General fund decreases by nearly $500,000 in Charles City’s proposed FY2018-19 budget

Charles City supervisors received numbers of the reduction in expected general funds as part of a look at the first proposed budget for FY2018-19 at Tuesday night’s board meetings.

While the projection did not include all of the state and federal funding due to the ongoing session, Charles City County administrator Michelle Johnson presented a budget of $14,330,557 to county leaders.

The general fund is projected to be $7,505,751, down $492,479 compared to this year’s figure. New expenses in the general fund include reflecting a raise in staff based on performance ($66,181), community engagement funding ($49,500), absorbing the cost of a school resource officer after the expiration of a grant ($47,000), and the hiring of a full IT help desk person ($35,000).

Property values increased by seven percent after a March 2018 reassessment. Because of this, the county’s real estate tax rate is expected to remain at the current rate of 76 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, the equalized rate is pegged at 73 cents per $100 of assessed value, meaning the tax rate is technically a three-cent tax increase.

One of the main focuses in this year’s budget revolved around Fire/EMS for the county. Johnson recommended utilizing $143,211 to hire a director of Fire and Rescue services, provide training for five individuals designated to respond to emergencies, and equipment for those individuals. Along with contracting for 24/7 EMS services, the total budget for fire/EMS is $967,000. A proposal of $352,709 for social services was recommended by the county administrator, approximately $20,675 less than the department’s request.

Charles City schools requested a local contribution of $6,018,471 for the next fiscal year for operations. Under Tuesday night’s budget proposal, Johnson recommended $5,504,573. That figure is level funding equal to this year’s local contribution plus an additional $270,000 to make up for an expected reduction of state funding.

The county’s CIP is pegged at $1,241,583 for the upcoming fiscal year. The biggest ticket item on that list is the replacement of the Kimages Treatment Plant, coming in at $698,750 (excluding an additional $105,000 in upgrades). According to Johnson, the plant has to be replaced this year to meet DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) regulations. Another item that eclipsed six figures in the plan is upgrading the accounting software with a price tag of $130,000. The county administrator commented that the lifespan on the current software will end in 2020 and the upgrade is necessary to keep the county’s finances functioning properly. Other items on the county’s CIP list include updating the water meter system at the wastewater plant ($82,000), renovating Charles City’s Social Center ($65,000), and upgrading HVAC systems at the Government and School Board Administration building ($21,000).

Charles City school officials seemed legitimately shock as they heard CIP recommendations for the grounds. In the three-year cycle, schools were pegged to receive $1.3 million for the upcoming year. School leaders requested an additional $1 million in assistance due to damage endured by the buildings from this year’s winter storm. However, Johnson recommended the school’s CIP to be roughly $165,000. Of that amount, the two big ticket items listed were the replacement of HVAC units ($80,000), and the purchasing of two seven-passenger vans ($47,000).

At the conclusion of the budget presentation, District 2 supervisor Bill Coada and District 3 supervisor Floyd Miles Sr. appeared to have a plethora of questions. However, they elected to discuss them in a future meeting.

A public hearing on the county’s proposed budget will take place on Tuesday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. inside the auditorium of the Charles City Government and School Board Administration building.