061509ssmdeptHarnett County Board of Commissioners
Minutes of Special Budget Session with Department Heads
June 15, 2009
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Monday, June 15, 2009,
in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administrative Building, 102 East Front Street,
Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Timothy B. McNeill, Chairman
Beatrice B. Hill, Vice - Chairman
Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner
Gary House, Commissioner
Jim Burgin, Commissioner
Scott Sauer, County Manager
Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager
Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney
Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer
Gina Daniel, Acting Clerk
Chaiiinan McNeill called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. Mr. Sauer noted that he had meet
with department heads earlier in the day. The following proposed budget reductions were the
result of that team effort:
Veteran Affairs $ 7,520 Public Buildings $112,500
Economic Development $ 88,000 Health Department $107,460
Legal Department $ 9,000 Human Resources $ 20,000
401K contribution $328,356 Social Services $110,000
Tax Department $ 11,000 Animal Control $ 1,000
Airport $ 5,000 Cooperative Extension $ 2,000
Soil & Water $ 500 Library $ 40,000
General Services $ 49,928 Register of Deeds $ 35,000
Board of Elections $ 22,500 EMS $ 45,000
Planning $ 38,000 Sheriff's Office $ 66,500
- AMPI $ 60,000 Finance $ 10,000
- Bldg Insp Retiring $ 32,000 ITS $ 75,000
Parks and Recreation $ 20,000 - Cell $ 36,000
The proposed reduction for the Board of Elections would not impact polling locations.
Commissioner Burgin said he believes staff can tighten up and make it through this one year
with the department head's leadership making a difference. He said he feels like asking for 5%
across the board is a fair approach. It is the Board's intent to not adversely impact personnel.
June 15, 2009 Special Budget Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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It was noted that employees who work more than 1,000 hours per year would now go in the
retirement program and those working 30 hr /per week would be added to the group insurance.
Departments must find ways to cover the part -time increase while proposing reductions.
Discussions included cutting coffee service for the county, setting a cell phone allowance,
eliminating the 401K match, cutting out nuisance calls for Animal Control, working a four -day
work week, reimbursing mileage instead of providing county vehicles and cutting out the MAP's
study.
Department heads were directed to research state grants and determine what kind of local monies
were needed to reserve for matches. Staff reported that the state would no longer fund the One -
on -One Program which commissioners said they could not pick up this program which would
cost approximately $56,000.
Commissioners asked department heads to come up with two budgets; one being a 5% reduction
of their operating budget and the other being a 5% reduction of their gross budget. Department
heads will present both scenarios to the Board at 8:00 am on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
Commissioners cancelled their budget special session scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
Staff believes the proposed reductions will cut services to citizens.
At 4:05 pm the Board recessed until 8:00 am on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
OA
i4'/J
cNeill, Chairman
eeler, Acting Clerk
June 15, 2009 Special Budget Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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