front of you, page five. The one-time bonus,

[1:02:17] the remount, and the sheriff vehicles. Personally, and I'll just throw this out

[1:02:23] there, the remount is one that I don't know we've got a lot of options on that

[1:02:27] one. >> Correct.

[1:02:28] » Uh that was put off because we didn't ever go before the LGC

[1:02:35] cuz we couldn't get the finance numbers all together

[1:02:39] to ask for it to be financed. >> And we don't know how long it may take

[1:02:43] to get back before the LGC, so if >> Right.

[1:02:46] » asked to go ahead and purchase it now, I think it would be wise to do so.

[1:02:50] » Okay. Is it the consensus I'm going to just

[1:02:53] say is the consensus of the board to do pay for the remount?

[1:03:02] I don't see a no, so I'm saying it's the remount will stay.

[1:03:06] » Okay. >> Yes, sir.

[1:03:09] Yes, sir. >> It It went You said it went before the

[1:03:13] LGC? >> It didn't ever get that. We didn't have

[1:03:16] our financial house in order and it's still not in order to get this.

[1:03:22] » So it wasn't denied. It never got to >> It never got to never got to. It was

[1:03:26] scheduled and then they said you can't come cuz you don't have everything where

[1:03:30] it needs to be. So now we didn't did we never got in front of them so to speak.

[1:03:36] All right. So we're good on the ambulance remount.

[1:03:40] All right, let's go with the sheriff's vehicles next then.

[1:03:43] Yesterday it was proposed we could do 10.

[1:03:47] Scaled it back a little bit to six. I think listening to the sheriff few

[1:03:52] moments ago he's grateful for whatever we can do as

[1:03:55] far as vehicles go. I'm sure he would like to have a whole

[1:03:58] new fleet of vehicles but of course we can't do that.

[1:04:03] What's the board's feeling on these six vehicles?

[1:04:09] » I think I mean it's been Melissa 2 years.

[1:04:13] » Cuz we don't have any you know in for 27 so it'll be two cycles.

[1:04:17] » Yeah. Um

[1:04:21] and I thank you for all your hard work on putting these numbers together. I I

[1:04:24] think um I wish we could do 10 but

[1:04:28] I have enough I'll go with six.

[1:04:33] » Any other comments, concerns, questions? >> I'll I'll go with I'll go with the six

[1:04:38] but also feel like there's a lot of people

[1:04:42] driving these sheriff cars home. I know that

[1:04:46] I I know this that you know they're on call this stuff but

[1:04:50] I don't I don't agree with I think it could be cut back.

[1:04:53] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:04:55] I'm fine with the six but like was it last meeting or meeting before

[1:05:00] last I told you after budget time I wanted to look at this county vehicle

[1:05:03] policy as to who's driving them home and why really.

[1:05:08] » So >> I'm hoping we can dig into that in the

[1:05:10] next few weeks. >> We brought this up and it just seems to

[1:05:14] never happen, so I don't know what we can do to change

[1:05:17] it, but Yeah, we got to

[1:05:20] I won't say we need to rein this some of these vehicles in, but I think maybe

[1:05:24] there's some vehicles that are that should be left on county property.

[1:05:30] Let's just leave it like that. >> I agree.

[1:05:34] » Is everybody comfortable with the six? I

[1:05:38] know Mr. Pope, you said you were. >> Yeah.

[1:05:41] » Tony? >> Mr. Chairman,

[1:05:43] it bothers me great degree that we cannot lease these vehicles. Here again,

[1:05:48] we we paying cash, which could go into our fund balance to

[1:05:51] get us back healthy again, but that's just it's just got to be one of our top

[1:05:57] top priorities after the budget meetings get over to get back in

[1:06:01] and get office UAL, get our audits caught up, and to where we can lease as

[1:06:08] we used to the ambulances and outfits and sheriff's vehicles and so forth. But

[1:06:12] yeah, I I think it's we we did save that money and it's a good use for that

[1:06:17] money. >> We are looking at that because we do

[1:06:21] think that there possibly could be better savings if we ended up going back

[1:06:25] to purchasing our vehicles, but in order to do that,

[1:06:30] we've got to set up our like a fleet plan like payment to be able to like pay

[1:06:35] ourselves to build it up and and I do think there would be savings there to to

[1:06:41] look at that, but we've just got to have time to sit down and and look at that.

