MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  CONTINUED SESSION MAY 15, 2018 MINUTES  Chairman Tate reconvened the meeting at 12 p.m. in the commission boardroom as recessed from the May 8, 2018 regular meeting. All board members, the County Manager, Deputy Clerk, Finance Director, County Attorney, members of the news media and a number of department heads and PRESENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 BUDGET: The County Manager did a Prezi presentation regarding his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Board members received copies of the budget and the County Manager's budget message, a copy of which is attached (Attachment 1 and is hereby made a part of these minutes. The County Manager presented a recommended budget totaling $49,837,009, which maintains the county's current ad valorem tax rate of 34.9 cents per $100 valuation. He pointed out that the average for the seven-county region is 45 cents and the statewide average is 67 cents. During his presentation, he noted that ad valorem tax revenue and sales tax revenue are both expected to increase. He explained that $300,000 will be taken from fund balance to do a space needs analysis for the county. He then presented the budget on a function by function basis, stating that while the highest priorities remain on public safety and education, increases in employee health insurance had the largest impact on the county's budget. He explained that the administration is trying to find "the new normal" after two of the worst claims years in the county's history, adding that some $3.1-million is being spent on health insurance that wasn't being spent three years ago. The budget does not include a cost of living allowance for employees. During a brief break in the County Manager's presentation, the Finance Director said that none of the county's volunteer fire departments were asking for a tax increase this year, and the board members discussed and decided to hold a joint meeting with the county school board members on June 5th at 5 p.m. in the boardroom. The County Manager's presentation shifted from public safety to education at this point, where he said the recommended budget called for an additional $182,732 for the county's school system, bringing the total recommended allotment to $8,557,731. He also touched on a number of other topics, including funding for new servers for Information Technology, LED light  county staff were present.  Minutes 05.15.18 Page 1 of3    replacement, broadband consultation, audit compliance regulations, new lift- equipped vehicles for the Transit Department and more funding for the Macon County Public Library. In closing, he reviewed proposed funding to address courthouse security recommendations, and the parameters of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that the county is about to embark upon, including the first planned "pay as you go" items. The public hearing on the proposed budget is set for Tuesday, June 19th at 6 p.m. in the boardroom. The board members agreed to meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5th for a budget work session prior to meeting with the school board. Chairman Tate reminded the board members to write down their requests and questions for the County Manager so that he could address them. Chairman Tate also addressed many of those in the audience, saying that he knew a lot of them were in attendance because of education and stated this was the first time the board members had seen the proposed budget. He said there would be "more to come" on June 5th and concluded, "I know from your e-mails there is a substantially higher CORRECTED DESCRIPTION FOR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT: The County Attorney explained that following the board's action at the last meeting to approve a temporary construction easement for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), he received a call the next morning alerting him to an error in the metes and bounds description where "the words didn't match the plat." He asked instead that the board approve the easement he was presenting at today's meeting. Upon a motion by Commissioner Higdon, seconded by Commissioner Beale, the board voted unanimously to approve the corrected temporary construction easement as SATISFACTION OF SECURITY INSTRUMENT: Following an explanation by the County Attorney, and upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Shields, the board voted unanimously to approve a Satisfaction of Security Instrument for Willard M. Ashe stemming from a housing rehabilitation project in 1998. A copy of the instrument is attached DEED FOR SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIRE SAFETY TRAINING CENTER: The County Attorney reminded the board that, at the May 8, 2018, regular meeting, the board approved an interlocal governmental agreement between the county and Southwestern Community College (SCC) regarding land and funding for the proposed Fire Safety Training Center at the college's Macon Campus. In preparing the general warranty deed for the six- acre tract involved in the agreement, the County Attorney said there were additional matters that needed to be added to the description. He requested that the board approve the revised deed, and upon a motion by Commissioner  request (for education funding) than what is in the budget."  presented.  (Attachment 2) and is hereby made a part of these minutes.  Minutes 05.15.18 Page 2 of3    Gillespie, seconded by Commissioner Shields, the board voted unanimously to approve the "North Carolina General Warranty Deed" as presented, a copy of which is attached (Attachment 3 and is hereby made a part of these minutes. CLOSED SESSION: At 12:56 p.m., upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Shields, the board voted unanimously to go into closed session for the purpose of preserving the attorney-client privilege under NCGS 143-318.11(a)3). NOTE: Commissioner Beale left the closed session at Commissioner Shields, the board voted 4-0 to come out of closed session at RECESS: At 1:27 p.m., upon a motion by Commissioner Higdon, seconded by Commissioner Shields, the board voted 4-0 to recess the meeting until Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 3 p.m. in the commission boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse, Franklin, NC for the primary purpose of holding a budget work session and to meet with the members of the Macon  1:22 p.m.  Upon a motion by Commissioner Higdon, seconded by  1:26 p.m. and return to open session. No action was taken.  County Board of Education at 5 p.m. that day.  Derek Roland  Jim Tate Board Chairman  Ex Officio Clerk to the Board  Minutes 05.15.18 Page 3 of3