Education gets boost in county budget

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its $248 million 2009-10 budget Wednesday without an increase in property taxes, but increasing spending on education.

The county budget was approved before the state approves its budget, so changes are still a possibility, officials said.

"A lot depends on what happens in Raleigh," said Commissioner Glenn Barger.

"And their revenue and where they get it," said Commission Chairwoman Kitty Barnes. "Right now, they have two very different versions."

The document passed contains $108,000 in ABC Substance Abuse Funds for Mental Health Partners and $8,500 to back Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare's sex offender treatment program.

The money, particularly the funds for the sex offender program, were in contention as commissioners perceived that service as part of the baseline fee for Burke County, also served by CVBH.

Joe Beamon, of CVBH, said the services provided to the two counties could not be compared because of the differences between clients and what kind, if any, insurance they have, and where funding for the programs is derived.

The commissioners approved a shift of $8,500 from money earmarked for CVBH's psychiatric support and transcription services to the sex offender treatment program.

Other items included in the budget are $33,125 for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and $104,500 for the Criminal Justice Partnership Program.

Where is the money going?

Education ($72 million)

The majority of county budget money, almost 49 percent, is going to fund the three school systems – Catawba County, Hickory City and Newton-Conover City – and Catawba Valley Community College.

Education dollars – $72 million – account for more than 30 percent of the budget.

Each system received a 1 percent increase over last year's budget with a $1,500 per student allotment going to each system.

The budget included $3.4 million for CVCC, which is anticipating a $2 million loss during the last fiscal year and an increase in enrollment. That amount represents a 6.25 percent increase from last year.

That money will be used for general renovations, including converting the old bookstore to classroom and office space; safety locks for classrooms; a cooling tower for the Engineering Building; a campus-wide alert system; a lawn mower and a maintenance vehicle.

Average Daily Membership funds, money from the state based on enrollment, help fund capital projects for each of the systems. Without knowing the amount of these funds this year, officials divided projects into two categories – locally funded and ADM funded.

The budget allots $1.9 million for Catawba County Schools to fund the design of Arndt Middle School renovations, new buses, new storage area at the Annex, roofing repairs throughout the system, a dump truck and renovations to Sweetwater Elementary School, planned to become an early education services building after being retired this year.

Hickory City Schools are set to receive $917,000 for asbestos abatement at Hickory High School.

Newton-Conover City Schools will get $710,000, earmarked for roofing repairs at the central office and the Conover School Cafeteria, as well as upgrades to Newton-Conover Middle School as it is renovated to serve as an elementary school.

Public safety ($30 million)

An increase in calls has come with the economic downslide. The Catawba County Communications Center, Sheriff's Office, Emergency Medical Services and volunteer fire departments in the county are receiving help with the increase in calls.

The communications center will get two additional telecommunicators to ensure dispatch continues to meet the division's goal of 90 seconds after a call comes in. Communications reported a 50 percent increase, equivalent to 1,300 calls per operator, since 2000, when the 90-second goal was set as part of the Emergency Services Plan.

The Sheriff's Office will get money for an additional road patrol deputy, actually funded through a Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. That officer, along with three deputies currently assigned to a traffic unit being reassigned to road patrol, will add one deputy to each of the four patrol shifts.

Also planned are an expansion of the Justice Center and a new Public Safety Center. The budget includes $378,000 for capital projects.

The Justice Center, housed in a building almost 30 years old, is not large enough for current court needs. An expansion of the current building and technology improvements for the courtrooms are included in the budget.

A new Public Safety Center will be built to house the 911 Emergency Communications and Emergency Operations centers, which have outgrown their space in the Justice Center, and the Newton EMS base and administration.

Five replacement ambulances, 17 replacement law enforcement vehicles and a jail van are included in the budget, which allots $3.7 million for supplies and operations in the sheriff's department budget.
Water and sewer projects ($18.5 million budgeted this year)

The demand is greater than what the budget shows as county officials estimate more than $100 million in water and sewer projects have been proposed or requested. The county is putting 1 and one-half cents of the property tax rate and $1.45 million from the quarter-cent sales tax increase toward these projects.

Current projects include:

* N.C. 150 sewer (estimated cost $9.6 million): Connects to the South East Catawba County Wastewater Collection System at Sherrills Ford Elementary School. Consists of 85,000 linear feet of sewer lines and pumping stations and affects 81 residences and 38 businesses or industries;

* Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plan Upgrade (estimated cost $7.5 million, 50 percent share between county and Hickory): Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant's capacity will increase from 225,000 gallons per day to 1.5 million gallons per day. Will eventually serve 1,500 homes in the Key Harbor Development, Sherrills Ford Elementary School, one business and two residences on Sherrills Ford Road, the proposed Village Center development and all residences and businesses listed with the N.C. 150 Sewer Project;

* Blackburn-Plateau Water Loop (estimated cost $3.6 million backed by a $3 million federal stimulus grant/loan): Will provide water and fire protection to the proposed Propst Cross Road Fire Department, economic developments, existing businesses in the area of the Blackburn Landfill and the surrounding area. Will also provide a supply loop for future businesses and a secondary water supply loop to the Town of Maiden and the Southeast Catawba County Water Supply System.

* Blackburn Elementary School Sewer (estimated cost $580,000): Will provide county sewer service to the school and other nearby properties.

* Heatherbrook Subdivision Water (estimated cost of $325,000): Will provide water to 44 residences in the subdivision off N.C. 10 West.