[1:06:49] » Mr. Oh, I do understand kind of what you're

[1:06:53] saying as far as the the county vehicles, stuff like that.

[1:06:57] And I guess one thing that I will push back a little bit on um

[1:07:01] and not so much pushing back, that was the wrong word.

[1:07:04] Um when you're looking at sheriff's office

[1:07:07] vehicles, what you got to look at is if you got a

[1:07:11] deputy that's at home and he's supposed to start his

[1:07:15] tour of duty. Well, if he's driving his personal

[1:07:17] vehicle from his house to the Sheriff's Office

[1:07:21] and a call comes out in between the time he leaves home and he gets there,

[1:07:27] he doesn't I wouldn't be responsible in my private vehicle

[1:07:31] to a scene. Too much liability.

[1:07:35] Um there's also issues if if things happen

[1:07:40] when they check on work before they get there if they're driving a personal

[1:07:43] vehicle that they can't address. So, I think some of that if they're on

[1:07:47] call in a emergency status, I mean that's just

[1:07:51] that's just the nature of the beast. Um Now, as far as other vehicles within the

[1:07:56] county, yeah, we probably need to take a look at it, but um

[1:08:01] you know, I've seen it to where um

[1:08:05] something happens and they're on the way and and I'll be honest with you, I don't

[1:08:08] know of any any jurisdiction in this state of North

[1:08:12] Carolina that requires their officers to drive their personal vehicle

[1:08:17] to and from work. >> All right, but my question is how do you

[1:08:21] feel about the six? >> Sorry, I'm fine with the six.

[1:08:27] Yeah, I'm I'm perfectly fine with the six.

[1:08:28] » Mr. Speaker, Mr. Blake. >> What?

[1:08:31] » I'd like to respond to that. I mean one of my best friends grandfather

[1:08:35] police and he never had a car to drive home.

[1:08:39] He was a sergeant. >> I tell you, gentlemen, let's

[1:08:42] » I just don't understand. >> Let's

[1:08:45] And I maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut. Let's stick on the budget

[1:08:49] thing and this vehicle thing. We we are going to tackle it

[1:08:53] in the next two months or less.

[1:08:56] Uh let's get this budget stuff worked up.

[1:08:59] » Mr. Blake, how do you feel about the six?

[1:09:03] » I think it's a good compromise.

[1:09:08] » All right, Madam Manager, you're good with the six vehicles then.

[1:09:11] » Yes. >> So, between the vehicles and the

[1:09:15] ambulance rate, man, if my math is right, this 626,000

[1:09:20] bucks.

[1:09:25] I think it's right. All right. >> Uh

[1:09:29] I know Commissioner Flagler brought up yesterday about giving employees

[1:09:33] 2 days off. Uh and we asked finance officer to run

[1:09:41] those numbers, and he did. And one thing that didn't cross my mind

[1:09:45] when it was brought up was emergency personnel, or the sheriff

[1:09:50] department, EMS. You know, if they take off, you got to

[1:09:55] still got to fill that slot, so to speak. And more or less, it I guess time

[1:10:00] and a half. Am I thinking about this right, finance people?

[1:10:05] So, that adds cost to it. Go ahead. Like, am I thinking about that right,

[1:10:10] Keith? >> Correct.

[1:10:11] » Okay. Good. Uh and I talked with the manager this

[1:10:15] morning, and

[1:10:19] through some discussions that some of staff had yesterday afternoon, I

[1:10:22] believe, uh they came up with this bonus idea.

[1:10:30] And the bonus is a non-recurring

[1:10:35] expense. Am I stating all of this right? >> Correct. Correct.

[1:10:38] » Okay, it's a non-recurring expense. So, if you do it this year, it's not ne it's

[1:10:44] not in the budget next year, unless you want it in there.

[1:10:46] » Correct. And it's also, you know, not added to the salary. It's just a bonus.

[1:10:51] » Exactly. Uh one question I had concerning that

[1:10:56] number. You go back to

[1:11:00] page

[1:11:06] Yeah, find it somewhere. Okay. So, page two, I think.

