Regular May 2016 Meeting of the Macon County Commissioners

The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6 pm in the Commissioners Boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse. This meeting is open to the public.




Supporting documents, including the public agenda and the full agenda packet are posted below for your convenience. 

Macon Media will be streaming video of the meeting live. Follow Macon Media News, Weather and Information on Facebook to check it out. After the meeting is over, video of the meeting will be embedded here.

**update** The meeting lasted over three hours, so it has been divided into three parts to facilitate viewing. The annual budget message from the county manager is in the second video, and will be uploaded as soon as possible.



PART ONE OF THREE



PART TWO OF THREE (BUDGET PRESENTATION)


PART THREE OF THREE



Here are downloadable copies of the Budget Message that was delivered by the County Manager and the proposed budget for the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.

The 2016-2017 County Managers Budget Message by Bobby Coggins

2016-2017 Proposed Budget by Bobby Coggins

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

May 10, 2016

AGENDA

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin
2. Announcements
--A. NCACC Update Video
3. Moment of Silence
4. Pledge of Allegiance
5. Public Hearing(s) – None
6. Public Comment Period
7. Additions to agenda
8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda
9. Reports/Presentations
--A. Presentation of the recommended Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget –
County Manager
----(1) Schedule public hearing on the recommended FY 2016-17
budget for Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 6 p.m.
----(2) Schedule time(s) for budget work session(s)
--B. Upcoming total solar eclipse – David Hubbs
--C. Update on Smoky Mountain LME/MCO – Shelly Foreman
10.Old Business
--A. Capital Project Ordinance Amendment/Union Academy and
Highlands School – Finance Director
--B. Cancellation of contract with Shade America – County Manager
11.New Business
--A. Addition of Mountain Breeze Road to the state maintained road
system – County Manager
--B. Lease agreement between Macon County and Bonita Hamstra
for Highlands Road Convenience Center site – County Attorney
12.Consent Agenda – Attachment #12
All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No
separate discussion will be held except on request of a member of the Board of
Commissioners.
--A. Minutes of the April 12, 2016 regular meeting and the April 18,
2016 called meeting
--B. Budget Amendments #196-204
--C. Tax Releases
13.Appointments
--A. Social Services Board (1 seat)
--B. Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees (1 seat)
14.Closed session (if necessary)
15.Adjourn/Recess

May 2016 Press Packet for Commissioners Regular Meeting by Bobby Coggins

Read More

2016 Mid-Year Review Begins Annual Budget Process for Macon County

The Macon County Commissioners held their annual mid-year budget review and budget work session on January 26, 2016. Video and supporting documents are posted in this article. A text play by posted from the meeting can be seen on Facebook.

VIDEO




MEDIA ROLL CALL
(media outlets present at the meeting)

Macon Media
Macon County News and Shopping Guide
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM
The Franklin Press


Here is the agenda and the proposed calendar for the budget planning process:

Here is what the process looked like the last three times the commissioners met to begin the annual budget process:

2015

2014

2013

Read More

County Commissioners to begin 2016/207 budget planning

The Macon County Commissioners will be holding their annual mid year budget review on Tuesday, January 26th at 1 pm and here is the meeting agenda and proposed budget calendar for the budget process.

The meeting is open to the public.

Here is the agenda and the proposed calendar for the budget planning process:

Here is what the process looked like the last three times the commissioners met to begin the annual budget process:

2015

2014

2013

Macon Media intends to be there and will stream live video from the meeting.

Read More

Macon County Commissioners Budget Work Session

The Macon County Commissioners met for a budget work session late in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 26, 2015 and considered the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. They heard from representatives of Macon County EMS, Franklin and Clarks Chapel Fire Departments, the Sheriff's Office and the school system. There were no members of the general public present. You can read the text play by play Macon Media posted during the meeting on Facebook.

MEDIA ROLL CALL (media outlets with reporters present)

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM
The Franklin Press


The video of the work session is embeded below.


