Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Department Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Craven County approves water-department budget amendment to fund new administrative position
Summary
The board approved a water-department budget amendment to create a full-time Administrative Officer I to handle billing and administrative duties; staff said the position’s starting salary is $58,321 and the prorated cost for the rest of the fiscal year is $33,365, funded from the water fund balance, not the county operating budget.
The Craven County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 20 to amend the water department’s budget to fund a full-time Administrative Officer I to manage customer billing, debt collection and administrative financial tasks.
Chris Mullins of the county’s water department told commissioners that since 2016 the department has seen a 22% growth in permits and added positions tied to plant operations and Highway 70 construction, but that administrative and supervisory workload has fallen to the customer service supervisor. Mullins said the new position would provide separation of duties, a backup for the customer-service supervisor and closer alignment of supervisory span of control.
Mullins provided compensation figures: "The starting salary for this position is $58,321," and he requested a budget amendment of $33,365 to cover salary and benefits for the remaining 10 pay periods of the fiscal year. County staff and the chair clarified this funding would come from the water department fund balance, not the county’s operating budget.
Commissioners asked whether the department’s revenue increase covers the new hire; Mullins said it does. Commissioners also raised questions about backup coverage when staff are out; Mullins said the new position would fill that role and reduce the need to pull finance staff to cover billing tasks. A motion to approve the amendment passed on roll call with unanimous support.
Next steps include creating the position and proceeding with hire and onboarding; the water department will report to finance on the hire and budget reconciliations.
