Washington County commissioners set budget priorities, set aside $10,000 for PARTF match and fund schools at $1.81 million

The Washington County Board of Commissioners on May 20 voted to set aside $10,000 to serve as a match for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant application, upheld a prior-year funding level for MTW with an additional $5,000 for a drug recovery program, and approved Washington County Schools funding of $1,813,498, including transportation and a dual-language kindergarten.

The decisions came during a recessed meeting in Plymouth where the board opened a public hearing on the recommended FY 2019-2020 budget and heard public comment. "We are the 10th poorest county in NC," said Ms. Patti Briley of Hillard Drive during the hearing, adding that "the Board of Education’s 80% salary increase listed in the Beacon is not warranted for this area" and urging more vocational training and business incentives.

County Manager Curtis Potter presented several late additions to the budget book, including a revised Social Services section after a new cost-allocation plan and an emergency personnel line for EMS. On mental-health services, Potter said the county has "a MOU with Trillium" and that Trillium "has gone to the LME model and is now including many counties; Trillium covers 20 counties," describing the arrangement as driven by state-mandated services.

Commissioner Phelps urged setting aside PARTF matching money; after discussion about whether land or cash is a better match and about the requirement to identify a project site for PARTF, the board approved a motion to reserve $10,000 for that purpose on a 4–1 vote (Phelps, Riddick, Walker and Chair Tracey A. Johnson voted aye; Commissioner Sexton voted nay).

The board also considered a funding request from MTW. Andrea Freeman, MTW finance officer, said MTW had purchased a building and acquired a dental van that requires outfitting, and that two Medicaid cost settlements had bolstered MTW’s fund balance. The board agreed to fund MTW at last year’s level of $199,000 and to add $5,000 for a drug recovery program rather than grant the increase MTW requested. (The transcript identifies the organization as “MTW”; the record does not expand the acronym.)

Washington County Schools Superintendent Ms. Mann told commissioners the board of education had asked for $1.9 million but was willing to remove certain stipend requests; she said the system has about $360,000 in fund balance, is starting a dual-language kindergarten at Creswell Elementary with "24 kids have already signed up," and is partnering with BCCC for vocational classes including a small-engine building course. Commissioner Riddick moved to fund the schools at $1,813,498, a motion that passed 4–1 with Commissioner Sexton dissenting.

Finance Officer Missy Dixon reviewed budget transfers and amendments, which the board approved unanimously. Chair Tracey A. Johnson asked for follow-up on a placeholder for 911 equipment replacement and suggested the assistant manager prepare a vehicle replacement schedule after noting several high-mileage vehicles. Potter said he would return a revised budget and the Budget Ordinance to the board on June 3 for further action.

Other business included recognition of Woodrow Sanders as Employee of the Quarter and brief updates: Chair Johnson reported on a recent NACo conference and interest in federal broadband options, and Clerk Julie J. Bennett described progress on an economic development video project. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.