[1:11:13] Full-time down about middle of page where it says full-time $1,000 each 249

[1:11:20] bonus We got 249 employees. The bonus cost 249,000.

[1:11:27] That extra 57,508

[1:11:32] is what?

[1:11:37] » So, that's the the FICA retirement pieces.

[1:11:42] » But the How much would the average employee get $800? Did

[1:11:48] I see that somewhere? Out of the thousand.

[1:11:50] » Yes. >> Okay, so that's take home.

[1:11:52] » That'd be the take home pay. >> Yeah, that'd be the take home.

[1:11:55] » So, they wouldn't be getting a thousand. And all the taxes above that would come

[1:11:59] out of the county's coffers, so to speak.

[1:12:03] They would only be getting 800. >> Correct. Yes, after take out for

[1:12:06] retirement and taxes. >> So, that would just that

[1:12:10] whatever number I quoted 50 some odd thousand just the county's portion of

[1:12:13] FICA and retirement. Correct?

[1:12:16] » Correct.

[1:12:18] » How y'all feel about the bonus deal? And I believe and I don't know if you

[1:12:25] stated it not, Madam Manager, that the part-time would be limited to those that

[1:12:30] have 500 hours or more by June 30th. >> And are active.

[1:12:35] » And are Explain to me what a active and inactive part-time person

[1:12:39] » You could have had a part-time employee just making sure that no one who make

[1:12:43] got 500 hours in is no longer with the county. Just making sure they shouldn't

[1:12:48] be in our system or anything. So, it means they are still a current employee

[1:12:52] and active on the county payroll. >> Okay. Okay.

[1:12:57] Mr. >> Yes.

[1:12:58] » And they also would it correct me if I'm wrong from what I heard a while ago they

[1:13:02] would actually have to have worked 500 hours

[1:13:06] from June 30th of last year to July 1 of this year.

[1:13:14] » Yeah, it would be from July 1st of last year to June 30th of this year.

[1:13:20] » Okay. So they would have had to have incurred at least 500 hours if not more

[1:13:23] to to be eligible for this. >> Correct. If the board chooses to do

[1:13:28] that. >> Right. Um do you know how many

[1:13:32] would qualify or would not qualify?

[1:13:36] » I do not have that exact number. Um I do know that when Miss Sharp was helping us

[1:13:42] come with these with the the numbers um that she said that she did see that

[1:13:47] there was some in there that only had like six or eight hours, but I'm not

[1:13:51] sure of how many. Do you Okay.

[1:13:54] I don't know the exact number. Yeah, she just gave us the maximum so we

[1:13:59] would know, but um as she and I discussed we're certain this number will

[1:14:04] be lowered. >> Right. So that this number we got not

[1:14:07] going up if anything is coming down. >> Right. Exactly.

[1:14:11] » Thank you.

[1:14:17] What's y'all's thoughts? >> Mr.

[1:14:19] » Yes. >> Um

[1:14:20] additional compensation for the employees is one of my main objectives.

[1:14:24] I didn't see how we're going to do it, but uh yeah, $1,000

[1:14:30] amounts to about 2% on average probably maybe a little bit less increase which I

[1:14:35] think is that's that's not inflation up to inflation, but it's certainly better

[1:14:40] than than zero. But it concerns me we had to freeze 29

[1:14:44] other positions to be able to to do this. I mean, it's going to it's going

[1:14:49] to affect the departments and so forth. So, in coming years, we've got to

[1:14:53] increase our revenues through economic development or whatever to where we can

[1:14:57] have a cola increase next year because we may not have any savings. So, this

[1:15:02] may be just a one-shot deal. So, we've got our work cut out for us the next 12

[1:15:06] months to get revenues up. >> Yeah, I definitely do not suspect that

[1:15:10] you'll have these type of savings at the end of FY27.

[1:15:14] » But, I like the idea that we not going to be taking away from fund balance and

[1:15:18] we say, "Okay, these are revenues and these

[1:15:22] are expenses and we're not going to exceed the revenue."

