061598Budget Meeting - June 15, 1998
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners
Meeting Room, County Office Building, 725 McDowell Road, Asheboro, NC. Commissioners Frye, Kemp,
and Davis were present. Commissioners Holmes and Mason entered the meeting at the time so noted in these
minutes.
Randolph County Schools
Worth Hatley, Superintendent, stated the growth in student population is greater than increases in the
proposed budget. He said they still have needs in current capital but that the most critical need is for
construction capital. He commented that it should not be acceptable to house students in mobile units; there
are already 52 units on their campuses now and 60 are projected for next year. Mr. Hatley said that the County
Commissioners should do something to get the money to build new schools.
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Commissioner Holmes entered the meeting at this point and was present for the remainder of the meeting.
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Chairman Frye asked Mr. Hatley how much their budget has increased due to utility costs for new
schools. Mr. Hatley said he didn't know, but that their total utility bill is around $2,000,000. Chairman Frye
asked if they could build only one school, where would it be? Mr. Hatley responded that it would be an
elementary school for the southwest area; second would be an elementary for the Archdale -Trinity area.
Asheboro City Schools
Dr. Bob Gordon, Superintendent, noted that they have the same growth as the County Schools. He
discussed current expense and current capital needs which cannot be completely addressed with the funds
allocated in the proposed budget (increase in salaries for teachers and classified personnel, teacher certification
and training, local funding for items formerly funded by the State, technology for computer competency
testing, a new bus, roofing and renovation projects). He said that a proposed decrease in current capital will
cause a real problem.
Randolph Community College
Dr. Larry Linker, President, reported the successful completion of RCC's first year on the semester
system and their first year of a stand-alone college transfer program. RCC served 2000 curriculum students
and 8000 continuing education students. Dr. Linker gave an update on what he described as RCC's most
challenging project yet --the emergency training center being planned on land donated by the County at the
County landfill site. He also stated that they are working on a new campus store building. He said they need
more capital outlay money than has been proposed in the budget.
Ron Jones, Dean for Administrative Services, reported that he had met with law enforcement and fire
personnel and others concerning the cost of the emergency training center. He said they have pared a
$5,000,000 project back to around $3, 039,000. Phase 1 includes all the infrastructure (site work, parking,
etc.) and the firing range, estimated at $1,100,000. Phase 2 includes the burn and rescue buildings, at
$1,147,000. Phase 3 will be the driving range, at $792,000.
Dr. Linker gave a brief update on JobLink, the one-stop employment assessment/training center housed at
RCC that various agencies countywide participate in. He also announced that James Hill, attorney, has been
appointed to the RCC Board of Trustees by the Asheboro Board of Education.
Mental Health
Mazie Fleetwood, Area Director, stated that their Phase I budget being presented is only $46,000 more
than last year's budget, but does not include the $157,969 that would be needed for the proposed 3% cost -of -
living raises for all employees. The Phase II budget cannot be presented until fall, after the General Assembly
has adjourned and all state allocations have been finalized. Mrs. Fleetwood discussed possible decreases in
Medicaid dollars and a change in the way the state matches federal Medicaid dollars. This change could result
in a $291,000 shortfall for Randolph County Mental Health.
Family Crisis Center
Sandy Grey, Board President, made a request for the County to fund $67,455 for the salaries of the
Center's executive director and the finance officer so they don't have to spend so much of their time with
fundraising and can spend more time doing preventive work in the arena of family violence. Their shelter
provides short-term housing, up to 60 days; clients may spend from 2 weeks to 2 years in support groups; and
abuser treatment groups last for a year. A total of 1569 clients (men, women and children) were served last
year. United Way provided $87,000 in funding toward a total budget of around $300,000. The Center
receives referrals from Social Services, Mental Health, and the court system.
House of Hope
Rev. Wayne Parker and Carol Huffman explained that House of Hope is not open yet but that property
for its construction has been acquired in Randleman. Phase one of House of Hope will be a 6 -month residential
life -assistance program that can accommodate 12 women. The program is targeted toward abuse, drug
addiction, violence, lack of education, teen pregnancies, and high school dropouts. The purpose of the 6 -
month residency requirement is to break the life cycle of dependency on abusive relationships and drugs, while
providing job training. Phase two will include subsidized housing in apartments with some supervision and
assistance with budgeting, saving, etc. Rev. Parker said House of Hope is not church affiliated and they should
have their 501C(3) corporation status by 1999.
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Commissioner Mason entered the meeting at this point and was present for the remainder of the meeting.
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Ms. Huffman stated that they cannot accommodate children, but that they are working toward getting several
families trained to be foster families for children whose mothers are in the 6 -month residency program.
