Buncombe Commissioners: Board approves $327 million budget

• 911 agreement with city clears final hurdle
• Energy Loop rides again

Despite a declining economy and the need for cuts in every department, Buncombe County staff managed to deliver a budget that keeps core services intact and the tax rate unchanged.

The “Loop” is back: Dirck Cruser’s “Energy Loop,” Asheville’s first piece of public sculpture, before it was placed in storage. The “Loop” will soon have a new home on College Street. Courtesy City of Asheville

That was the message conveyed by County Manager Wanda Greene’s 11-minute PowerPoint presentation at the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners June 23 meeting. Set to an easy-listening version of the 1983 song “Wind Beneath My Wings,” the presentation detailed the many services the county provides.

Judging by the applause from the commissioners, Greene’s message got across, and the board unanimously approved the $327 million budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Down $11.7 million from last year, the spending plan includes $5.5 million worth of cuts in everything from education to public safety to eliminating 86 staff positions. The remaining $6.2 million came from adjustments in the county's enterprise funds, which include things like trash collection and parking decks.

Many of those positions, stressed Greene, were already vacant, and the county “found jobs in other departments or agencies for those that wanted to stay. Some elected to retire or leave the jobs to go back to school.”
The only fee increase in the new budget is a roughly 50 cent jump in the cost of trash pickup, bringing the typical bill to about $14.70 a month. The property-tax rate is still 52.5 cents per $100 of property value.

The commissioners gave the budget an enthusiastic reception, with Vice Chair Bill Stanley exclaiming, “Pass it, pass it!”

“I want to thank the manager and finance staff who've diligently worked on this,” said board Chair David Gantt. “I think this budget faces the harsh realities that everyone else is facing, both individuals and businesses.

“This is not a time to expand programs; it's a time to take care of working people. I'm really happy to hear that hard-working people at the county aren't going to be losing their jobs because of what greedy people in another state have done. We're cutting positions without firing people. I'm glad we could do this without hurting little people — the people we're supposed to serve.”

Commissioner K. Ray Bailey asked Greene if there was anything state government might do that could negatively affect the county's finances.

“I don't think there will be any major changes that would hurt us that much,” the county manager responded. “There's still a chance that $300,000 in costs might fall to us, but we can manage that.”

Commissioner Holly Jones said she was “as comfortable as I can be” with the budget, considering the general economic turmoil, but she hoped that the nearly $11 million the budget draws from the county's fund balance wouldn't be needed.

“We don't anticipate we will,” Greene replied. “We hope to be able to save enough money that we can put it right back.”
Before the meeting, Jones had voiced concern about a potential conflict of interest she faced in voting on the budget. It allocates $800,000 for a child care program for low-income families that’s overseen by the YWCA of Asheville, where she is executive director. But Jones said she doesn't directly benefit from or oversee the program in question and thus didn't feel there was a conflict.

“I know this board is committed to the highest level of openness,” she said. “I don't financially benefit from these funds; none of my salary comes from any of these departments.”

County Attorney Joe Connolly agreed, saying that after investigating the matter, he saw no conflict. “I'm of the opinion that she does not have a direct benefit, and she can proceed and vote,” he noted.

“Case closed: Let's get on with it,” Stanley declared. The new budget takes effect July 1.

911 deal sealed

The commissioners also finalized an agreement with the city of Asheville to fully consolidate 911 services. Earlier in June, final approval had been delayed (over Jones' objection) due to a termination provision that many commissioners felt unfairly benefited the city.
Greene said that after discussing the matter further with City Manager Gary Jackson, they’d inserted a provision stipulating that if either party wanted to back out of the agreement, state 911 funds could be used to help pay for a move and new equipment for a separate facility. This, she said, addresses the city’s concern that it could be left high and dry if the county chose to terminate the agreement.

“This will put all the municipalities except Black Mountain and Montreat under one roof,” noted Gantt. “I think this is the sort of partnership our community demands: People will get help faster.”

Jones added, “I don't think this [agreement] will ever be terminated; they seem on good terms. But I'm glad the city's concerns have been addressed.”

Loop-the-loop

With no discussion, the commissioners also approved a new home for Asheville's first piece of public art. The consent agenda (a list of routine matters that are approved on a single vote at the start of each meeting) included an authorization for county staff to work out the final legal details with the city to place the sculpture on College Street across from the courthouse.

First installed in 1983, Swannanoa sculptor Dirck Cruser’s “Energy Loop” long occupied a prime spot in City/County Plaza. But since its removal in 2007 during construction of the new Pack Square Park, attempts to relocate the piece have proved problematic.

In May, however, the city's Public Art Board approved the move to the county-owned site. And with the commissioners now signing off on the idea, the newly restored “Loop” seems ready to move out of storage and back into the public eye.