Tag Archive for: #franklincountycommissioners

$2M In ARPA Funds To Help Franklin Schools Get HVAC Upgrades

/by

 

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

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners approved more than $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for Franklin County Schools HVAC capital needs.

Commissioners approved assigning of the remaining $2,564,623 of ARPA funds to FCS as a subrecipient for approved HVAC projects – which make up a significant portion of the capital needs for FCS as submitted in its needs request.

“I think this is a great way for Franklin County to help Franklin County Schools with its capital needs,” said Board of Commissioner Chairman David Bunn. “Utilizing these remaining funds will help our schools with their upcoming projects.”

After passage of recent state legislation, the previous funding of a $2 million match by Franklin County for the NC Department of Information Technology Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program became available because the program is now funded by a combination of state and federal funds. The remaining ARPA funds would have to be utilized according to the stringent ARPA rules or be returned.

Franklin Commissioners Considering $180 Million Total Budget; Public Hearing June 3

/by

Franklin County commissioners are considering a total budget of more than $180 million, which includes adding more than a dozen new county employees, calling for new fees and increases in others, and setting the property tax rate at .505 per $100 valuation.

Franklin County Manager Kim Denton’s May 20 budget presentation calls for just slightly more

than the revenue-neutral rate of .4991 per $100.

And although the budget includes taking more than $4.1 million from the fund balance – $2.3 million of which will be used for capital purchases – it’s still $1.3 million less than was taken last year.

As part of her presentation, Denton shared data about the county’s overall growth – with a 4.1 percent annual growth rate, Franklin is the fastest growing county in the Triangle area, the 3rd fastest growing in the state and the 61st fastest growing county in the nation, according to Census data.

On the expense side of things, $873,193 will be spent to add 13 new full-time employees, including an animal cruelty investigator, as well as staff in IT and facilities management. The county’s departments requested a total of 34 new vehicles during the budget process, and the budget includes more than $1.6 million to purchase 23 vehicles.

Franklin County Schools requested $33 million and the proposed budget includes $29,259,067.

On the revenue side, new fees – several of which are for storage, towing and more at the airport – will be introduced effective July 1.

Animal adoption fees are going up, but fees will be waived for TNVR feral cat adoptions.

It’ll cost $30 to revoke membership in the county’s Voluntary Ag District program and the $5 fee for gun permits has been dropped – residents will be able to get gun permits free of charge.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 3 at regular scheduled board meeting. Residents are invited to view the livestream broadcast of the meeting and to submit comments about the budget via a public portal found on the county’s website www.franklincountync.gov.

The budget may be adopted at the end of the June 3 meeting or at the June 17 commissioners’ meeting.

View the complete budget document at  www.franklincountync.gov.

Franklin County Manager Proposes Nearly $112 Million 2023-24 Budget

/by

Residents of Franklin County can expect some increases in fees next year, but no increase in the property tax rate if the proposed $111 million 2023-24 budget is approved by the Franklin Board of Commissioners next month.

Manager Kim Denton presented the budget on Monday, May 15. A copy can be found at www.franklincountync.gov. A copy also is available in the office of the clerk to the board, 113 Market St., Louisburg.

The budget focuses on essential needs for maintaining and growing county services, proposes the formation of a Community Care team to addresses the opioid funding strategies, adds vehicles to accomplish service delivery and recommends increases in water and sewer rates, according to a press release from James Hicks, Franklin County public information officer.

In remarks to the board, Denton said “Franklin County must continue an appropriate level of preparation for the growth the county is experiencing. Being identified as the fastest-growing county statistically in the Triangle brings added emphasis to the growth preparation that is already underway.”

County leadership is recommending the addition of 20 new staff positions across the organization including four full-time positions in the sheriff’s office and one position in the Emergency Medical Services departments to will oversee a newly created second peak demand 12-hour shift with two paramedics and two EMTs. Additional positions in Animal Services, Environmental Health and Social Services also are recommended. If the proposed budget is adopted, the sheriff’s office will get additional patrol vehicles and will be able to replace other high-mileage vehicles currently in use. EMS will get an additional ambulance as well.

Franklin County Schools would get more than $25 million which includes $1.5 million for capital outlay. The school system had requested $28 million and has indicated at need for $100 million over the next 10 years.

“Education funding has been the most challenging topic to address because the provision of education in North Carolina and the guidelines and funding formulas are all evolving,” Denton said.

At the May 15 meeting, commissioners requested documentation addressing the need for additional capital funds; county staff will work with FCS staff from FCS to develop a Capital Report.

The budget also recommends a 2 percent cost-of-living-adjustment for all employees, both full-time and part-time, beginning in September 2023 and public safety positions in the sheriff’s office, detention center and emergency communications also would get a salary bump to help hire and retain staff.

Franklin County will be receiving National Opioid Settlement payments annually for 18 years.  The County is recommending the creation of a Community Care Team – a collaborative, cross-departmental team – that will coordinate the County’s response to the County Manager’s Health Initiative, opioid overdose epidemic, substance abuse and mental health. The team will be comprised of a Community Care Administrator, Community Care Coordinator, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Peer Support Specialist.

A public hearing for the FY24 Budget will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2022, at Franklin Plaza during the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting. The public portal for budget comments is currently available on the Finance Department’s page of the Franklin County website: www.franklincountync.gov. Any public comments received through the portal will be shared by the clerk to the board with the board of commissioners prior to the June 5 public hearing.

Franklin County Begins Process To Redraw Districts For Commissioners, School Board

/by

Franklin County is beginning the process of redrawing existing districts for the board of county commissioners and the board of education, based on the recently released 2020 Census results.

As this process gets underway, the county’s management team is creating a resource for information for residents to stay informed and involved, according to a press release from Franklin County Manager Kim Denton.

All redistricting information can be found at https://www.franklincountync.us/commissioners/franklin-county-redistricting-alternatives.

This resource contains various information including instructions on how to submit suggested district maps for consideration.

Denton suggests that interested persons monitor the county government’s webpage at https://www.franklincountync.us/commissioners/franklin-county-redistricting-alternatives for updates and next steps, including dates for any scheduled upcoming public hearings.

To learn more, contact Denton at 919.496.5994.

Franklin County Commissioners Named Commissioners of the Year

/by

– 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)