The county boosted courthouse security and added a cost-of-living pay increase for county employees in its budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The new budget does include a two-cent increase in the Wadesboro fire district tax rate at the town council’s request. The council said it intends to use the funds to help pay for a new fire department.
County Manager Megan Garner noted in her budget recommendation message that the increase was necessary for the town to successfully build a new fire department, as it will be paired with a one-cent municipal tax increase to pay for the new facility.
The county tax rate didn’t budget from the previous rate of $0.801 per $100 valuation.
“At the estimated collection rate of 93.91 percent, the current and proposed property tax rate generates $12,328,800, plus $1,250,000 received from the motor vehicle and tax program,” Garner said in her message to the commissioners. “One penny on the tax rates equates to approximately $169,520. Although there has been improvement of the tax collection rate in recent years, additional improvement is necessary to sustain our current services.”
County employees were given a 2.5 percent cost-of-living pay increase as of July 3 and the county will continue to pay for full-time employees’ health insurance without an employee contribution.
A total of $29,716,650 was budgeted for the general fund and $7,533,094 for the enterprise fund.
Education
A state sales tax on labor may yield up to $600,000 that has to be spent on K-12 education, community colleges and economic development, according to a press release from Garner.
The county opted to split the revenues.
“Anson County Schools is funded at $3,694,598 for current expenses, approximately $200,000 in new sales tax revenue, $375,000 in quarter-cent sales tax revenues and $90,000 in capital outlay,” Garner said in the release. “Additionally, there is $209,000 held in reserve that can be spent on teacher supplements.”
At the county Board of Education’s meeting June 30, superintendent Michael Freeman said he had communicated with the county about the reserve funds and felt “comfortable with their intentions.”
South Piedmont Community College is budgeted to receive $929,879, divided into $560,629 for current expenses, $200,000 in anticipated new sales tax revenue and $233,250 for capital outlay.
Funded
The commissioners opted to purchase new voting equipment for the county Board of Elections, budgeting $80,610 for the machines that the elections board has requested.
It also set aside $24,000 for improvements to the sheriff’s office and county jail, $33,000 each for a new roof for the Anson County Government Center and Hampton B. Allen library and $31,000 for a new walkway from the courthouse to the sheriff’s office.
The county Emergency Services Center will receive $125,000 for new fiber optic from administration to the center, the health department will get $48,800 for an electronic medical records system mandated by Medicaid and $67,766 is budgeted to purchase a hardware backup.
The county also set aside $148,000 for water equipment purchases, $634,470 for water and filtration upgrades and $152,100 for wastewater system upgrades.
Social Services will receive $25,000 for “various equipment needs,” according to the release.’
A courthouse security deputy is included in the budget. Sheriff Landric Reid has approached the commissioners multiple times requesting a boost in courthouse security to help avoid a potential tragedy.
A position for a human resources manager was also included.
Instead of hiring a full-time economic development director, the county opted to increase funding for the Anson County Economic Development Corporation from $15,000 to $85,000.
“The intent behind the increased funding is to further develop the public-private partnership whereas the economic developer would not be a county employee; however, the county assists in the funding, selection and oversight of the employee,” Garner’s budget message read.
Not funded
The budget recommended by Garner only partially funded the continuation of improvements to the county jail requested by the sheriff’s office.
The commissioners followed the recommendations to not fund a $75,000 request for permitting software from the inspections department, a $45,000 request from Emergency Medical Services for a new vehicle or $18,000 from the environmental health department for a new vehicle.
Several positions were also not funded: a full-time assistant fire marshal, four full-time detention officers for the jail, a full-time inspector, two full-time telecommunicators for the 911 center and a part-time administrative assistant for Anson County Veteran’s Services. While one new full-time courthouse security deputy position was funded, a request for second officer was not.
In her message to the commissioners sent with the budget recommendation, Garner noted that the budget does not eliminate or reduce any county services.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
By Imari Scarbrough
iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com