Finance report shows revenue gains through January; commissioners approve multiple board and volunteer fire department appointments

County finance staff told the commissioners March 3 that year-to-date general-fund expenditures were up and revenues were trending above FY24 through January, with property-tax collections higher than the prior year. The quarterly investment report noted the county received approximately $6.6 million in interest income through December and that the county’s portfolio strategy emphasized treasuries and agencies permitted by state law; staff said they were being conservative and not investing in commercial paper or volatile instruments.

The finance director noted cumulative sales-tax receipts had a prior-year timing anomaly that made year-to-year monthly comparisons appear irregular but said overall the county’s receipts were near budgeted expectations.

Later in the meeting, the board approved multiple appointments to volunteer fire department boards and local advisory committees. Appointments recorded in the packet and approved by motion included county seats and reappointments across Atwell, East Gold Hill, Dulles Crossroad, Franklin, Liberty, Roy and Iredell, Scott’s Irish and Woodley volunteer fire departments, plus appointments to the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Commissioners approved the appointments as presented by voice vote.

The board also voted to enter closed session under North Carolina statutes to consider closed-session minutes and matters exempt from public disclosure, reconvened and reported no action on closed-session items. The meeting adjourned after the closed session.