There will be no series of budget work sessions to conduct an extensive review of the budget as there has been in years past and the commissioners will hear from the public at the June 9th public hearing on the budget before voting to approve it.

Budget Messages 2013-2015

2015-2016 Budget Message (includes copies of the proposed budgets 2011-2014)

2014-2015 Budget Message (the first delivered by Derek Roland)

2013-2014 Budget Message (the last budget message delivered by Jack Horton, the post includes a text copy of the previous year's budget message)

Here is a copy of the the 2015-2016 budget message and the proposed budget before the commissioners made their changes at the May 26th work session. It is followed by a series of photos taken at the meeting. Click on any of the photos to view them at a larger size.

Proposed 2015-2016 General Fund Budget by Thunder Pig

Read More

Macon County Commissioners Meeting for May 21, 2015 County Manager Presents 2015-2016 Budget Message

The Macon County Board of Commissioners met last night. The county manager delivered his annual budget message in a presentation that lasted approximately 30 minutes. 

VIDEO OF MEETING



BUDGET MESSAGE

The bottom line dollar amount is $46,646.357, an increase of $1,125,235 (2.47%) over the $45,521,122 asked for in last year's budget proposal [see video and supporting documents associated with the FY 2014-2015 presentation].

Below is a video of the budget message as delivered by the county manager. It is a low resolution video that will be replaced with a high resolution version in the next few days so the slides can be read.


The commissioners established a budget work session for 5 pm on Tuesday, May 25th to work on the budget numbers and begin hearing from departments regarding their requests for the coming year. 

REVISION TO HIGHLANDS FIRE DISTRICT

Commissioners then heard a presentation from Warren Cabe, the Emergency Management Director, regarding the new fire district lines for Highlands Fire Department to reflect the construction of a new substation. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the new lines, as did the county commissioners in Jackson County, who were meeting at the same time in Sylva, because the district crosses county lines.

PARKER MEADOWS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CLOSEOUT

Commissioners than discussed closing out the Parker Meadows construction project before the fiscal year ended. Commissioners voted to transfer a little over $303,000 from "Fund 56," the nickname for the Tennessee River/Cartoogechaye Creek Sewer Trunk Project Fund, which still had over $500,000 available for use. 

It was noted that the discovery of a grave site (tooth fragment) resulted in an additional expenditure of $244,442.63 to preserve the area according to the wishes of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. A grave marker has also been designed and given an area or prominence in the new recreation facility.

GRAND OPENING FOR PARKER MEADOWS

Seth Adams, Macon County Parks and Recreation Director, announced that plans were underway for a grand opening ceremony of the Parker Meadows Recreation Complex to take place on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, August 1st.

Commissioners recessed the meeting until 5 pm on Tuesday, May 21st for a budget work session.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

MEDIA ROLL CALL (media outlets with reporters present)

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide
The Franklin Press
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM

Supporting documents from the meeting are embedded below for your convenience, and in the interest of transparency. Macon Media is currently the only media outlet in the county that makes every document released at meetings available to the public when they are made available to Macon Media.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

CONTINUED SESSION

MAY 21, 2015 – 6 PM

AGENDA

1. Reconvene and welcome – Chairman Corbin

2. Presentation of the recommended Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget – County Manager

3. Approval of fire district map for new Highlands Fire Department sub-station – Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe

4. Discussion of items needed to complete/close-out Parker Meadows Recreational Complex project – County Manager/Finance Director

5. Schedule time(s) for budget work session(s)

6. Adjourn/Recess


NOTE - Copies of the county manager's budget message and proposed budget will be added to this section when he releases them to the public.