Asheboro Airport Authority
Walter Gordon, Chairman, requested $166,600 for the construction of a keypad -operated gate and a
fence around the airport runway, ramp and terminal areas. The fence is needed to prevent deer and vehicle
incursions onto the runway. The fence will be 16,600 feet in length and will be 8 feet high of woven wire
construction. Mr. Gordon presented a letter from the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation
supporting efforts to obtain funding for the airport.
Mark Walker of Klaussner said their company probably uses this airport 200 times per year and that they
have a lot of customers who use it during the furniture market. He said that Klaussner strongly supports this
perimeter fence.
Budget Discussion
The following items were discussed:
• Each additional 1% increase for deputies (including benefits) would be $71,773.
• Increase in pay forgoing to a 40 -hour week for EMT's plus a 3% cost -of -living raise would equate to about
a 5% increase.
• Schools have voiced a lot of needs today.
• Loss of sales tax revenue from Trinity's incorporation took over one cent on the tax rate from the county's
budget.
• Regarding the request for additional bailiff and jailers, is there a possibility of allocating more jailer positions
but no new funding (to be paid from lapsed salaries)?
• Forestry budget is up because of the new position that was added during the spring.
• Fairgrove Fire Department may be asking for a rate increase.
The meeting recessed at 5:50 p.m. for a dinner break and reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
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125 Plan for Employees
Chairman Frye asked Personnel Director Hal Scott, Jr. what would be involved is establishing a 125 Plan
for County employees. Mr. Scott stated that initially the County just establishes a plan and keeps a record of it
on file. The plan could be administered with current software, and it would actually save the County about
$24,000 in FICA savings.
1998-99 Budget Public Hearing
Chairman Frye opened the public hearing.
Jeanette McBride, Walnut Drive, Asheboro, expressed concern about the growth and security at
Seagrove Elementary, where there are 7 mobile units.
Debbie Auman, 2255 Danny Bell Road, Asheboro, said she was representing parents in the Southwest
area. She said there is a need for a new elementary and a new middle school in this area because mobile units
are already being used and because the student populations are so large teachers and counselors can't get to
know the students by name.
Elizabeth Aldridge, 10429 S. Main Street, Archdale, said that if we continue to encourage industrial
growth and new housing developments, we must also build new schools.
Ed Blair, 4757 Colony Lane, Trinity, urged planning ahead for schools; otherwise, he said, we would find
ourselves reacting to a crisis.
Luanne Deaton, 4162 Polyfield Road, Seagrove, discussed quality and cost of education. She said
Seagrove Elementary was over capacity before it was built and that children cannot learn in overcrowded
conditions.
Lisa Clausel, 403 Eden Terrace, Archdale, asked why the Commissioners should feel proud ofthe schools
with low taxes when it is not their doing, but rather to the credit of the teachers and parents. She stated that
there can be problems with teachers in mobile units because there is no one to monitor what they say or do.
Mac Sherrill, 227 Holly Street, Ramseur, said he supports new schools because quality schools are
important to economic development; the first things a potential business asks about are the school systems and
the community college.
Lou Jones, 2447 Tot Hill Farm Road, Asheboro, shared his concerns about the future of his 5-year-old's
education. Since he moved to his current residence 8 years ago, 19 houses have been built in his immediate
area. As a pilot, he has seen the countywide growth and development from the air. He advocated building
schools big enough so that children don't have to go to mobile classrooms.
Mike Nance, Archdale, supported building new schools now.
Reid Pollard, 901 Greencastle Road, Asheboro, urged Commissioners to look at long-term solutions,
stating that when we get behind with schools, it becomes difficult if not impossible to address the problems.
Lisa Robbins, 24439 Miller Farm Drive, Asheboro, spoke against mobile classrooms. She said 700
homes are being considered in her area now and the schools can't accommodate this growth.
Carol Moddum, Hickory Drive, Asheboro, supported raising taxes to spend on schools.
Chairman Frye closed the public hearing.
Discussion on School Concerns
Chairman Frye pointed out that in the last 10 years the Randolph County Schools have received $91.5
million, with 71% of that coming from the County; and the Asheboro City Schools received $15-$16 million.
Seven new schools in the County School System and anew jail have been built in the 90's. Chairman Frye then
appointed a committee made up of himself, Commissioner Mason, and the County Manager to work with
representatives of the Randolph County School Board and staff to work out a funding method and a time line
for needed school construction. He emphasized that there will have to be a tax increase to pay debt service for
this construction and that since only 30% of the households in Randolph county have children attending public
schools, everyone will have to work to garner support for the needed tax increase.
Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Darrell L. Frye, Chairman Phil Kemp
J. Harold Holmes
Robert O. Mason
Robert B. Davis
Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board