Tag Archive for: #franklincountyboardofcommissioners

Franklin County Commissioners Appoint John Preston As Tax Administrator

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— information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III

 

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners has appointed John Preston to be the county’s tax administrator.

This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement in July 2024 of Marian Cascone, who resigned in July from that position, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.

Preston comes from Warren County where he has served as tax administrator for the past five years. Prior to his time in Warren County, he was a home inspector in Maryland.

“I am looking forward to coming to Franklin County as the new tax administrator,” Preston said.

The tax administrator is one of four positions appointed by the board of commissioners. The other positions are county manager, county attorney and clerk to the board.

“The Tax Department is responsible for the fair and equitable assessment of all personal and real property within the county and generates the funding through tax dollars for county operations, new projects to attract new businesses and growth within the county to benefit all Franklin County residents.”

Preston also served as the appraiser for Warren County from 2015-2017 when he left to become a property tax valuation specialist with the North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Local Government Division. He then returned to Warren County as the assistant tax administrator in 2019 prior to being appointed as tax administrator.

Franklin Co. Approves $125M Budget

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– information courtesy of Franklin Co. Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a $125 million budget earlier this month that includes a tax rate of 50.5 cents per $100 valuation and a capital improvement plan for the general fund, public utilities and solid waste.

The previous tax rate had been 78.5 cents per $100 valuation, so the new tax rate represents a 28-cent drop. The new rate is just a shade over the revenue-neutral rate of 49.91 cents per $100 valuation.

County Manager Kim Denton presented the recommended budget to commissioners on May 20.

The new budget provides for more staffing in areas that provide direct services to residents, provides for purchase of vehicles to accomplish service delivery and maintains a competitive employee compensation and benefits for county employees, as well as provides funding to complete infrastructure and economic expansion projects, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III.

County Attorney Gena McCray reported to commissioners at the June 10 meeting that the Franklin County Board of Education had met earlier that day and had amended its FY25 budget request to $30,541,812 for local expenses and $1,890,611 for capital outlay expenses for a total of $32,432,423. Support for education represents 30.8 percent of the county’s FY25 General Fund budget.

 

Highlights from the FY25 Budget include:

  • $125,346,271 General Fund budget
  • Tax rate set at 50.5 cents per $100 valuation of property (reduced from 78.5 cents)
  • 13 new county positions to address growth and the expanding need for services
  • 23 new vehicles (including 10 for Sheriff’s Office)
  • Public Utilities water and sewer rate increases
  • $32,432,423 to Franklin County Schools for Local Current Expense and Capital Outlay

The county’s annual Fee Schedule was adopted by Board resolution. The complete Fee Schedule can be found at https://www.franklincountync.gov/county_services/budget___finance/index.php

Franklin Judicial Complex Expansion Could Begin As Early As October 2024

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The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved the next steps in the judicial complex expansion project

Oakley Collier Architects presented the updated site plan and building layouts for a renovated Courthouse Annex and a three-story addition to commissioners at their April meeting.

Construction could begin as early as October.

Back in October 2019, county leaders made the project a priority and commissioners approved funding for initial surveys and designs in November 2021. A few months after that, commissioners got a judicial update which provided options for placement of the judicial complex on the site. Ultimately, locating expanded facilities adjacent to the current Courthouse Annex in Louisburg minimized the need for more new construction.

This project is brought about by the population growth the county has experiences in recent years, which brings with it increased demands to the courts system and other offices housed in the facility, including the clerk of court’s office.

Dockets for District Court and Superior Court have grown as the County population has increased which has expanded District Attorney staff numbers.

According to N.C. General Statute 7A-302, “each county in which a district court has been established, courtrooms, office space for juvenile court counselors and support staff…shall be provided by the county….”

Legislators granted $15 million in the new state budget to be used for the construction of judicial facilities in Franklin County – taking some of the financial burden off of Franklin County and its taxpayers. The funds must be used by October 2025 per the FY23 State Budget.

 

“Franklin County leadership appreciates the support for this identified need from our state legislators,” said Franklin County Manager Kim Denton.

Franklin County Historic Courthouse (Historic Courthouse) was built in the mid-1800s and has served for nearly 200 years. It was last renovated in 2014. The building houses the Clerk of Superior Court offices, Superior Court Courtroom and the Resident Superior Court Judge and supporting staff.

