The Board of Representatives accepted an amended County budget and capital program for 2000 by a vote of 14 to 0 (Rep. Michael Koplinka-Loehr was absent). The approximately $48.1 million local-share budget will increase County property tax by 2.3 percent, from $5.20 to $5.32 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The final vote saw the proposed tax rate increase go up by three-tenths of a percent to cover an added Deputy Sheriff’s position.

Most spending increases covered by surplus: The County’s local-share spending is up from last year’s $45 million by about 6.7 percent. The Board opted to use $4.8 million of surplus funds, in lieu of raising taxes, to cover most of the new expenses. Rep. Thomas Todd proposed using even more of the surplus to bring the tax rate down to last year’s level, but his amendment failed 4-10. Among the items that added to the County’s bottom line are:

negotiated salary increases of 2-3 percent, set by contract;

increased staffing and materials for the public library;

increased staffing plus equipment upgrades and vehicle replacements at the Sheriff’s Department;

funding for the 5 percent local share of several road and bridge projects;

funding for the local share of the Countywide Information Sharing Network (CISNET).

Three new positions at Sheriff’s Department: The Board agreed to create a new Deputy Sheriff position, adding to the Deputy and Captain’s positions that were already in the proposed budget, for a total of three new law enforcement positions. The cost for the additional position, about $60,000 including fringes and equipment, will be covered by property taxes despite the fact that an approximately equal amount of money was returned to the general fund through various last-minute budget adjustments. The Board voted 12-2 in favor of increasing property taxes to fund the position, with several members stating that they feel the public is willing to pay for the service.

Use of tobacco money: The Board agreed to stand by its earlier decision to use an anticipated $521,000 initial payment of tobacco settlement funds to help hold the tax rate down. [NOTE: The initial payment has not yet been received by the County, but is being held in escrow by the state.] An amendment presented by Rep. Peter Penniman on behalf of Rep. Michael Koplinka-Loehr, who was absent, would have allocated $100,000 of the amount to pay for unspecified public health programs. After general Board discussion indicating that such a gesture was premature, Penniman withdrew the amendment. The Board has made no determination regarding use of future tobacco settlement payments.

E-911 SURCHARGE REVENUE APPROVED: The Board unanimously passed a resolution that accepts $160,000 of anticipated revenues in the coming year for a crime reporting system that will dovetail with the E-911 system. The revenues will come from the already-approved increase in the E-911 telephone surcharge from 35 to 55 cents per telephone line, up to 75 lines per organization.