Budget Public Hearing and Wrap Up May 23, 2024, MB#56  Minutes  Catawba County Board of Commissioners Budget Public Hearing and' Wrap-Up Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, 7:00 pm  The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00pm in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Catawba County Justice Center, 100 Government Drive, North Carolina. The purpose of this meeting was for a public hearing to receive public comments on the County Budget for Fiscal Present were Chair Randy Isenhower, Vice-Chair Austin Allran and Commissioners Robert C. Abernethy, Jr., Also present were County Manager Mary Furtado, Assistant County Manager Paul Murray, Assistant County Manager Justin Merritt, County Attorney Jodi Stewart, Budget and Management Analyst lan Bumgarner, Budget and Management Director Jennifer Mace, Strategic Operations & Communications Director Amy McCauley, 1. Chair Randy Isenhower called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm, noting a quorum was present.  Year 2024/25.  Barbara Beatty and Cole Setzer.  and Deputy County Clerk Kim Hefner.  2. Chair Isenhower led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Chair Isenhower offered the invocation.  4. County Manager Mary Furtado gave an overview oft thel FY25 Budget process and an overview of the proposed FY25 Budget that is being recommended for adoption, which is scheduled for Monday, June 3, 2024. Ms. Furtado noted that budget presentations with County departments and outside agencies took place on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and stated the purpose of this meeting was to conduct a public hearing to receive Chair Randy Isenhower asked Commissioners if they had any questions. With no questions being raised, Chair senhower opened the public hearing for the proposed FY25 Budget. The following spoke: Jerry Hodge, Mayor of Newton; spoke on behalf of Newton Fire District. Scott Jandrew, Chief of Mt. View Fire; spoke on behalf oft the Mt. View Fire District.  citizen comments on the proposed budget.  5. Public Hearing  Chair senhower asked if there were any additional public comments, and as there being none, the public 6. Chair Isenhower opened the floor, inviting discussion among the Commissioners about the proposed FY25  hearing was closed. Budget:  Chair Isenhower raised discussion of the proposed fire tax rate increases. Specifically, he raised concerns about the proposed tax rates for Newton Rural Fire District and Claremont Rurall Fire District. Commissioners Abernethy and Setzer indicated they shared Chair Isenhower's concerns. ) Chair Isenhower made a motion to leave the Newton Rural Fire District's rate at its current level, versus granting the recommended tax increase. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Isenhower made ar motion to reduce the recommended taxi rate for Claremont to. .1122, versus granting the recommended taxi increase. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Isenhower made a motion to reduce the recommended per pupil increase to $115/pupil, versus the Manager's recommended per pupil increase of $162. The motion passed unanimously.  7. No other items were discussed. Budget Adoption is scheduled for Monday, June 3, 2024, at the Board's Regular  scheduled meeting.  875    Budget Public Hearing and Wrap Up May 23, 2024, MB#56  8. Upon a motion by Commissioner Barbara Beatty, which uranimolsilycarried, the meeting adjourned at 7:43  pm.  /  Randyl Isenhower, Chair Board of Commissioners  a   ehe  Kim Hefner Deputy County Clerk  876