[1:15:25] Well, that's that's healthy. It's just that we've got to build that fund

[1:15:29] balance up to where we beyond 11.5 up to 12 plus to where we feel more

[1:15:34] comfortable. But, yeah, I'm in I'm in agreement with with that number.

[1:15:41] » Any other comments or questions concerning the

[1:15:45] bonus possible bonus?

[1:15:47] » Yes, sir, chair. >> Yes, sir.

[1:15:48] » County County Manager, so where is these funds coming from? Is it

[1:15:52] » These are from savings in FY26, our current fiscal year. So, we'll have to

[1:15:58] come before the board at the June 15th meeting with a budget amendment to

[1:16:03] appropriate these funds. But, um they're savings that we had from FY26

[1:16:09] um and we had on the previous slide it gave, you know, from where we did not

[1:16:14] purchase the vehicles, do the lease agreement, didn't have to use the

[1:16:18] uplift, contingency, and vacancy um

[1:16:23] salaries that were lapsed. It was a combination of things that made up this

[1:16:27] total. >> Thank you.

[1:16:31] » Thank you, chair.

[1:16:35] » All right. I'll tell you what. Let's see if this is not a formal vote.

[1:16:40] Show of hands of those that

[1:16:44] I will say crazy about it but you can live with this bonus idea that's

[1:16:48] managers put before us this afternoon. You can live with it raise your right

[1:16:53] hand. I guess I could. Those that couldn't.

[1:16:58] When majority >> 346,000

[1:17:02] » Yes. Yes. >> versus almost a million

[1:17:05] » Right. So

[1:17:08] majority of the board is consensus that you could do that. All right, we got

[1:17:15] that out of the way. What else do we need to cover today?

[1:17:19] I know that we don't have the school capital outlay yet.

[1:17:43] » That's what we went with. >> Mr. Chairman

[1:17:45] » Yes, sir. >> We have mentioned to them

[1:17:48] numerous times to have this ready for us.

[1:17:51] I don't >> I agree.

[1:17:54] » I don't see it. Let's panic and over what they have

[1:17:58] done. >> going to panic over it. I can assure you

[1:18:00] of that. It but

[1:18:04] I believe it was two years ago

[1:18:09] they didn't get us anything until mid to late May at all.

[1:18:14] Our previous one former manager Mazaros was here. I believe it's that year.

[1:18:25] » Are there any other changes you want to make to the proposed budget cuz we're

[1:18:30] just looking for a final direction from you all?

[1:18:33] » Other than the school capital outlay that they don't have yet.

[1:18:40] I haven't heard this board bring up anything else.

[1:18:43] Uh you and I both asked yesterday and I

[1:18:47] asked today if there was anything and no one seems I know none of us are happy

[1:18:52] with it overall. Well, >> I understand.

[1:18:55] » specific items, but it's one that we're going to have to bite the

[1:18:59] bullet and live with, I guess. >> And we'll come back before the board at

[1:19:02] the 15th meeting with a budget amendment for definitely for these items right

[1:19:07] here that are in >> How are we going to handle the school

[1:19:09] capital outlay? >> That's what I was going to ask when we

[1:19:12] » Because that's the only outstanding thing.

[1:19:19] » I'm sure you can be here

[1:19:22] after the 15th. >> The

[1:19:25] the 400,000 is already in the budget. So, you can before you appropriate it to

[1:19:30] them, you can ask them to let you know what they're going to use it for. But

[1:19:33] the 865,000,

[1:19:37] um that will y'all can decide that later because both boards have to agree and

[1:19:43] that would be from the lottery funds. It's not coming out of our budget. That

[1:19:48] would be going And we are going to appropriate 400,000,

[1:19:53] but the 865,000, the only way they will get that is if both boards agree to get

[1:19:58] it out of lottery funds. Otherwise, they get the 400,000.

[1:20:06] » I know you said we can appropriate it, but is that the same way we did it last

[1:20:12] year on the 888? >> You can still before you give them, you

[1:20:16] know, release the funds to them. We just have to budget for it. You can ask them

[1:20:21] to do line by line like you did before to show you what they're going to spend

[1:20:26] the money on. And then if they get the lottery funds, you know, you You ask to

[1:20:30] see that as well. >> Okay, but the lottery funds are

[1:20:33] something that both boards have. >> Both boards have to agree upon. So,

[1:20:37] that's why I had um sent an email to the superintendent to let him know that, you

[1:20:42] know, he may want to prioritize because if both boards not

[1:20:46] you know, agree that's something they definitely need to

[1:20:49] take a look at. >> Okay. Okay.