The Judge Hamilton H. Hobgood Courthouse Annex (Courthouse Annex) was built in 1995 – the last judicial construction in Franklin County – after the County renovated a hardware store to expand judicial facilities.  The Courthouse Annex contains the District Courtroom, a portion of the Clerk of Superior Court’s office, and the Resident District Court Judge and supporting staff offices. The Register of Deeds is also located in the Courthouse Annex.

Both buildings house portions of the District Attorney’s office, Guardian ad Litem and Juvenile Justice offices.

Franklin Co. Commissioners To Form Capital Committee To Study School Facilities’ Needs

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-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to support creation of a Capital Committee in response to the Franklin County Schools Report, published in September 2023.

“The Board wholeheartedly supports establishing a Capital Committee to address the school capital needs for Franklin County Schools,” said Chairman Harry Foy, who added that the commissioners also would support visiting school facilities and working with the school board and county staff to address capital needs.

In addition to visiting facilities, the committee also will “plan, prioritize, and consult data, other experts and resources as needed to recommend mutually agreeable and cost-efficient capital projects.”

Part of Franklin County’s mission states that the county strives to “create a bright future for our county’s students and residents by keeping educational goals and facilities current and relevant to the economic demands of the County.”

Commissioners directed county representatives on the committee to prioritize projects to ensure compliance with N.C. General Statutes and other legal requirements, with an eye on maintaining cost-effective priorities that recognize the impact on taxpayers and support improvements of the educational environment through compliance with goals and a commitment to safe schools.

“The Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education are in agreement that capital needs must be addressed for Franklin County Schools,” Foy said.

The committee is comprised of two members from the board of commissioners, two members from the board of education, the county manager or designee, school superintendent or designee, chief of Auxiliary Services, assistant county manager and the finance directors from Franklin County Schools and Franklin County.

Franklin County Property Owners, Get Ready For Revaluation Notices

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– information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

Franklin County property owners will be getting notices soon about the latest tax revaluation.

Notices will be hitting mailboxes as early as today for property assessed as of Jan. 1, 2024, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.

The notice is NOT a bill, but provides property owners the new taxable assessed value of their property as part of the tax revaluation process, which is usually undertaken every eight years, per state law.

The county contracted with Pearson’s Appraisals to conduct countywide reappraisal of property values.  The last reappraisal was conducted in 2018.

Reappraisal is a process of revaluing all real property in the county at its current market value Property owners will likely see an increase in their property value which is consistent with recent market trends.

An increase in value could result in an increased tax bill, however, the tax bill will be determined by the tax rate set annually by the board of commissioners during the approval of the fiscal year budget.

Any property owner who disagrees with the new assessed value of their property can file an informal appeal; if these results are not satisfactory, a formal appeal can be requested.

To learn more, visit https://www.franklincountync.gov/county_services/tax_gis/2024_revaluation.php

Franklin Animal Shelter Expands Adoption Hours, Adds Part-Time Staff

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In a response to community interest and concerns, Franklin County Animal Services is implementing several changes at the county’s animal shelter, including more adoption hours for the public to come to see the available dogs and cats who need homes.

The new hours begin Saturday, Nov. 4, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks.

The extended hours will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be no adoption hours on Thursdays and Sundays.

The Franklin County board of commissioners have approved pay raises for animal services staff and two new part-time shelter attendant positions. Additional pet introduction areas are also being designed for installation at the shelter, Hicks stated.

Animal Services staff also will resume posting animal photos to Facebook Albums located on the Franklin County Animal Shelter Facebook page. Other updates have been made recently to the Animal Services page on the Franklin County website (www.franklincountync.gov) to allow for viewing and sorting available animals, associated fees, programs and resources, along with how to become a rescue partner.

During public adoption hours, the public can view the dogs and cats available for adoption. Approved animal rescue partners can work with shelter staff to visit and view animals by appointment during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at other times as specifically deemed necessary.

