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05232002845 MINUTES CITY OF DUNN DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN HELD A SPECIAL CALL BUDGET WORKSESSION ON THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2002, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE DUNN MUNICIPAL BUILDING. PRESENT WAS MAYOR ABRAHAM OUDEH, MAYOR PRO -TEM MIKE WOMBLE, COUNCILMEMBERS GEORGE ROBINSON, JOEY TART, TOBY SUMNER, AND PAUL BASS. ALSO PRESENT WAS INTERIM CITY MANAGER RONNIE AUTRY, INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER MOSES GALLION, FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY, CAPTAIN MORRY DENNING, CAPTAIN RONNIE RADCLIFFE, RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON, PUBLIC UTILITIES DIRECTOR JOE CAMPBELL, CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR SHANE HUDSON, FIRE CHIEF AUSTIN TEW, CITY ATTORNEY P. TILGHMAN POPE, DEPUTY CLERK DEBRA WEST, AND DAILY RECORD REPORTER LISA FARMER. INVOCATION MAYOR OUDEH OPENED THE MEETING AT 6:07 P.M. AND ASKED CAPTAIN MORRY DENNING TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. AFTERWARDS, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS REPEATED. INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WERE GIVEN INFORMATION FROM THE LAST BUDGET MEETING ABOUT THE PROCEDURE TO REDUCE THE FUND BALANCE TO BE UTILIZED TO BALANCE THE FY 2002 -2003 BUDGET. HE ADDED AT THAT TIME THEY WERE LOOKING AT USING A LITTLE OVER 1M FROM THE FUND BALANCE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY HAD WORKED ON THE CALCULATIONS THAT WERE PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL AND HAD DERIVED AT SUGGESTED REDUCTION GOALS BY EACH DEPARTMENT. HE STATED IF EACH DEPARTMENT MET THEIR REDUCTION GOAL, IT WOULD TOTAL $265,600.00 UTILIZING THE 60/40 PERCENT RANGE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND ENDING WITH THE FUND BALANCE GOAL OF 1.625M ON JUNE 30, 2004. MR. AUTRY STATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF CUTS ALREADY MADE IN EACH DEPARTMENT, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS COULD NOT REACH THEIR GOALS TO EFFECTIVELY CONTINUE THEIR OPERATIONS. HE ADDED THAT $140,948.00 WAS THE TOTAL REDUCED AMOUNT PROPOSED BY ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $125,000.00 LESS THAN THE $265,600.00 GOAL THAT WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED TO CUT. HE FURTHER STATED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE PRESENT FOR QUESTIONS. MR. AUTRY STATED SOME NEW INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES HAS DEVELOPED THIS WEEK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT A LOCAL ONE -HALF CENT SALES TAX EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002. HE ADDED THE LEAGUE IS PUSHING THIS ISSUE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO IMPOSE THIS TAX THROUGH OUT THE STATE SO EACH COUNTY WOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. HE FURTHER STATED THIS WOULD PUT A 7% SALES TAX IN PLACE FOR ONE YEAR UNTIL THEIR ONE -HALF CENT SALES TAX IS REMOVED JUNE 30, 2003. MR. AUTRY STATED THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT PROPOSING TO TAKE AWAY THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR UTILITY FRANCHISE TAX OR BEER AND WINE TAX. HE ADDED IF THESE REVENUES ARE NOT TOUCHED, THEN THERE COULD BE APPROXIMATELY $500,000.00 COMING TO THE CITY OF DUNN. HE FURTHER STATED IF THE ONE -HALF CENT SALES TAX TOOK PLACE, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER $200,000.00 PROJECTED TO COME TO THE CITY OF DUNN. MR. AUTRY STATED THE BUDGET HAS BEEN CUT EXTREMELY TIGHT AND A BALANCED BUDGET MUST BE IN PLACE BY JUNE 1, 2002. HE ADDED DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, CHANGES CAN BE MADE. HE FURTHER STATED DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, THEY MAY HAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BODY ABOUT THE UTILITY FRANCHISE TAX AND HALF -CENT SALES TAX. HE STATED HE WOULD HATE TO STRIP THE BUDGET COMPLETELY TO BRING A PROPOSED BALANCED BUDGET FOR JUNE I, 2002 BUT RATHER TO LOOK OPTIMISTIC AT WHAT ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE MADE DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. AUTRY WHAT PORTION OF THE $500,000.00 WOULD BE THE ONE -HALF CENT SALES TAX. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED THAT $500,000.00 IS ONLY THE UTILITY FRANCHISE TAX AND BEER AND WINE TAX AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE $200,000.00 HALF -CENT SALES TAX. COUNCILMEMBER BASS ASKED MR. AUTRY IF THEY WOULD GAIN APPROXIMATELY $700,000.00. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED YES, IF IT FEEL IN PLACE. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. AUTRY IF THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE DEFICIT BEING REDUCED FROM $750,000.00 TO $250,000.00. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED THERE WOULD BE A $50,000.00 DEFICIT IF THESE REVENUES ARE RECEIVED. Im MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THIS IS STILL YET TO BE DECIDED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HE ADDED THIS BUDGET HAS NO CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EVEN WITH THE CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ADD THESE ITEMS BACK IF UNEXPECTED REVENUES WERE RECEIVED. HE FURTHER STATED IF THIS APPROACH WAS TAKEN AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BUDGET IN PLACE AND THESE REVENUES WERE NOT RECEIVED, THEN THEY WOULD BE SCRAMBLING AT THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS. MR. WOMBLE STATED IF SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPENS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEY COULD DEAL WITH EXTRA REVENUE LATER. INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED FOR THE COUNCIL TO KEEP IN MIND THEIR GOAL WAS $265,600.00 AND RIGHT NOW THE PROPOSED CUTS ARE $140,948.00 CREATING A DIFFERENCE OF $124, 652.00 THAT WILL NEED TO BE CUT TO REACH THAT GOAL. HE ✓ ADDED IT WILL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL TO HANDLE THIS DIFFERENCE. 911 DISPATCH MERGER DISCUSSION MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED MR. AUTRY IF HE WOULD GIVE THE COUNCIL A SUMMARY OF THE 911 MEETING WITH THE COUNTY. MR. AUTRY STATED ALONG WITH HIMSELF AND THE COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER WOMBLE, AND COUNCILMEMBER BASS MET WITH HARNETT COUNTY MANAGER NEIL EMORY, SHERIFF LARRY KNOTT AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER WALT TITCHENER ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2002 TO RECEIVE REVENUE NUMBERS FOR PROJECTED COST TO CONSOLIDATE OUR DISPATCH SERVICE WITH HARNETT COUNTY. HE ADDED THE PROPOSED EXPENSE FOR AIRTIME SERVICE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $58,000.00 AND THE RECURRING COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $40,000.00 RESULTING IN A TOTAL COST TO THE CITY OF APPROXIMATELY $98,000.00. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THE MAXIMUM COST TO THE CITY WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $100,000.00 AND THE LOWEST COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $60,000.00. MAYOR OUDEH STATED THIS WOULD BE A ONE TIME CHARGE. MR. AUTRY STATED THEY ARE PROPOSING TO SET UP TWO CAD WORKSTATIONS FOR PROPOSING TWO DISPATCHERS TO BE ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENT AT A ONE TIME COST OF $86,000.00 TO SET THIS UP. HE ADDED THEY ARE STARTING AN EXPANSION OF THE �- FACILITY AND IT WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTRA TWO DISPATCHERS. HE FURTHER STATED IT WAS DISCUSSED THE TIME FRAME TO IMPLEMENT THIS MERGER WOULD BE JANUARY, 2003. MR. AUTRY STATED THIS WOULD MEAN THE DOORS WOULD LOCK HERE AT 5:00 P.M. AND IF THE CITY NEEDED SOMEONE AFTER 5:00 P.M., THIS WOULD BE AN EXTRA COST TO THE CITY. HE STATED THERE WERE OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER AND THEY WOULD WANT INPUT FROM ALL THE SAFETY PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC BY HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE. MR. WOMBLE STATED TO PUT ALL THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, BETWEEN OUR BUDGET AND BOTH OUR E911 FUND AND GENERAL FUND COMBINED, IT IS APPROXIMATELY $400,000.00 PER YEAR. HE ADDED THEY ARE LOOKING AT GOING FROM $400,000.00 DOWN TO EITHER $60,000.00 OR $100.000.00. HE FURTHER STATED $270,000.00 IS SPENT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND SO IF YOU IGNORE THE EXPENDITURES IN THE E911 FUND, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IT LOOKS LIKE WE WOULD SAVE $170,000.00 A YEAR FOREVER. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY'S 911 BILL WILL INCREASE FROM $1.00 TO $1.50. MR. WOMBLE STATED THIS WAS ALREADY GOING TO HAPPEN. MR. BASS STATED IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE CITY DID NOT MERGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AS AN OFFICER RESPONDING TO A CALL AT 2:00 A.M. OR IF A CIVILIAN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND CAN'T FILE A COMPLAINT LOCALLY, HE CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. HE ADDED HE KNEW THEY NEEDED TO SAVE EVERY DOLLAR THEY COULD, BUT THEY MUST THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS. HE FURTHER STATED HE CAN'T SEE GIVING THIS SERVICE AWAY AND HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE SERVICE CAN BE AS EFFECTIVE AS IT IS NOW. MR. WOMBLE STATED HE READ WHERE THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD HAD MERGED THEIR DISPATCH WITH JOHNSTON COUNTY AND ONE QUESTION HE ASKED IN THE 911 MEETING WAS WHAT OTHER TOWNS OUR SIZE PROVIDE THEIR OWN DISPATCH. HE ADDED THEY COULD NOT NAME ONE AND HE THINKS FOR THE SAME REASON WE DON'T NEED TO AND SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SAVING APPROXIMATELY $100,000.00 PER YEAR, IS IT WORTH NOT HAVING THIS SERVICE FOR OUR CITIZENS. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE FOR THE CITY OF DUNN AND NOW THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH THIS SERVICE. Z54 / HE ADDED THAT THE PEOPLE WORKING HERE ARE PAYING TAXES TO THE CITY OF DUNN. HE FURTHER STATED THEY HAVE NOT BROUGHT IN ANY NEW JOBS AND THE ONES THEY HAVE THEY ARE SENDING AWAY. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER ASKED MR. AUTRY WHAT IMPACT WOULD THIS HAVE ON THE DISPATCH EMPLOYEES AND THE MAGISTRATE. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED NO ONE WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING TO GIVE THEM AN ANSWER ABOUT THIS. HE FURTHER STATED THE COUNTY WOULD PROBABLY PROPOSE TO OFFER EMPLOYMENT TO DUNN'S DISPATCHERS. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A CALL THAT WAS RECEIVED IN ERWIN AND THEN DISPATCHED TO THE COUNTY THAT TOOK A TWENTY MINUTE ELAPSE TIME. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE RESPONDED THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ONE SYSTEM TO AVOID THE ROUTING OF 911 CALLS TO DIFFERENT PLACES. MR. WOMBLE STATED IT HAS BEEN SAID THEY ARE CUTTING SERVICE BY DOING THIS AND HE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS. HE ADDED WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND DIAL 911, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF THOSE FOLKS ARE IN DUNN. LILLINGTON, CHARLOTTE OR TEXAS AS LONG AS THE PHONE CALL IS ANSWERED AND DISPATCHED PROPERLY. HE FURTHER STATED THERE ARE 85,000 PEOPLE IN HARNETT COUNTY AND 9,000 IN THE CITY OF DUNN SO THEREFORE 74,000 PEOPLE ARE USING THIS SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY EVERYDAY. MR. WOMBLE STATED FOR THE COUNTY TO ABSORB OUR VOLUME, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 9% ADDITIONAL WORK ON THEIR PART TO DO OUR DISPATCHING BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE EMS PART. HE ADDED THEY ARE NOT REDUCING SERVICES BUT REARRANGING WHERE THEY ARE TO DO IT MORE COST EFFICIENTLY. HE FURTHER STATED THE MAGISTRATE COULD BE GIVEN A KEY AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WHERE THE DISPATCHERS ARE. HE STATED THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO THE OTHER PERIPHERAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS AND REALLY THINKS THEY NEED TO LOOK AT WHY OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY'RE BEST NOT DOING IT THE WAY DUNN IS DOING IT. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THE COUNTY IS NOT PUSHING 911 ON THE CITY BUT THE CITY IS ASKING THE COUNTY ABOUT THIS MERGER AND THE COUNTY MADE THIS VERY CLEAR IN THEIR MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED DUNN IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTY AND ^ WHY DOES DUNN HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER AND NOT STAND FOR THEMSELVES. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED WHY DOES DUNN HAVE TO BE LAST. HE ADDED WHY DOES DUNN HAVE TO BE THE LAST ONE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN SAVE THIS MONEY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE HAS ALREADY FIGURED IT OUT. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED IN TALKING ABOUT THE DISPATCH ISSUE, ANYTIME YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT CLOSELY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. HE ADDED IF THEY CAN DO IT WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICE AND ENDANGERING LIVES, THEY NEED TO BE OPEN - MINDED TO SAVE MONEY. HE FURTHER STATED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE DISCUSSED THE AMOUNT THAT COULD BE SAVED AND NOW THEY KNOW IF THEY SHOULD SPEND $100,000.00 OR SAVE $100,000.00. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THIS MERGER WILL AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS. MAYOR OUDEH STATED IF THEY DECIDE TO GO FORWARD, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED IT BOTHERS HIM THEY HAVEN'T BROUGHT ANY JOBS IN AND THE ONES THEY HAVE THEY ARE GIVING AWAY. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED HIS MAJOR CONCERN WAS THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE LOSE THEIR JOB. -� COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT IN THE 911 MEETING, IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT NO ONE WILL LOSE THEIR JOB AND THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON QUESTIONED IF THE COUNTY WOULD HIRE ALL THE DISPATCHERS. INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THEY WOULD PROPOSE SIX POSITIONS AND THERE ARE OPENINGS WITH THE COUNTY NOW. HE ADDED THE CITY HAD SEVEN FULL - TIME DISPATCHERS. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER ASKED IF THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO MERGE WITH THE MEE CITY'S 911 DISPATCH AND WILL IT COST THE COUNTY MONEY TO ACCEPT DUNN INTO THEIR SYSTEM. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THE COUNTY IS WILLING BUT THEY ARE NOT PUSHING THE MERGER. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THIS IS BEING DONE ON THE CITY'S INITIATIVE AND THE COUNTY HAS NOT MADE ANY REQUEST OF THE CITY AND THIS ALL CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THIS COUNCIL VOTING TO WRITE A LETTER TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER ASKING THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER THIS MERGER AND UNDER WHAT TERMS. HE ADDED THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO HAVE THE CITY JOIN THEM AND HE THINKS IF THE CITY DID, IT WOULD ALLOW US ALL TO BE MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF DUNN BUT ALSO TAXPAYERS IN HARNETT COUNTY AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT DIRECTLY EFFECTS OUR CITIZENS WHICH WOULD BE AS DUNN TAXPAYERS OR IF WE CAN INDIRECTLY HELP THEM BY VIRTUE OF THEM ALSO BEING HARNETT COUNTY TAXPAYERS, IT IS VERY HELPFUL. HE FURTHER STATED THEY NEED TO REMEMBER EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY IN HARNETT COUNTY HAS THIS AND NO OTHER COMMUNITY IS CURRENTLY PAYING FOR IT SO THE CITIZENS OF DUNN ARE PAYING FOR THEIR OWN DISPATCH SERVICES PLUS PAYING A PRO -RATIO SHARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S DISPATCH AND IF WE CONSOLIDATE, IT WOULD MAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE FAIR ACROSS THE COUNTY. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THE CITIZENS OF DUNN ARE PAYING FOR COUNTY AND CITY SERVICES. MAYOR OUDEH STATED THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND IF THEY GO FURTHER, A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE CALLED. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED IF THERE IS ANY INTEREST AND IF IT MOVES FORWARD, THEY NEED TO HAVE AN INFORMAL QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS AND INTERESTED CITIZENS AND IF THEY FACTOR THAT CONSOLIDATION INTO THE BUDGET, THEN AT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET, THEY COULD LET THE CITIZENS VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FINANCE DEPARTMENT INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY CALLED FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY TO STEP FORWARD TO PRESENT HER PROPOSED BUDGET. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED WHILE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO DECREASE EXPENSES IN HER DEPARTMENT, SHE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS. SHE ADDED THAT SHE LOOKED AT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND DUPLICATED BY THE CITY; THOSE BEING TAX BILLING AND COLLECTION. SHE FURTHER STATED THE COUNCIL HAD BEFORE THEM AN ATTACHED ANALYSIS. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THEY WOULD SEE THE TOTAL SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE TAX COLLECTOR. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THE COUNCIL WOULD SEE ON THIS SHEET THE SALARY AND DUTIES OF THE TAX COLLECTOR. SHE ADDED THE TAX COLLECTORS DUTIES & TIME ALLOCATIONS ARE: ♦ BILLS AND COLLECTS CURRENT AND DELINQUENT TAXES- ISSUES GARNISHMENTS AND ATTACHMENTS ♦ BILLS AND COLLECTS PRIVILEGE LICENSES ♦ BILLS AND COLLECTS ASSESSMENTS ♦ COLLECTS WATER BILLS AND ASSISTS WATER CUSTOMERS 70% _ $24,764.39 12 % =$ 4,245.32 8 % =$ 2,830.22 10 % =$ 3,537.77 $35,377.70 MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THE ANNUAL EXPENSES FOR TAX BILLING AND COLLECTION ARE: ♦ SALARY $24,764.39 ♦ TAX FORMS 320.00 ♦ POSTAGE 1,160.00 ♦ ADVERTISING 1.775.00 i ♦ SOFTWARE 1,200.00 ♦ TOTAL EXPENSE $29,219.39 MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THAT THEY WILL SEE THE AUDITS FROM ANGIER, COATS AND HARNETT COUNTY. SHE ADDED THAT DUNN HAD THE HIGHEST COLLECTION PERCENTAGE COMPARED TO ANGIER, COATS, AND HARNETT COUNTY. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT HARNETT COUNTY COLLECTS THE TAXES FOR ANGIER AND COATS. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THEY WOULD SEE A COMPARISON USING DUNN'S LEVY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND THE COLLECTION PERCENTAGE FOR EACH OF THESE CITIES AND THE COUNTY. SHE ADDED WHEN YOU COMPARE DUNN'S COLLECTION RATE WITH OTHER COLLECTION RATES, USING ANGIER AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 849 6/30/01, THE CITY OF DUNN WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED $45,557.71 IN COLLECTIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. SHE FURTHER STATED THE COUNTY ALSO CHARGES AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO COLLECT TAXES(ONE -HALF CENT NOW) WHICH WOULD HAVE TOTALED $9,048.74. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THEY WOULD SEE ON THIS LIST FURTHER COLLECTION COMPARISONS AND ADMINISTRATION FEES. SHE ADDED THAT HER OPINION IS THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD MOVE FOR THE CITY. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY WHAT IS THE NET RESULT OF THIS FOR POTENTIAL SAVINGS. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SAVINGS BUT FOUND NONE. SHE ADDED THAT BASED ON THE CALCULATIONS, IF THE TAX BILLING AND COLLECTION WAS ELIMINATED, THERE WOULD BE AN EXPENSE OF $29,219.39. SHE -, FURTHER STATED ADMINISTRATIVE FEES WOULD BE CHARGED BY THE COUNTY AND DUNN'S COLLECTION RATE WOULD GO DOWN RESULTING IN AN DECREASE OF MONEY COLLECTED EACH YEAR. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY WHY WOULD DUNN'S COLLECTION RATE GO DOWN. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED BECAUSE DUNN'S COLLECTION RATE IS SO MUCH HIGHER. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT DUNN IS MORE FORCEFUL IN COLLECTION EFFORTS AND THE ONLY THING SHE CAN GO ON IS DUNN'S HISTORY OF COLLECTION WHICH SHE HAS PROVIDED. MR. WOMBLE ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY IF THE CITY'S TAX LEVY WOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE HARNETT COUNTY TAX BILL LIKE THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, CAN DUNN STILL ENFORCE COLLECTIONS OF LATE TAXPAYERS. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER 1S THE TAX COLLECTOR HAS OTHER DUTIES THAT WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN ON BY SOME OTHER PERSONNEL. SHE ADDED YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ONE OF THE PART -TIME POSITIONS FULL TIME WHICH WOULD NOT ELIMINATE A LOT. SHE FURTHER STATED TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS PROPERTY TAX LAW. MR. WOMBLE ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY WHAT CAUSES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2001 COLLECTION RATE OF 98.96% AND THE LOWEST COLLECTION RATE OF 94.86% AND IF IT IS A RESULT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES NOT PURSUING THE COLLECTION OF PAST DUE TAXES LIKE DUNN. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THAT ANGIER AND COATS TAXES ARE COLLECTED BY HARNETT COUNTY AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHY THEIR COLLECTION RATE WAS LOWER. SHE ADDED OUR TAX COLLECTOR ALWAYS SEARCHES FOR WAYS TO COLLECT TAXES AND IS VERY FORCEFUL IN COLLECTING. MR. WOMBLE ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY IF DUNN WAS ABLE TO COLLECT THE COST OF THE COLLECTION TO THAT. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THERE IS A $10.00 LEVY FEE FOR HER EFFORTS. MR. WOMBLE ASKED ATTORNEY POPE IN BEING AGGRESSIVE IN COLLECTING UNPAID TAXES, COULD THE CITY IMPOSE A FEE LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER THE CITY'S COST TO MAINTAIN THEIR HIGH COLLECTION PERCENTAGE. MR. POPE RESPONDED HIS GUESS WOULD BE NO. HE ADDED YOU CAN IMPOSE COST ON A DELINQUENT TAX PAYER IN A COURT PROCEEDING BUT ABSENT A COURT PROCEEDING, THERE IS PROBABLY A LIMIT ON WHAT YOU CAN CHARGE IN COLLECTION EFFORTS JUST AS THERE IS ON A PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCIES. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THERE WOULD BASICALLY BE NO COST SAVINGS IF THIS WAS TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY. SHE ADDED THAT IF THIS POSITION WAS ELIMINATED, THE CITY WOULD STILL HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE IN A FULL -TIME POSITION TO ASSUME THE OTHER DUTIES AND KEEP TRACK OF TAX COLLECTION. MAYOR OUDEH ASKED MR. WOMBLE WHY WOULD THE CITY GIVE THEIR TAX COLLECTION OVER TO THE COUNTY AND LOSE FOUR OR FIVE PERCENT. MR. WOMBLE RESPONDED HIS QUESTIONING WAS TO ASCERTAIN WHY YOU ARE LOSING FOUR PERCENT. MR. WOMBLE ADDED YOU ARE NOT GIVING ANYTHING TO THE COUNTY AND IF THIS WAS DONE, YOU WOULD RECEIVE ONLY ONE PROPERTY TAX BILL PAYABLE TO THE COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED THEN THE COUNTY WOULD REMIT PAYMENT BACK TO THE TOWN AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY GETTING THIS SAME INFORMATION AND MAILING OUT BILLS SEPARATELY. MR. WOMBLE STATED IT APPEARS THAT THE CITY'S COST OF DOING THIS IS APPROXIMATELY $30,000.00. HE ADDED TIIE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COUNTY AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 RESULTING IN A $20,000.00 SAVINGS. HE FURTHER STATED THE REDUCTION IN THE COLLECTION PERCENTAGE IS PRIMARILY FROM THE EFFORTS OF THE TOWN TO FOLLOW UP ON UNPAID TAXES AS OPPOSED TO THE FACT THAT THE CITY'S TAX BILL IS INCLUDED WITH THE COUNTY. MR. WOMBLE STATED THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY SAVE THIS $20,000.00 BUT STILL AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE COLLECTION OF THE UNPAID TAXES TO MAINTAIN OUR PERCENTAGE ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN CHANGE THE FEES CHARGED ON THE ME COLLECTION SIDE, WHETHER IT BE BY PAYING AN ATTORNEY TO SUB THIS OUT AND ONLY BE COMPENSATED BY THE FEES THE CITY CHARGES OR ENOUGH TO PAY SOMEONE IN HOUSE TO DO IT. HE ADDED THAT EITHER WAY, IT LOOKS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE $20,000.00 PER YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY IF THE CITIZENS RECEIVED A PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT IF THEIR TAXES ARE PAID ON TIME. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THAT THE CITY DOES OFFER A DISCOUNT AND IF COLLECTION WERE TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY, THIS OPTION WOULD BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOESN'T OFFER THE DISCOUNT. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED IF THE CITY GIVES EVERYTHING TO THE COUNTY, THEN THE COUNTY MIGHT AS WELL RUN THE CITY. `. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THE CITY MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THE CITY OF DUNN SIGN DOWN AND CHANGE IT TO HARNETT COUNTY. HE ADDED WHAT WILL THE CITIZENS HAVE. MAYOR OUDEH STATED THE CITY OF DUNN DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH TAX COLLECTION, AND HE DOESN'T THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO TALK TO THE COUNTY AT ALL. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED SHE IS FOR THINGS THAT SAVE MONEY. SHE ADDED IF THE CITY OF DUNN HAD COLLECTED AT THE COUNTY'S RATE FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY OF DUNN WOULD NOT HAVE HAD $76,866.00. SHE FURTHER STATED IF THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS POSITION AWAY, SHE DOESN'T SEE ANY SAVINGS. SHE STATED THAT ANY ENFORCEMENT MADE BY THE COUNTY THEN THE COUNTY WOULD COLLECT THE FEE AND NOT THE CITY OF DUNN. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE WAS AGAINST THIS 100% AND HE WILL VOTE AGAINST IT. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THEY WERE STILL COLLECTING INFORMATION. HE ADDED IT WAS A LEGITIMATE QUESTION OF WHY THE CITY OF DUNN COLLECTS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN THE COUNTY AND NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER. MR. WOMBLE STATED THIS IS SOMETHING BUSINESSES DO ALL THE TIME. HE ADDED THEY LOOK AT WAYS THEY CAN SAVE MONEY, PARTNERSHIP AND SUB - CONTRACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. HE FURTHER STATED THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SYSTEM ALREADY IN PLACE THAT WE ALREADY PAY FOR AND GET THIS SERVICE FOR LESS MONEY THAN DOING IT OURSELVES. HE STATED THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ALREADY PAY AS TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY AND IT SEEMS SILLY TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE SAME THING. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED SHE WILL LOOK INTO ENFORCING THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE ISSUE OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. SHE ADDED IF SHE THOUGHT THIS WOULD SAVE THE CITY MONEY SHE WOULD BE FOR IT BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE HEARING THAT SHE WOULD STILL NEED PERSONNEL TO TAKE ON OTHER DUTIES IF THIS POSITION WAS ELIMINATED. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT ALLOW DISCOUNTS FOR PAYING TAXES ON TIME. SHE ADDED ANOTHER OPTION AT ELIMINATING EXPENSES WAS TO RESCIND THE DISCOUNT FOR EARLY PAYMENT OF TAXES. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE DISCOUNT TO BE RESCINDED, THE NC GENERAL STATUTE REQUIRES THAT A RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED BY MAY 1 ST FOR TAXES DUE SEPTEMBER 1sT COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR. MS. DAUGHTRY STATED SHE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE TAX COLLECTOR SITUATION, BUT SHE BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY AND DOESN'T FEEL ANYTHING ELSE COULD BE ELIMINATED. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY HOW MANY MUNICIPALITIES STILL OFFERED DISCOUNTS FOR PAYING TAXES EARLY. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THERE WERE VERY FEW. COUNCILMEMBER BASS ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY IF THE CITY'S MONEY FLOW WAS AFFECTED BY CITIZENS PAYING THEIR TAXES EARLY. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED YES. SHE STATED THE CITY COLLECTS ONE -THIRD OF THEIR TAX REVENUE DURING AUGUST AND THE DISCOUNT IS GOOD THROUGH THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST. SHE ADDED THE MAIN PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE THIS OPTION ARE MAJOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE HEFTY TAX BILLS AND SENIOR CITIZENS. 851 FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF AUSTIN TEW STEPPED FORWARD TO PRESENT HIS PROPOSAL FOR THE FY2002 -2003 BUDGET. MR. TEW STATED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CUT THEIR BUDGET BY AN ADDITIONAL $17,970.26. HE ADDED THESE CUTS WILL STRETCH THEIR BUDGET TO THE MAX BUT BELIEVES THAT THEY CAN WORK WITHIN THESE CONSTRAINTS. HE FURTHER STATED THE ONLY UNCONTROLLABLE FACTOR IN THEIR BUDGET IS THE NUMBER OF FIRE CALLS THEY HAVE NEXT YEAR AND IF THEY EXCEED LAST YEARS NUMBER OF CALLS FOR SERVICE, THIS BUDGET WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NOT BE SUFFICIENT. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED IF THIS KEEPS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS /" 1 AS THEY ARE NOW. MR. TEW RESPONDED YES. HE STATED AS THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED, IF THEY PULL ALL THEIR SALARY RELATED EXPENSES SUCH AS RETIREMENT, HOSPITALIZATION, TAXES, ETC. FROM THE BUDGET, IT WOULD LEAVE $83,960.00 TO MAINTAIN TWO STATIONS AND TWELVE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYWAY TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE OVERTIME AND WHAT CAUSES OVER TIME. MR. TEW RESPONDED THERE ARE FOUR PAID STAFF MEMBERS. HE ADDED HE IS EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME BUT IF THE OTHER THREE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO COME BACK AFTER HOURS (FOR FIRE CALLS BETWEEN 5:00 PM & 8:00 AM & TO TEST GENERATORS AT CITY HALL), THEY ARE PAID OVERTIME. COUNCILMEMBER BASS ASKED IF THESE EMPLOYEES COULD BE GIVEN COMP TIME IN PLACE OF OVERTIME. MR. TEW RESPONDED IT WOULD BE HARD TO GIVE TIME OFF WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE FOUR EMPLOYEES AND FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS CANNOT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME BACK TO THE CITY FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING PER THE FEDERAL WAGE AND HOUR BOARD. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. TEW IF HE COULD RESTRUCTURE THE OVERTIME. MR. TEW RESPONDED YES BUT SERVICE WOULD BE CUT. COUNCILMEMBER WOMBLE ASKED MR. TEW WHAT WERE THE DUTIES OF THE FOUR FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS. MR. TEW RESPONDED HIS RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED \, ADMINISTRATIVE AS WELL AS FIGHTING FIRES. HE STATED THE STATION CAPTAIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHEDULING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND SUPERVISES THE OTHER FULL TIME POSITION. HE ADDED THE OTHER POSITION WAS A FULL TIME/PART TIME POSITION THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHEDULING OTHER PART TIME EMPLOYEES AND ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO THE STATION CAPTAIN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING PRE -FIRE PLANS. HE FURTHER STATED THE FOURTH EMPLOYEE WAS A FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALIST WHO IS A DAY -TIME FIREMAN AND HE ALSO CHECKS TRUCKS DAILY. HE STATED THEY HOPE TO FILL THE FIRE INSPECTOR'S JOB IN JULY AND HIS JOB CONSISTED OF FIRE INSPECTIONS OF ALL BUILDINGS AND FIRE PREVENTION FOR ALL THE SCHOOLS AS WELL AS FIGHT FIRES WHEN CALLED. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER ASKED CHIEF TEW WHO MAINTAINED THE FIRE HYDRANTS. CHIEF TEW STATED THEIR PART TIME PEOPLE PERFORM HYDRANT MAINTENANCE. RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON STEPPED FORWARD TO PRESENT HIS PROPOSAL FOR THE FY 2002 -2003 BUDGET. MR. HUDSON STATED IN THIS CRISIS, THE ONLY WAY THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CUT THEIR BUDGET WAS BY CUTTING OUT SOME PROGRAMS. HE ADDED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE PUT FIRST AND FOREMOST. HE FURTHER STATED THEY OPERATED ON A BUDGET OF $480,000.00 LAST YEAR. MR. HUDSON STATED WITH AN ADDITIONAL $24,000.00 CUT, HE WILL BE OPERATING WITH A BUDGET THAT HE OPERATED WITH IN 1999. HE ADDED THAT THE TWO THINGS HE DID NOT WANT TO DO WAS CUT PERSONNEL OR YOUTH PROGRAMS. HE FURTHER STATED THE $24,000 OPERATIONAL CUT CONSISTED OF CUTTING OUT ADULT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND THAT BASICALLY RESULTED FROM DWINDLING NUMBERS OF ADULT TEAMS PARTICIPATING OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. MR. HUDSON STATED THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY YOUTH TEAMS THIS YEAR. HE ADDED THE $24,000.00 WILL BE SAVED BY CUTTING BACK IN USE OF PART TIME HELP, CONTRACT LABOR TO PAY OFFICIALS, SCOREKEEPERS, ETC. TO OVERSEE ADULT ATHLETICS. HE FURTHER STATED THEY WILL RAISE SPONSORSHIPS FOR YOUTH TEAMS BY $25.00 AND WILL ALSO FIND SPONSORSHIPS FOR YOUTH SOCCER TEAMS AND YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAMS, SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. HE 852 STATED THIS WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY IN OFF SETTING THE LOST REVENUE FROM ADULT ENTRY FEES. MR. HUDSON STATED IF ADULT LEAGUES ARE CUT OUT, IT WILL SAVE IN UTILITY BILLS FOR THE CIVIC CENTER. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. HUDSON WHAT MAKES UP THE OVERTIME THAT IS PAID. MR. HUDSON RESPONDED THEY HAVE A STAFF OF SIX. HE ADDED HE WORKS 60 TO 70 HOURS A WEEK BUT IS EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME PAY. HE FURTHER STATED WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR BALLFIELDS WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU CANNOT HIRE SOMEONE OFF THE STREET TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE DURING GAMES. i HE STATED THE BULK OF OVERTIME IS MADE DURING APRIL, MAY AND NNE. HE ADDED YOU CANNOT LET SOMEONE OFF DURING THE DAY WHEN YOU HAVE SIXTY ACRES TO CUT, FIELDS TO PREPARE, MAINTAINING A CIVIC CENTER, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OTHER FACILITIES. HE FURTHER STATED THAT MOST OF THE OVERTIME PAY GOES TOWARD THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, THOSE THAT WORK AT NIGHT, WEEK END TOURNAMENTS, AND PERSONNEL TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE COMMUNITY BUILDING. MR. HUDSON STATED THE PART -TIME MONEY IS USED TO PAY ONE PART -TIME POSITION AND LIFEGUARDS. HE ADDED THE PARKS ARE USED HEAVY DURING THIS THREE MONTH PERIOD. HE FURTHER STATED BY DOING AWAY WITH FREE PLAY ON SATURDAY HELPED ELIMINATE SOME OVERTIME PAY. MR. HUDSON STATED THAT HE TRIES TO GIVE THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TIME OFF BUT ITS HARD WHEN THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WORKS UNTIL 11:00 P.M. AT THE PARK AND THEN HE HAS TO REPORT SCORES FROM SIX DIFFERENT BALLFIELDS BY 8:00 A.M. THE NEXT MORNING IN ADDITION TO CUTTING GRASS, ETC. HE ADDED THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THESE WERE THE ONLY CUTS IN HIS ESTIMATION THAT COULD BE MADE. POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAINS MORRY DENNING AND RONNIE RADCLIFFE STEPPED FORWARD TO PRESENT THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE FY 2002 -2003 BUDGET. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WAS ALREADY TIGHT AND THEY LOOKED AT WAYS OF SAVING THROUGH OPEN PERSONNEL POSITIONS. HE +' ADDED THAT A COPS VACANCY AND SERGEANT VACANCY WERE OPEN SO THEY TOOK THE COPS UNIT AND MADE IT INTO ONE UNIT INSTEAD OF TWO. HE FURTHER STATED THIS GAVE THEM AN EXTRA SERGEANT THEY COULD TRANSFER TO CID, WHICH SAVED APPROXIMATELY $36,000.00. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT OFFICER POSITION WAS PUT BACK ON PATROL AND ONE SERGEANT FROM COPS WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE OPEN SERGEANT POSITION IN CID. HE ADDED BY NNE 30, 2002 ANOTHER COPS OFFICER WILL BE MOVED BACK TO PATROL AND THIS WILL BE ANOTHER POSITION. HE FURTHER STATED THEY WERE CONTEMPLATING MOVING AN SRO (SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER) FROM HARNETT PRIMARY AND PUT BACK ON PATROL DIVISION WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM FOUR POSITIONS. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THIS IS AS MUCH AS THEY CAN CUT THEIR PATROL DIVISION. HE ADDED THEY ELIMINATED A PART -TIME DATA ENTRY POSITION AND THEIR DUTIES WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO FULL TIME PERSONNEL. HE FURTHER STATED HOLIDAY PAY WHICH IS GIVEN YEARLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS WAS ELIMINATED THIS YEAR AND INSTEAD WILL RECEIVE DAYS OFF. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THAT $68,336.00 WOULD BE SAVED BY THESE CUTS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR NOT COUNTING APPROXIMATELY $110,000.00 SAVED BY THE OTHER THREE POSITIONS FILLED WITH OPEN SLOTS ALREADY. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. DENNING HOW DOES THE HOLIDAY PAY WORK. l CAPTAIN DENNING RESPONDED THAT THE TWELVE HOUR PEOPLE HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER TAKE THREE DAYS OFF OR GET PAID FOR THREE DAYS FOR THE HOLIDAYS THEY RECEIVE YEARLY. HE ADDED SOME ARE PAID WHILE OTHERS OPT TO TAKE TIME OFF. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE STATED A LOT OF THE OFFICERS LIKE TO SAVE THESE THREE HOLIDAYS AND GET PAID FOR THEM AT CHRISTMAS TIME WHICH HELPS THEM BUY CHRISTMAS AND IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF THE COUNCIL DID NOT CUT THIS OPTION. HE ADDED FOUR FULL TIME POSITIONS HAVE BEEN LOST IN FOUR MONTHS WHICH IS A SAVINGS OF OVER $130,000.00. HE FURTHER STATED SIX PART -TIME POSITIONS WERE ELIMINATED. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE STATED THAT THERE IS AN SRO OFFICER AT BOTH HARNETT PRIMARY AND WAYNE AVENUE SCHOOL AND WITH BOTH SCHOOLS BEING SIDE BY SIDE, 853 THEY COULD ELIMINATE ONE OF THESE OFFICERS. HE ADDED ONE OFFICER COULD COVER BOTH SCHOOLS WITH NO PROBLEM. HE FURTHER STATED THIS WAS DONE FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE ANOTHER SRO OFFICER WAS BROUGHT IN. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE STATED ONE OF THESE POSITIONS IS A GRANT POSITION AND IS FUNDED FOR ONE MORE YEAR. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THE SRO OFFICER AT HARNETT PRIMARY IS FUNDED BY THE CITY. HE FURTHER STATED THE OFFICER FROM HARNETT PRIMARY WOULD BE PULLED OUT LEAVING THE OFFICER AT WAYNE AVENUE WORKING AT BOTH SCHOOLS. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THAT THE DUNN MIDDLE SRO OFFICER IS FUNDED BY HARNETT COUNTY. INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED HE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY AND THEY DO NOT FURNISH AN SRO OFFICER FOR GRADES K -3 THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. HE ADDED THE COUNTY STATED THEY ONLY FURNISHED SRO OFFICERS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. AUTRY IF THE COUNTY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CITY COMBINING THIS ONE OFFICER TO WORK AT HARNETT PRIMARY AND WAYNE AVENUE SCHOOL. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED NO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ALLOCATE AN OFFICER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT ANY OF THE SCHOOLS AT THAT GRADE LEVEL. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THEY HAD LOOKED AT EVERY OPTION TO SAVE WITH PERSONNEL AND THIS WOULD CUT THEM VERY TIGHT. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE STATED IF THEY MADE ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS, THIS BUDGET WOULD BE TOO LOW. HE ADDED THEIR DRUG UNIT HAS BEEN CUT TREMENDOUSLY AND DOESN'T LIKE DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES GETTING DRUG DEALERS. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED THE CAPTAINS HOW DOES DUNN COMPARE TO OTHER TOWNS THE SAME SIZE IN TERMS OF MANPOWER. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THE CITY OF DUNN HAS MORE THAN SOME BUT THE CRIME RATE JUSTIFIES IT. HE GAVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER TOWNS AND THEIR CRIME RATES. HE ADDED AFTER THESE CUTS, THEY WOULD HAVE 37 PEOPLE. HE FURTHER STATED WITH TOWNS THE SIZE OF DUNN, THE CRIME RATE AND POPULATION, THEY ARE EQUAL. CAPTAIN DENNING EXPLAINED HOW THE CRIME RATE IS DERIVED. MAYOR OUDEH ASKED CAPTAIN DENNING IF THEY CUT THE DEPARTMENT TO 37 PEOPLE, WOULD IT COMPROMISE THE DRUG PROBLEMS. CAPTAIN DENNING RESPONDED THEY COULD LIVE WITH IT RIGHT NOW BUT NEEDS TO BE RE- EVALUATED IN THE FUTURE. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED WHAT DO THE COPS DO. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE RESPONDED THAT THE DRUG UNIT IS CONSIDERED THE COPS UNIT. HE STATED THAT THE COPS UNIT ALSO CONSIST OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OFFICER, SRO, PAL PROGRAM, THE DRUG OFFICERS AND CANINE OFFICER AND ARE THE ONES DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC MORE. HE ADDED THE PATROL OFFICERS ARE MORE REACTIVE IN TAKING REPORTS AND WORKING TRAFFIC. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED IF THEY HAVE MAINTAINED THE PATROL OFFICERS. CAPTAIN DENNING RESPONDED YES, THEY ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO REPORT. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE PAL PROGRAM. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THE PAL PROGRAM OPERATES MOSTLY WITH DONATIONS INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THE PAL REQUEST FOR UNIFORMS, ETC. WERE ELIMINATED AND THEY CUT ONE PART -TIME SALARY. HE ADDED THERE WAS NOTHING THERE BUT SALARY. r' a COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED THE CAPTAINS TO EXPLAIN OVERTIME PAY. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED OVERTIME IS MADE BY CID CALL OUTS, OFFICERS CALLED IN TO WORK OR ANYONE CALLED TO EXTRA DUTY. CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE STATED EVENTS HELD SUCH AS THE COTTON FESTIVAL AND GENERAL LEE ACCOUNTED FOR OVERTIME. HE ADDED SOME OF THESE EVENTS MAY HAVE TO FUND OVERTIME FOR SECURITY INSTEAD OF THE CITY PAYING FOR IT. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED HOW MUCH OVERTIME WAS BUDGETED. CAPTAIN DENNING RESPONDED $20,000.00 FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 854 COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED IF THE AUXILIARY OFFICERS CAME IN TO HELP. CAPTAIN DENNING STATED THEY WOULD PROBABLY START UTILIZING AUXILIARY OFFICERS MORE NEXT YEAR. LIBRARY DEPARTMENT INTERIM CITY MANAGER STATED LIBRARY DIRECTOR, DEBORAH MELVIN WORKED ON THE LIBRARY BUDGET. HE ADDED THAT SHE IS LOOKING AT ELIMINATING TWO PART TIME POSITIONS WHICH WOULD SAVE $18,946.00. HE FURTHER STATED BY THIS CUT, THE LIBRARY WOULD CLOSE AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY NIGHTS INSTEAD OF 8:00 P.M, RESULTING IN A CHANGE OF ONLY TWO HOURS LESS PER WEEK. MR. AUTRY STATED MS. MELVIN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER BOOK BUDGET BEING m REDUCED BY $5,000.00 AND REQUESTED THIS TO BE PUT BACK IN PLACE. HE ADDED BY DOING THIS HER CUTS PROPOSED WOULD BE $13, 946.00 AND SHE DID EXCEPTIONALLY WELL WITH HER SMALL BUDGET AND CONSIDERING THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A $9,000.00 CUT. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THIS CONSISTED OF THE GOVERNING BODY, MANAGER'S OFFICE, INSPECTION DEPARTMENT AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT PAYS UTILITY BILLS FOR CITY HALL. HE ADDED THE GOAL FOR ADMINISTRATION WAS $23,436.22. HE FURTHER STATED IN PREPARING THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, THE LINE ITEMS WERE REDUCED DRASTICALLY BUT INSTEAD OF FURTHER CUTS, HE HAD TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY $6,000.00 TO COVER RETIREES INSURANCE. MR. AUTRY STATED $5,000.00 WAS CUT FROM THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE WHICH INCLUDED UPDATING THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. HE ADDED THE INSPECTION DEPARTMENT HAS TWO EMPLOYEES CONSISTING OF THE INSPECTOR AND PLANNER/CODE OFFICER. HE FURTHER STATED WHEN THE INSPECTOR IS OUT, A PART - TIME INDIVIDUAL FROM SAMPSON COUNTY WILL HAVE TO BE UTILIZED. HE STATED THIS INSPECTOR IS ALSO USED FOR INSPECTING THE HOSPITAL ADDITION AND OTHER MAJOR JOBS THAT REQUIRES AN INSPECTOR CERTIFIED FOR THESE TYPE OF INSPECTIONS. MR. AUTRY STATED HE HAS TALKED WITH THE COUNTY IN ASSISTING THE CITY WITH AN INSPECTOR WHEN NEEDED. HE ADDED AFTER EVALUATING SEVERAL ACCOUNTS, THERE IS A $5,385.00 INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET. MR. AUTRY STATED THEY ARE WAITING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COST INCREASES. HE ADDED YEARS. AGO THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHANGING CARRIERS, RESULTING IN A LATE START GETTING QUOTES FROM COMPANIES AND CAUSING OUR CYCLE TO RUN FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER OF EACH YEAR. HE FURTHER STATED COMPANIES DO NOT WANT TO QUOTE PRICES THIS EARLY BECAUSE OUR CYCLE ENDS IN SEPTEMBER. MR. AUTRY STATED INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER MOSES GALLION HAS CONTACTED THE COMPANY AND REQUESTED THEY START A NEW CONTRACT RUNNING FROM JULY TO JUNE OF NEXT YEAR. HE ADDED THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD ARRIVE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. HE FURTHER STATED THEY ARE HOPING TO FALL BELOW THE 20 TO 30 PERCENT INCREASE RANGE THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS RECEIVING. MR. AUTRY STATED THE INSURANCE NUMBERS WILL HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED IN JUNE AND SNIPES INSURANCE AGENCY IS PROPOSING OUR NUMBERS FOR THAT INCREASE. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED IF THEY HAD PROJECTED ANY INSURANCE INCREASES IN THE BUDGET. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED YES. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THEY PROBABLY NEED TO ESTIMATE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE AT $300.00 PER MONTH. MR. AUTRY STATED THEY NEEDED TO LOOK AT THE PERSONNEL CODE WITH RETIREE PERCENTAGES MAXIMUM PAY OUT IS STATED TO BE $250.00. HE ADDED THE CITY PAID A 4 PERCENTAGE OF INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES THAT RETIRED WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF SERVICE. HE FURTHER STATED SOME OF THESE PERCENTAGES ARE NOT IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY AND NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. AUTRY IF THERE HAS BEEN A POLICY WHERE THE CITY DID NOT PAY OVER $250.00 PER MONTH FOR RETIREES. MR. AUTRY STATED IT WAS IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY. MR. TART ASKED WHY WAS THE CITY PAYING MORE THAN THE $250.00 STATED IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY FOR RETIREES. 855 FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THIS ISSUE CAME UP DURING THE BUDGET RETREAT LAST YEAR AND FAILED TO BE ADDRESSED. SHE ADDED THEY COULD NOT TERMINATE COVERAGE ON THE RETIREES. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED MS. DAUGHTRY IF SHE COULD GET THEM A LIST OF ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES RETIRED WITH OVER FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE AND AGE 62. MS. DAUGHTRY RESPONDED THERE WERE A TOTAL OF TWENTY. SHE ADDED SOME FALL IN THE 25% RANGE, SOME IN THE 50% RANGE AND ONLY 6 FALL IN THE 100% RANGE. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED IF THE POLICY IS IN PLACE AND IT STATES THE CITY DOESN'T PAY OVER $250.00 THEN THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AND THAT IN ITSELF WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION PREVIOUSLY AND THEY WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT. l FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY STATED THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR AND AT THAT TIME THEY ONLY HAD THREE THAT FELL INTO THE POLICY. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO MODIFY THE LANGUAGE IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MR. AUTRY STATED THEY PROPOSE TO PARK THE LIMB TRUCK AND UTILIZE THIS EMPLOYEE IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. HE ADDED THERE WAS A VACANCY IN THE CEMETERY DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE LOSING ONE POSITION AT $18,000.00. HE FURTHER STATED THEY ELIMINATED TWO FULL TIME POSITIONS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND ONE PART TIME POSITION. MR. AUTRY STATED THERE IS USUALLY $20,000.00 EACH IN DRAINAGE, CONSTRUCTION AND CURB AND GUTTER ACCOUNTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO $5,000.00 EACH. HE ADDED THE TOTAL REDUCTION PROPOSED FOR PUBLIC WORKS WAS $22,088.00 AND NOT THE GOAL OF $68,734.92. HE FURTHER STATED LIMBS WOULD STILL BE PICKED UP BUT AT A SLOWER PACE. MR. AUTRY STATED WITH SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH THEIR GOALS OF ADDITIONAL BUDGET CUTS, THIS EXPLAINS THE DISCREPANCY OF APPROXIMATELY $125,000.00 IN CUTS THAT SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS COULD NOT COME UP WITH. HE ADDED THAT INSTEAD OF UTILIZING THEIR GOAL OF $752,400.00 FROM THIS YEAR'S FUND BALANCE, THEY ARE GOING TO NEED $877,245.00. MR. AUTRY STATED TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET, $877,245.00 IS NEEDED AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE DECIDED WHETHER TO OBTAIN IT FROM THE FUND BALANCE, ADDITIONAL CUTS OR MORE REVENUES. COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MR. AUTRY TO EXPLAIN OVERTIME FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED OVERTIME IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT BASICALLY COMES FROM THE CEMETERY DEPARTMENT HAVING FUNERALS ON WEEKENDS. HE ADDED TWO EMPLOYEES ARE ON CALL FOR WATER BREAKS AND OTHER WATER ISSUES ARE FUNDED FROM STREET DEPARTMENT. HE FURTHER STATED SANITATION OVERTIME DERIVES FROM LEAF PICKUP IN HEAVY SEASONS SUCH AS CHRISTMAS TIME AND WATER DEPARTMENT OVERTIME IS FROM WATER BREAKS. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED HIS CONCERN WAS THAT $107,000.00 WAS SPENT IN OVERTIME LAST YEAR. HE ADDED THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY JUST FOR OVERTIME. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER RESPONDED THE CITY IS OPEN TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY. MR. AUTRY STATED WHEN YOU LOOK AT OVERTIME AT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS, THEY ARE ON TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS AND ALTHOUGH IT IS THEIR SALARY, IT HAS TO BE FACTORED INTO THE OVERTIME LINE ITEM. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED WITH THE INCREASE IN WATER COST, WHY AREN'T THEY PROPOSING A RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND SEWER. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED THE RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. HE ADDED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, IT WAS PROPOSED TO INCREASE RATES TWO TO THREE PERCENT EACH YEAR. HE FURTHER STATED THE GRANT APPROVED FOR DAVIS - MARTIN- POWELL & ASSOCIATES INCLUDED AN IN DEPTH RATE STUDY THIS YEAR WHICH WOULD COMPUTE THE COST FOR PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING WATER. HE STATED THERE WOULD BE A DEFINITE RATE INCREASE NEXT YEAR AND DEPENDING ON HOW THE COUNCIL CHOSE, THEY COULD INCREASE RATES SOME THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR OR WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. M.- MR. WOMBLE STATED HE WOULD RATHER SEE SMALL INCREASES INSTEAD OF LARGE INCREASES ALL AT ONCE. HE ADDED RESIDENTIAL RATES HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED TWO YEARS IN A ROW AND THEY NEED TO KEEP PACE WITH INCREASING COST. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE WOULD PREFER RAISING PROPERTY TAXES THAN INCREASE WATER RATES BECAUSE A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE ON FIXED INCOMES AND COULDN'T AFFORD HIGHER WATER BILLS. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE YEAR FOR RAISING TAXES. HE ADDED WITH 1.8M IN THE WATER FUND, ANY EMERGENCY SHOULD BE COVERED. MR. WOMBLE STATED THE WATER AND SEWER IS A SERVICE THE CITY PROVIDES AND THE FEE CHARGED FOR WATER AND SEWER IS IN A SEPARATE FUND AND SHOULD PAY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WATER AND TREATMENT OF WASTE AND SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FACILITIES AND REPAYMENT OF DEBT BORROWED. HE ADDED PROPERTY TAXES DON'T ASSIST TOWARD THE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF PROVIDING WATER AND SEWER. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THEY STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE $125,000.00 THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS COULD NOT FIND IN CUTS. MR. AUTRY STATED THEIR OPTIONS WERE TO UTILIZE MORE FUND BALANCE, CUT MORE SERVICE OR PERSONNEL, RAISE TAXES OR USE THE $877,245.00 TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR JUNE 1, 2002 AND THEN EVALUATE WHAT HAPPENS WITH REIMBURSEMENTS THROUGH THE MONTH OF JUNE. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED HE WAS AGAINST RAISING TAXES AND SUGGESTED THEY WAIT UNTIL JUNE TO SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE WILL RELEASE FUNDS TO MUNICIPALITIES. COUNCILMEMBER WOMBLE STATED IF TAX REVENUE IS NOT INCREASED, THEN THEY NEED TO FIND ANOTHER $125,000.00 TO CUT. HE ADDED THEY HAVE GONE FROM A 4M FUND BALANCE WHEN THEY TOOK OFFICE DOWN TO 1.5M. MAYOR OUDEH SUGGESTED THE COUNCIL'S SALARIES BE CUT. MR. WOMBLE RESPONDED HE HAD STATED HIS REASONS FOR NOT CUTTING THEIR SALARIES. MR. WOMBLE STATED THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT THAT WOULD BRIDGE THIS $125.000.00 GAP AND IT DOESN'T CUT SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS AND IT DOESN'T INCREASE TAXES OR REDUCE THE FUND BALANCE. HE FURTHER STATED THIS BUDGET IS CUT TO THE BARE BONE AND THIS BUDGET DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT OR INCREASES FOR PROPERTY AND HEALTH INSURANCE. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED A .03 CENT TAX INCREASE WOULD EQUAL $124,000.00. HE ADDED THEY HAD TO COME UP WITH THIS MONEY AND THEY CAN'T DEPLETE THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR. THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED OTHER ALTERNATE WAYS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET INCLUDING MERGING THE DISPATCH SERVICES. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA DISCUSSION ABOUT THE VACANT COUNCIL SEAT. MOTION CARRIED 4 -1 AYES NOES BASS ROBINSON SUMNER TART WOMBLE MAYOR OUDEH STATED HE HAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. DONNIE OLDS STATING HIS INTEREST IN FILLING THE VACANT SEAT OF WARD 2. HE ADDED THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NEED TO DECIDE IN WHICH DIRECTION THEY WISH TO PROCEED WITH FILLING THIS VACANCY. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE SUGGESTED A PRESS RELEASE BY THE LOCAL PAPER TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS AND CONSIDER THEM AT THE JULY MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED HE FELT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WARD 2 SHOULD BE IN PLACE BEFORE VOTING ON THE BUDGET. MR. WOMBLE STATED AMPLE TIME NEEDS TO BE GIVEN FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC. HE ADDED THEY NEED TO CONSIDER EVERYONE THAT HAS AN INTEREST. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THE PROPER TIME TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS NOT AT A BUDGET WORKSESSION BUT A SPECIAL CALL MEETING SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELD TO DISCUSS THIS. i5. / MR. WOMBLE STATED THERE WOULD BE NO WAY FOR A NEW COUNCILMEMBER TO CATCH UP WITH ISSUES OF THE BUDGET. HE ADDED THEY NEED TO ALLOW THIRTY DAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND RETURN THEM BEFORE THE END OF JUNE TO DISCUSS AT THE JULY MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THE BUDGET WAS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND HE DOESN'T SEE THAT THEY ARE LEAVING OUT ANY WARD. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED HE WOULD BE ABSENT AT THE JUNE MEETING. MAYOR OUDEH SUGGESTED AN APPLICATION DEADLINE OF JUNE 15, 2002. THE COUNCIL AGREED. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS TO AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE FOR THE WARD 2 VACANCY AND APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED THROUGH JUNE 15, 2002. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED HE MUST HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET ON JUNE 1, 2002 AND HE NEEDS THE DIRECTION TO GO TO FIND $877,245.00. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED EVERYONE KNEW WHERE HE AND COUNCILMEMBER BASS STOOD AND NOW IT WOULD BE UP TO THE OTHER THREE COUNCILMEMBERS. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE AND COUNCILMEMBER BASS WHERE THEY STOOD. MR. WOMBLE RESPONDED THEY NEED TO STAY ON THEIR ORIGINAL TARGET SO THEY NEED TO FIND ANOTHER $125,000.00 IN CUTS. COUNCILMEMBER BASS RESPONDED THEY NEED TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL $125,000.00 FROM THE FUND BALANCE. COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED YOU HAVE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES AND HE PROPOSED TO USE THE FUND BALANCE. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED MR. AUTRY IF THE FUND BALANCE COULD BE REPLACED. MR. AUTRY RESPONDED IF SOME OF THE STATE REVENUES COME IN, THEN THIS AMOUNT WOULD GO BACK INTO THE FUND BALANCE. HE ADDED THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO GO IN FUND BALANCE IF CAPITAL PURCHASES ARE MADE. THE COUNCIL HAD FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO DIRECT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO USE AN ADDITIONAL $125,000.00 FROM THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE PRINTING OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON JUNE 1, 2002 AND THIS BUDGET CAN BE CHANGED ANYTIME DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE BY THE COUNCIL. MOTION CARRIED 3 -2. AYES NOES BASS WOMBLE ROBINSON TART SUMNER MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED HE WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NEARL�' $900,000.00 BEING SPENT FROM THE FUND BALANCE. 7 �� � WITH NO FU13 T4 . TI?S@ltSA ➢d .ISCUSS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:55 P.M. SEAS- a ti ATTEST: °• 4 w • �.' � `` (� � fa'�i�fP7tiia9 DEBRA G. WEST DEPUTY CLERK YOR ! 1