[1:20:52] » What What was the total number that we gave them last year?

[1:20:55] » For um I'm going off the top of my head before the baseline, it was like

[1:21:00] $3,078,000 the baseline, and then we appropriated

[1:21:04] the 400,000 for capital, and that's the exact amount

[1:21:09] that we're giving them again this year. >> Okay.

[1:21:11] What we're They won't be able to say that we didn't

[1:21:15] if we did that number we didn't cut them in.

[1:21:19] » Right, and he and I mean and he was here, the superintendent was at the

[1:21:22] recommended budget. I've talked to him a couple of times since, and I also talked

[1:21:27] to him on the phone today, and I mean he's seemed pleased with what he was

[1:21:32] receiving. >> If correct me if I'm wrong, the school

[1:21:35] system is the only thing in this county budget-wise that we did not cut.

[1:21:42] » Correct. They are the only ones that did not receive a reduction.

[1:21:46] » They should be well pleased.

[1:21:50] All right, so with the 400,000 that we can approve

[1:21:55] that's in the budget uh

[1:21:59] So, we're not really waiting on anything from them at this point.

[1:22:03] » No, that's up to them how they proceed on um and then it'll, you know, I would

[1:22:09] assume they would come back to discuss with our board, you know, appropriate,

[1:22:14] you know, going for the lottery funds. >> Okay.

[1:22:16] And the board has given you direction on this

[1:22:21] 900 and whatever some thousand dollars. You've got that. Anything else that you

[1:22:26] need as far as putting the budget final budget together?

[1:22:31] All right. So, we don't need to meet on Monday then. Am I correct?

[1:22:34] » You're You're right. We do not. >> So, you will have a budget ordinance for

[1:22:38] us on the 15th? >> We'll um have the adopted budget we'll

[1:22:42] be bringing before the board. Um we'll have that as well and the budget

[1:22:46] amendment for these FY26. >> That and those That's actually just

[1:22:52] savings from this year >> Correct.

[1:22:54] » going to make a budget amendment, but the money will actually be spent until

[1:22:57] 20 >> Correct.

[1:22:58] » seven. >> Yes.

[1:22:59] » Okay. All right. Everybody okay with what we've talked

[1:23:04] about? >> Do we need to uh know this is six

[1:23:07] 6:30 meeting? The 15th.

[1:23:10] » 15th. >> Do we need to start earlier?

[1:23:14] Maybe to put some of this together. >> It should She should should have

[1:23:19] everything pretty well condensed, I think.

[1:23:22] » And you'll have it ahead of time in your packets as well.

[1:23:25] » Okay. >> So, cuz it's really um at that point

[1:23:28] it's just the board adopting. >> Yeah. And we've already had the hearing

[1:23:32] on it >> Right.

[1:23:33] » last Monday, so >> Right.

[1:23:35] » I'm not saying it won't be somebody here to speak during public comments they're

[1:23:38] welcome to, but uh the hearing for the budget has

[1:23:41] passed. Gentlemen, I appreciate everybody's

[1:23:45] input and everybody's work. And like I previously stated, it's not one that

[1:23:49] anybody's crazy about, but it's one I think we can all live with. And a

[1:23:53] special thanks to everybody in finance, everybody that was involved, manager,

[1:23:57] Ms. Sharp, Mr. Everett.

[1:23:59] Thank all of y'all. Know it wasn't an easy task, but it was one you got done.

[1:24:04] And I believe I told you might have manager six weeks ago we would get

[1:24:08] through this. We would get a budget, so looks like we've reached that point.

[1:24:13] All right. This time the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.

[1:24:17] » So moved. >> Have a motion from Commissioner Smith.

[1:24:20] » Second. >> Second from Commissioner Rose. All those

[1:24:23] in favor let it be known by saying I. All those opposed.

[1:24:27] We stand adjourned.

CCBOC Budget Session June 4, 2026

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