Changes were announced at the Oct. 30 Animal Services Advisory Board meeting in addition to a presentation about the volunteer programs at the Animal Shelter.  Those interested in helping the animal shelter can participate in the Kitten Foster Team or donate to the Pet Pantry – which provides food and supplies to those who cannot afford it. Start dates for additional volunteer programs including a Community Outreach Team, Dog team, Cat team and a trap-neuter-vaccinate-release program will be announced as resources are identified.

Find the Oct. 30 presentation at 103023 Advisory Board Presentation.pdf (revize.com)

Franklin Commissioners Approve 5 Percent Pay Bump for Emergency Medical Services Staff

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-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks

Salaries for Franklin County’s Emergency Medical Services staff got a 5 percent bump from county commissioners recently, all part of an effort to boost retention and recruitment.

The board Commissioners approved recommendations from County Manager Kim Denton to increase the pay.

“Franklin County EMS continues to experience challenges that are felt nationwide by EMS systems and healthcare organizations,” Denton said. “EMS works hard every day to answer calls and provide the highest quality care for Franklin County.”

Salary increases are aimed to retain qualified staff and increase recruitment efforts. In addition to increased salaries, Franklin County offers sign-on bonuses for all employees including $1,500 for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), $2,000 for Advanced EMT and $3,000 for Paramedics.

Franklin County also added another 12-hour peak demand shift in the FY24 budget.  This second peak demand shift provides additional EMS coverage for hours that experience higher emergency call volumes. Additionally, Franklin County has committed to purchase at least one new ambulance each year because of the supply chain challenges across the nation.

Franklin County is conducting a job fair on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Franklin Plaza, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg.  Interested applicants can talk with department representatives about available positions during the job fair.

Franklin County Logo

Funding for Owens Park, Sewer Improvements Topics of Franklin Co. Board Meeting

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-Information courtesy Kristen King, Clerk to the Board, Franklin County

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, August 20, 2018, in the County Administration Building, 113 Market Street, Louisburg, NC. The official meeting begins at 7 p.m. following a prayer lead by Commissioner Michael Shriver at 6:55 p.m.

ITEM 1. CONSENT AGENDA

A. August 6, 2018 Minutes

B. Budget Amendment #2 (Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 159-15, the County Finance Officer is requesting a budget ordinance amendment in the amount of $1,029,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 to amend the General Fund to recognize August 6, 2018 Board action to appropriate monies for Owens Park at Bull Creek and Airport project match.)

C. Releases, Adjustments, Refunds, and Tax Collection Report

D. Petition for Acceptance of Late Application – David S. Griffin

E. Resolution Appointing Review Officers

ITEM 2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

This is the time set aside by the Board of Commissioners to allow individuals five minutes to address the Board on issues concerning the county.

ITEM 3. SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

The Board is asked to consider acceptance of a zero interest loan for two projects including Waste Water Treatment Plant Repairs ($8,316,000) and Lift Station Replacement in Franklinton ($1,365,000) at a total cost of $9,681,000. The Waste Water Treatment Plant project is at zero interest with $217,083 loan forgiveness. The Lift Station project is at zero percent interest. Both projects will have a loan fee of 2% that will be invoiced after project bids are received.

ITEM 4. VEHICLE PURCHASE – SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The County has bid vehicles for the year and recommends the purchase of 41 vehicles at a cost of $1,351,475.

ITEM 5. OTHER BUSINESS

ITEM 6. BOARD, MANAGER AND CLERK’S COMMENTS

This is the time set aside for the Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager, and the Clerk to the Board to report on various activities. The Board may also discuss other items of interest.

Franklin County Commissioners Named Commissioners of the Year

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– Press Release

Board Recognized for Outstanding Support of Education

Franklin County, November 14, 2017: Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners were recognized this evening as Commissioners of the Year by the North Carolina School Board Association (NCSBA). The award was presented at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro as part of the 48th Annual Conference of the NCSBA.

Local boards of education nominate their board of county commissioners for this award, recognizing the service of the commissioners to the local community through outstanding support of public elementary and secondary education. The board was also recognized for establishing an excellent working relationship and for diligent effort toward creative funding of education.

For additional information, please contact Angela L. Harris, Franklin County Manager, at (919) 496-5994.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

Photograph includes Franklin County Schools’ staff and Board of Education as well as Franklin County staff and Board of Commissioners. (Franklin County Photo)