CROWD FUNDING

Please consider donating to keep these reports of local government activities coming by visiting my page at Patreon [click here to see the page] and choosing a dollar amount to give every month. All I am requesting is a dollar a month. Several people give more. Choose what amount you feel comfortable with and can afford. I currently (as of May 2015) cover 6 local governing and advisory boards, The Macon County Commissioners, The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen, The Macon County Board of Education, The Macon County Planning Board, The Macon County Airport Authority and the Franklin Tourism Development Authority. I also cover things like parades, public forums, political debates and parades.

Macon Media is not currently being funded by advertising like the other media outlets in the county. This is the work of one person seeking to provide more complete, and accurate, coverage of local public affairs than is possible by the local and regional papers or radio stations. I am funded by donations from people who support my effort. Some give cash or write checks from time to time, some have donated/loaned equipment for me to use. Currently every camera and desktop computer (plus one laptop) Macon Media uses have been donated.

Read More

The County Commissioners meet with the Board of Education for Budget Work Session

The Macon County Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Macon County Board of Education to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budget for the Macon County Public School System. The meeting took place in the Media Center (library) of Iotla Valley Elementary School. The text play by play, along with several images of the power point presentation that was made by Dr. Chris Baldwin about the budget request for 2015-2016 can be seen on Facebook. 

The Reader's Digest version of the 2015-2016 Request includes:

• PRC 001 Teacher salary increase.........$85,167
• PRC 003(+) Benefit increase...............$25,738
• PRC 027 Teacher Assistants..............$279,000
• PRC 002 State reduction CO...............$90,000
• PRC 012 Drivers Education.................$72,783
• PRC 003/027 Salary Increase.............$90,000
• Total.............................................$564,027
• Total Increase over 2014-2015.........$527,343
• Total Appropriation Requested........$7,865,673

Here is a more involved report of the budget request that has been excerpted from a detailed line item budget:

*note* 

1. A program report code (PRC) is an accounting term and is used for the allocation and accounting of funds. The PRCs (allocations) may change from year to year depending on the actions of the General Assembly, whereby they may add new programs or discontinue old programs.

PRC 001	Teacher Salary	1,438,033.37
PRC 002	Central Office Administration	1,550.16
PRC 003	Non-Instructional Support	1,794,564.22
PRC 005	School Building Administration	66,397.39
PRC 007	Instructional Support	0
PRC 009	Employee Benefits/Payouts	75,000.00
PRC 012	Driver's Education	108,851.25
PRC 013	Vocational Education	8,000.00
PRC 015	Technology	654,067.95
PRC 027	Teacher Assistants	280,344.87
PRC 028	Local Staff Development	40,836.00
PRC 032	Exceptional Children Medicaid	2,000.00
PRC 036	Charter School Payments	2,000.00
PRC 049	Preschool	113,260.49
PRC 056	Transportation	31,259.50
PRC 061	Instructional Materials	92,602.00
PRC 413	NC Pre-K	206,505.39
PRC 533	Local Supplements	443,217.78
PRC 701	After School (VIP)	297,133.00
PRC 706	Local Transportation	251,669.50
PRC 740	Summer Adventure Camp	130,000.00
PRC 802	Insurance	308,871.00
PRC 804	Athletics	291,777.00
PRC 805	Board of Education Expenses	73,763.90
PRC 806	Central Services	964,756.00
PRC 807	School Based	20,656.00
PRC 808	Maintenance	780,217.24
PRC 809	Utilities	1,111,304.00
PRC 831	New Century Scholars	15,550.00
PRC 864	Character Education	4,713.00
PRC 883	Cultural Arts	1,000.00
N/A	TOTAL EXPENDITURES	9,659,901.00

And here are the projected revenues:

NC Pre-K	127,500.00
Timber Sales	150,000.00
County Appropriation	7,865,673.00
Landfill Fees	73,842.00
Supplements	443,217.00
Driver's Education	6,000.00
Preschool Tuition	78,250.00
Fines and Forfeitures	75,000.00
Use of Schools (rental fees)	5,000.00
Interest on Investments	1,000.00
Miscellaneous local receipts	5,000.00
WAN Engineer	83,2000.00
Medicaid Reimbursement	50,000.00
Sales Tax Refund	20,000.00
E Rate Refund	60,000.00
Indirect Cost	2,000.00
Indirect Cost	40,000.00
Indirect Cost	30,000.00
Indirect Cost	left blank
Indirect Cost	5,000.00
Indirect Cost	700.00
Indirect Cost	3000.00
Lowe's Grant	left blank
After School Tuition	150,000.00
Summer Adventure Camp	130,000.00
ABC Revenues	100.00
NC Pre-K Fund Balance Appropriated	108,286.00
VIP Fund Balance Appropriated	147,133.00
TOTAL REVENUES	9,659,901.00

MEDIA ROLL CALL (local media outlets with representatives at the meeting)
Macon Media (story published Fri May 8th, the morning after the meeting)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide (next publication Thurs May 14th)
The Franklin Press (next publication Wed May 13th)

Read More

Macon County Airport Authority Regular April 2015 Meeting

The Macon County Airport Authority met today at the airport to hold a public hearing and discuss their recommended fiscal year 2015-2016 budget to the Macon County Commissioners. No one from the public attended the meeting, so no one spoke for against the proposed budget.

Macon County Airport Authority

Budget Request for FY 2015-2016

Legal Fees	$5,000
Contract Services	$2,400
Audit	$6,100
Maintenance Supplies	$500
Operating Supplies	$300
Events	$2,000
Gas/Propane	$4,500
Property/Building Maintenance	$15,000
Postage/Departmental	$100
Travel	$1,600
Telephone expense	$1,000
Electricity	$10,500
Property Insurance	$7,000
Capital Equipment	$0
TOTAL	$56,000

Read More

Mid Year Budget Review and Work Session Scheduled for January 20, 2015 Updated with Video

**update** Here is the video of the work session. It is 4 hours and 27 minutes long, so pack a lunch.





The Macon County Commissioners will be holding their annual mid-year budget review and work session on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 20th. It is scheduled to last a little over 4 hours. The agenda for the meeting has been posted below and you can check out what went on at last year's meeting by clicking this link.

Macon County Board of Commissioners

January 20, 2015 – 12:30 P.M.

Work Session Agenda

12:30 – 12:40 Welcome – Chairman (Kevin Corbin, Chairman)

12:40 – 1:00 2014 Year in Review (County Manager, Tommy Jenkins, Economic Development Director)

1:00 – 1:30 Mid – Year Financial Review (Lori Hall, Director of Finance)

1:30 – 1:40 Proposed Budget Calendar for FY 2015/2016 (County Manager)
•Budget Challenges and Goals for FY 2016

1:40 – 2:00 NCACC legislative goals (Ronnie Beale, Kevin Corbin)

2:00 – 2:20 Health Department  (Jim Bruckner, Health Director)
•Medicaid Cost Settlement Revenue Adjustment

2:20 – 2:50 Public Safety (Sheriff Robbie Holland, EM Director Warren Cabe)
•Future projects and needs

2:50 – 3:20 Public Schools (Dr. Chris Baldwin, Superintendent of Macon County School System)
•Macon County School Needs Assessment

3:20 – 3:30 Macon County DSS (Jane Kimsey, Director of Social Services)
•Successful  Implementation of NCFAST in FY 15

3:30 – 3:50 IT (Andy Muncey, Director of Information Technology)
•Phone System/Security System upgrade and  Implementation of SAN Data Storage

3:50 – 4:10 Tax Office  (Richard Lightner, Tax Administrator)
•Update on Revaluation

4:10 – 4:30 Recreation Department (Seth Adams, Recreation Director)
•Operating costs associated with Parker Meadows

4:30 – 5:00 Goals and expectations for FY 2015/2016 (Board of Commissioners, County Manager)

5:00 – 5:15 Wrap-up and closing comments (Kevin Corbin, Chairman)

Read More