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This work session provides an overview of Pasquotank County's budget, including a comparison of county debt, loan proceeds, and departmental increases. The budget includes a detailed analysis of departmental requests and potential cost-cutting measures.
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Pasquotank County Budget work session may 20,2019
Debt Overview • Loan Proceeds budgeted in FY2018-19 approved budget - $2,891,845 (note – actual usage has been less). • Loan Proceeds budgeted in FY2019-20 recommended budget - $1,564,123. • Loan Proceeds in FY2019-20 recommended budget are $1,327,722 or 46% less than FY2018-19. • $1.2 million from Quarter Cent Sales Tax is reducing the annual reliance on debt, which will have a short and long term positive financial benefit.
Budget Overview • The budget includes the maximum revenue projection that is recommended; using higher projected increases would be too aggressive. • In addition to a detailed analysis of departmental requests for budget increases, we looked at every line item to determine if cuts could be made based on recent expenditures. • In Pasquotank County, as well as all local governments, the largest expenditure is staff.
Budget Overview • We do not have excess staffing – our staffing ratio is 8.96 employees per 1,000 population; the NC County average is 9.36 and the average for counties under 100,000 population is 10.50 (73 total counties). • If we were at the under 100,000 population average of 10.50, we would have 61 additional positions. • We do not need 61 additional positions – this is just one illustration that within Pasquotank County government there is little room to work with in terms of cost cutting or reallocating funds for budgetary purposes.
Budget Overview • Projected FY2019-20 revenue increase - $975,601. • Mandatory or Unavoidable increases in costs - $902,780: • 1.2% Retirement Increase - $160,000; • Tower Upgrades - $125,050 • $500 Pay Increase/Employee - $106,000; • Senior Center Operations - $104,000; • Sheriff’s Office - $80,116 • Board of Elections - $73,200 • Parks and Recreation - $69,422 • Library - $68,751 • Information Technology - $60,985; • Cooperative Extension - $25,536 • Juvenile Detention (Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act) - $15,000 • Finance Department - $14,720
Budget Overview • Major County items we did not fund: • Competitive Pay Increase for Employees (3%) - $200,000 Additional Needed (for General Fund) • 2 HVAC units for Courthouse - $150,000; • Land Use Plan Update - $75,000; • Maintenance Staff Member - $37,000; • Phone System for Courthouse – TBD (will recommend use of capital reserve funds); and • Citizen Service Request and Development Services Tracking System – TBD (will recommend use of capital reserve funds).
County Department Increases (Other than $500 per Employee and 1.2% Retirement Increase)
County Department Increases • Finance Department: • Retiree insurance increasing - $12,725 • Actuarial Study for Post-Employment Benefits Increase - $1,995 • Information Technology Department: • Part-time salary added in the amount of $31,500 • Maintenance contracts for various software $13,165 • Outside IT services of $16,320
County Department Increases • Board of Elections: • Part-time salary added in the amount of $15,000 • Board salaries increased due to additional member $3,000 • Departmental Supplies $6,200 • Ballots $19,100 • Contracted Services $29,900
County Department Increases • Sheriff’s Office: • New administration position to start in January • Overtime $5,000 • Separation Allowance $32,500 • Insurance Retiree $11,416 • Supplemental Pension $4,500 • Uniforms $3,000 • Travel & Training $4,000 • Capital outlay 19 tough books $24,200 and 5 desk tops $7,500
County Department Increases • Emergency Management: • New vehicle-funded by Grant Funds received $40,000 (replaces 2004 Dodge Durango) • Emergency Medical Services: • Overtime $33,170 • Insurance-Retiree $6,600 • Gas & Oil $15,000
County Department Increases • Central Communications: • Tower Upgrades $125,050 • Fire Departments & Coordinator: • Vehicle for Coordinator $30,000 (Replaces 2004 Truck) • Increase in grant match $20,000
County Department Increases • Cooperative Extension: • Salary increases by State and related benefits $25,536 • Soil & Water: • Additional $20,000 for drainage project to be determined
County Department Increases • Parks & Recreation: • Salaries and related benefits $69,422 • Library: • Library Materials increased $4,000 • Computer replacement (10) $12,000 • Maintenance-Equipment-increase of $6,751 for EARL support • No fund balanced used this year (last year $50,000)
COA – Operations Request • FY2019-20 requested increase of $117,812 for: custodial staffing; maintenance staffing; service contracts; repairs; legal; and security enhancements. • $75,000 for Security Enhancements is included in the recommended budget.
COA – Capital Request • FY2019-20 requested increase of $200,000 ($500,000 to $700,000). • Capital is funded flat at $500,000. • Debt could be used to fund a Chiller at Foreman/C Building ($250,000) and meet the COA capital request, if the Board desires.
Elizabeth City – Pasquotank Public Schools
ECPPS – Capital Request • ECPPS FY2019-20 Capital Request was $2,620,000. • $2,125,000 is included in the recommended budget. • ECPPS has approximately $500,000 left in FY18-19 capital funds that can cover other requested items. • Quarter Cent sales tax is dedicated to ECPPS capital.
ECPPS – Capital Request Quarter Cent Sales Tax Resolution – “Additional funding for HVAC Systems, Athletic Facilities, Technology, Class Size Reduction Mandates, School Safety, and debt service for any capital projects related to schools.”
ECPPS – Operations Request • ECPPS FY2019-20 Operations increase requested was $1,120,710. • FY2019-20 County revenue increase -$975,601 and Mandatory or Unavoidable County increases in costs - $902,780. • No funding is available to increase ECPPS operational funding – recommendation is flat. • The only available option would be to increase taxes – which is not recommended. The $1.1 million request would require a tax increase of almost 4 cents.
ECPPS – Operations Request • Recommended budget includes $50,000 for a Financial Operations Review. • Currituck County completed a similar study in 2018 (similar studies have also been completed in Burke; Davie; Duplin; Halifax; Lee; Nash; Wayne; and other counties). • Currituck study identified a potential $3.4 million in additional revenue streams or cost savings over a 5-year period. • Additional revenue or cost savings could be used to help meet ECPPS future operational needs.
Questions • Questions?
Next Budget Work Session – May 29th @ 4:00pm • Wrap-up Budget Discussion • Proposed Fee Increases • Recommended Policy Changes