Minutes 06-06-2024 - Budget Work Session

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DEPARTMENT MARKETING AND OUTREACH 1 5000 5000 TOTAL SPENT UNDER MAP 198348.4 Chair Bedford said $100,000 could be used from the county budget rather than this budget. She said that $300,000 could move and there is still $250,000 left. She said that it seems that all can be accomplished, and she gets the concept of supplanting, but it does not make sense to her that they are funding as much as they are with tax dollars when there is this much in funding coming in. She said she is going to support this budget amendment. Bonnie Hammersley said that over the years there have been departments that had funds like these, and they have been removed. She said that departments get grants and are required to spend them within a certain amount of time. She said this is one of the last departments with a fund like this (local funding source). She said this came forward this year because of how tight the budget was this year. She said that the library had a savings account at the bank. She said that it cannot work that way because the playing field has to be level for all departments. She said that when they bring in money, they should give it back to the residents as much as possible. She said that maybe tonight is not the night to make that decision but she agrees that the Board discuss it and develop a policy. She said that it has been her philosophy to put money coming in back to residents as much as possible. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she reviewed the amendment in the context of the calls she gets about the property tax increase before them. She said while small, this amendment would demonstrate to them that the Board is taking this issue and its impact seriously. Vice-Chair Greene said there is more money being spent out of the account that has been leveraged. She said that the library savings account is a little different because it was not money that was donated from an outside source. Bonnie Hammersley said it was donated by the Friends of the Library, but now they manage their own account. Vice-Chair Greene said she still sees a difference here because Carol Woods is donating to provide support for the MAP and diverting the funds to something else is an issue to her. Commissioner Hamilton said she appreciates everyone's comments. She said she agrees with what Commissioner Portie-Ascott said about signaling to residents that the Board is looking everywhere to try to lower the tax increase. She said for someone on a fixed income, even small savings are important. She said there is no difference in the money being donated because it will still serve seniors in the community. Commissioner McKee said the Board is combining a policy discussion and a finance discussion. He said he does not think this is the best time to have a policy discussion and that is his issue with this amendment and some of the others proposed. He said this would only result in a symbolic decrease in the proposed tax rate increase. Chair Bedford said that if they are using ARPA funds, there would still be $250,000. She asked if there are ARPA funds. Kurt Vaughn said that they recognized the ARPA funds earlier and separate from this budget. Chair Bedford said they do not need to keep$700,000 even if$250,000 was being planned for expenditures. She said that the MAP is broad and covers many services. She said that there are other funding sources that are part of that plan, and it is not separate. She said that at a budget work session is the appropriate time to talk about policy. She said that she does not think that departments should have fund balances. Vice-Chair Greene said the MAP is fully funded through the MAP dollars.