Burke County Board of Education member Buddy Armour made a personal plea Tuesday to the Burke County Board of Commissioners during a public hearing regarding the proposed fiscal year 2011-12 budget.
The proposed budget reduces funding to Burke County Public Schools by 5 percent, despite a request from the schools for an additional $4 million compared to the current year.
“I’m here to explain to you folks why we do not save money by consolidating schools,” Armour told the board. “We certainly didn’t save any money in the last consolidation last year.”
Last week, schools’ Finance Director Keith Lawson told commissioners during a budget workshop that consolidation of five schools in 2010 saved $1.5 million and most of the savings came from personnel.
Armour, who provided the board with a handout, said the handout indicated the schools’ savings from consolidation.
About 12 to 13 positions were “supposedly” eliminated, but almost everyone on the list of positions cut remains employed with the school system, Armour said.
Armour argued the only way to save money is to actually eliminate the positions and sell the school building.
Armour pointed out that the list of “savings” does not include the cost of adding six mobile units at Mountain Crest or the cost of supplies that follows students no matter which school they attend.
“My appeal is simple. If you can’t increase us, at least don’t cut us. We’ll look after ourselves as best we can,” Armour said. “…We’re trying to keep people employed … because if they’re not employed they can’t pay you.”
During closing comments Commissioner Maynard Taylor said county schools are a priority for the board. With the addition of Western Piedmont Community College, about half of the county’s revenues from local taxes go toward local education.
Bill Satterwhite said he has attended the board’s budget work sessions and echoed the question several department heads have asked the board, “What kind of services do you want for our county?”
Satterwhite said the county manager and finance director’s proposal to include a property tax increase “took courage.”
“If you don’t raise taxes a little bit now, in 2013 when the (revaluation) takes place, the county will face a toxic shock of devastating proportions,” Satterwhite said.
The business community would be devastated, Satterwhite predicted. He suggested commissioners approve the tax increase this year, and to implement a property revaluation every two years to give businesses a predictable and stable tax rate.
The board has two budget workshops scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday and Monday in the county manager’s conference room, 200 Avery Ave.
The proposed budget is up for commissioners’ approval at its June 21 regular meeting.
The board voted unanimously on three decision items at Tuesday’s meeting.
It first approved a resolution and request from South Mountains Fire Rescue Department to enter a tax-exempt loan agreement with First Citizens Bank and Trust for $45,000 to purchase a new brush truck. The department would pay back the loan over a 10-year period.
The total cost of the truck is $75,000, Burke County Fire Marshal Mark Pitts said. The remainder of the cost is covered by a $30,000 grant the fire department received in May from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of the Fire Marshal, Fire Department Grant Fund.
Commissioners voted to surplus a 2000 Ford Ranger, 1994 Jeep Cherokee, Western Manufacturing Company two post lift and Lincoln 7-ton portable floor jack. The items will be available for public consideration on GovDeals.com.
Commissioner Bruce Hawkins asked General Services Director Carson Fisher about the success of selling the county’s surplus items on the website.
Fisher said selling the items online has been successful and relayed a story about two women who traveled from Georgia to look at two vehicles advertised on GovDeals.
The board unanimously approved the re-appointment of county Tax Administrator Danny Isenhour. The four-year term is effective beginning July 1.
About 65 people tuned in to the commissioners meeting as it streamed online for the first time. Recorded video of the Board of Commissioners meetings air on local public access channels.
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