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Adjourned Meeting
February 1, 2000
6:00 p.m.
Meeting Convened. An Adjourned Meeting of the York County Board of
Supervisors was called to order at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2000,
in the Board Room, York County Finance Building, by Chairman Walter C.
Zaremba.
Attendance. The following members of the Board of Supervisors were
present: Walter C. Zaremba, Sheila S. Noll, Donald E. Wiggins, and James
S. Burgett.
Melanie L. Rapp was absent.
Also in attendance were Daniel M. Stuck, County Administrator; and
James E. Barnett, County Attorney.
FISCAL YEAR 2001-2006 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
Mr. Stuck stated the Board begins the FY2001 budget process this
evening with the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). He noted this is
the 10th year that a six-year program has been developed, and that six
years is about as far in the future as can be projected without getting
too speculative. The County plan has not changed much from last year
except for year six which is new. He spoke of the financial parameters
within which the staff worked in order to keep from requiring a tax
increase, while recognizing that the money being proposed for capital
needs is not sufficient at the current time. Mr. Stuck indicated that
staff was moving in the right direction of increasing this amount, and
over time there will be an adequate amount programmed to replace County
assets. Mr. Stuck then briefly reviewed the contents of the CIP
document, noting changes in the makeup from the previous year.
Miss Rapp arrived at 6:12 p.m.
Mr. James O. McReynolds, Director of Financial and Management
Services, explained the CIP funding module used to determine the
available funding for any given year of the program. He reviewed with
the Board members the funding availability for Fiscal Years 2001-2006.
Discussion followed regarding state funding for schools capital
improvements and the projects to be undertaken from bond proceeds. In
response to a concern from Mr. Wiggins regarding the possibility of a
school board spending more than it had in revenue, Mr. Stuck explained
York County's centralized system of accounting which insures that
appropriations won't be exceeded.
Chairman Zaremba asked what the significance was of having an
available fund balance at the end of this fiscal year of $4.8 million
versus a drop to $777,000 in 2006.
Mr. McReynolds explained that over the six-year period the
County's borrowings are well timed, and there will be sufficient funds
to fund the CIP without having excess funds. As the County moves out
beyond six years, that amount will go up because the County will
probably plan additional borrowings for future projects.
Mr. Stuck encouraged the Board members to spend some time with the
CIP document over the next week.
REVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2000 (CURRENT) BUDGET
Mr. Stuck explained that the review of the FY2000 budget will give
the Board members an introduction for what they will be receiving in the
proposed FY2001 budget.
Mr. McReynolds reviewed the current staffing and appropriation
figures by activity.
Chairman Zaremba asked if the information could be found on the
Internet if the Board members wished to review the next tier of
information on the budget.
Mr. Stuck indicated that during the budget process the information
will be accessible on the Intranet.
Mr. McReynolds continued his review, showing staff levels,
appropriations, and a breakdown of funding sources for the FY2000
budget.
Discussion followed concerning the distribution of user fees
collected by the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office, staffing for the
Clerk's office, and the levels at which the State Compensation Board
funds the Constitutional Officers' positions. Discussion also took place
on the administration of the Regional Jail budget by the Regional Jail
Board and the status of the federal mandates concerning stormwater
management.
Mr. Burgett noted that the Board looks carefully at the School
Board's budget, and suggested that it look as carefully at the
Industrial Development Authority's (IDA) budget. He stated he would like
to see the IDA's line item budget.
Miss Rapp asked why the IDA's line item budget was not a part of
the County's budget.
Mr. Stuck stated that in York County it had been decided many
years ago that the IDA would be the economic development entity for the
County. In many communities economic development is a department within
the local government. He noted that a little less than $300,000 of
County funding goes to the IDA for its operating budget. About
$65,000-70,000 is the Board's contribution to the Peninsula Alliance for
Economic Development, which is made through the IDA. Then there is about
$100,000 of which one-third goes into the IDA's incentive fund and
two-thirds goes into the Board's incentive fund. Approximately $130,000
goes to the Tourism and Convention Bureau for marketing, and a small
contribution goes to the two Chambers of Commerce.
Chairman Zaremba indicated that he would also be interested in
looking at the IDA's line item budget.
After Mr. McReynolds completed his presentation, Chairman Zaremba
asked how the staff would be presenting the proposed budget to the Board
members so that they could get a feel for a comparison by departments
and divisions as to what is being requested and what is being
recommended by the County Administrator.
Mr. Stuck indicated that staff plans to present the budget to the
Board in the same way it has in the past. It has been staff's practice
to present a budget document that provides the Board members with
summary information and information on the past three years' approved
budgets. Within a week after the budget is presented, Mr. Stuck stated
the Board will receive a summary that provides the Board members with
information about staffing over the past years, percentages of funding
to the School Board, and the tax rates. He stated staff does not provide
the Board members with the requests from every department, but it does
provide the Board with information about what was funded in the past and
the County Administrator's recommendations. He then explained the
process staff follows in developing the recommended budget document
after receiving parameters set by the County Administrator. Budget
request documents are voluminous but can be provided to the Board if
necessary.
Miss Rapp indicated her satisfaction with what Mr. Stuck proposed,
stating she likes to see the big picture. She stated she would contact
staff if she needed more detailed information.
Mrs. Noll and Mr. Burgett expressed their agreement with Miss
Rapp.
Chairman Zaremba stated he wanted every member of the County
staff, the School Division, and the Constitutional Officers to feel that
they are full players in the budget process. He stated he personally
thinks that what staff has submitted to the Board as described is good,
but he would like to see what the Constitutional Officers submitted to
the County Administrator because he feels they are on the same level as
that of the Board of Supervisors since they are elected officials.
Mr. Stuck stated that for the last few years the staff has tried
to make the budget process more logical and based on fact and has been
requiring more submittals from the offices. He stated the Constitutional
Officers have been participating in the process, and it has worked very
well. The Constitutional Officers in York County feel they are a part of
the organization, and there are very few problems in terms of the
relationship between them and the County staff. Mr. Stuck stated he
would be happy to provide the Board with the Constitutional Officers'
budget requests.
Discussion followed concerning the budget submittals of the newly
elected Constitutional Officers.
Mr. Stuck noted that both Sheriff Diggs and Mrs. Jenkins had
discussions with Financial and Management Services concerning some
changes to the submittals of their predecessors, and in some cases they
were accommodated.
Mr. McReynolds indicated that staff is far enough into the process
to know what the major initiatives are that have been discussed, and
unless there is a major change in revenues, their requests cannot be fit
in, and they are aware of that fact.
Miss Rapp stated she had told the Constitutional Officers to get
their information to the County as soon as possible, and she encouraged
them to lobby the General Assembly for more funding.
Mr. Stuck noted that although the budget is a complex document, it
is not difficult. He stated he and the staff are dedicated to making
happen whatever it is that the Board wants to happen. To the extent the
Board can decide what its priorities are and relay that to staff, staff
can figure out how to fund the requests in a way that does the least
long-term impact or has the best overall impact on the County.
SCHEDULING OF JOINT MEETINGS WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION
After a brief discussion, the Board directed that joint meetings
be scheduled with the IDA and the School Board on a Monday as soon as
possible, and that a joint meeting with the Planning Commission be
scheduled as soon as possible after the budget is adopted.
Meeting Adjourned. At 8:30 p.m. Chairman Zaremba declared the
meeting adjourned sine die.
_____________________________
___________________________
Daniel M. Stuck,
Clerk
Walter C. Zaremba, Chairman
York County Board of
Supervisors
York County Board of Supervisors
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