Some members of the Moore County Board of Commissioners are still not happy with the $1.3 million increase in spending in the $131 million budget County Manager Cary McSwain has proposed for Fiscal Year 2012-2013.
During a Thursday, May 17 Work Session, the three Commissioners in attendance looked for ways to close the gap. Commissioners Jimmy Melton and Craig Kennedy did not attend the session.
One money-saving option may be to avoid filling some of the twenty-seven vacant positions in the County's workforce of more than 600 employees.
“I’m not looking to fire people. I’m not looking to lay people off,” said Commissioner Nick Picerno. “I am looking at positions that are vacant . . . There are only 'X' amount of dollars.”
Defending his proposed budget, McSwain told the Board, “I would like the Board to have some appreciation about how lean this County is.”
“If I just go and start cutting things, it would be like a blind surgeon," he said, "and that’s no way to wield a scalpel. You look at parts you can cut while having a responsible budget, and that’s what we are trying to do.”
This year’s budget reflects the addition of ten full time employees and providing existing employees with a 1.5 percent Cost of Living Allowance [COLA] -- an increase that has already drawn criticism from Commissioner Tim Lea in this budget cycle.
“People that pay these taxes -- who pay these bills -- are laying people off,” said Lea. “They are not giving increases.”
According to Human Resources Director Denise Brooks, offers have been made to candidates who would fill some of the twenty-seven vacant positions, but the County is waiting for the prospective employee to accept the offer of employment.
Commissioner Picerno asked that each department discuss with McSwain which positions they absolutely need and which can be cut -- particularly in the Department of Social Services [DSS].
DSS Director John Benton told the Board that positions in his department are vital. “They [Staff] do a super job from the bottom up and top down,” said Benton. “Just keep that in mind.”
Lea Expresses Concern About County Debt
Commissioner Lea, having participated in the development of seven County budgets -- this being his last -- said the County needs to get a handle on its debt, which he pegged at $222 million, a figure that includes principal and interest.
“We don’t have the money," Lea said. "We don’t have the reserves” to fund future projects in the County that could include building a high school, increasing the size of the courthouse, and bringing more water to Moore County.
“You don’t spend every penny you have,” said Lea. “You save that money for a rainy day fund.”
Lea noted that the County has a mandatory revaluation of real property coming up in 2015. He expressed concern that the impact of the recession on property values may mean the County will be working with a lower tax base than it has now, which could make it very difficult to avoid an increase in the tax rate.
Picerno has asked McSwain to investigate the possibility of paying down some of the County's indebtedness. He noted that a significant portion of the debt is the result of school bonds approved by the voters.
The County's financial consultant, Davenport and Company, is scheduled to make a presentation at the Board’s next meeting on Tuesday, June 5.
“If we can save one dollar of County money, it’s worth it,” said Picerno.
Picerno Aims to Shrink Government
In keeping with his small government philosophy, Picerno said, “I am trying to get our budget down to the $84 million mark.” Picerno was referring to the General Fund, which does not include Moore County Public Utilities, and totals just over $85 million in the Manager's proposed budget.
He added, "I want to apologize to Cary, because maybe he doesn’t really understand what, as a Commissioner, I think the budget for Moore County should look like . . . The thing that bothers me just a little is that any time that you have additional spending, it needs to be prioritized.”
Picerno said that education and law enforcement should account for the majority of the County's spending. Currently, education claims the largest share of the budget, at 44 percent, with law enforcement taking up 13.5 percent of the budget.
“Education, I am not willing to cut.” said Picerno. “I think they are at a fair level and are working really hard with us.” However, Picerno said he noticed that the proposed budget asks for cuts in law enforcement.
“Our goal was to hold the line on the budget,” said Chairman Larry Caddell. “The number one priority is the public safety of the people and their families.” Caddell explained that it is important for the Sheriff’s department to be properly funded.
How and whether the Commissioners can whittle $1.3 million out of the Manager's budget has yet to be determined, but Chairman Caddell said he is optimistic.
“We are going to try and do the best we can,” said Caddell. “We aren’t going to try and cut any more than we have to.”
The Board will meet for another budget work session before their Tuesday, June 5 regular meeting.
