Town Board Approves Budget

The Matthews Town Board of Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget during their meeting Monday. The budget focuses on maintaining current services for citizens during the continued economic recession.

The budget for the Town would be $17,747,896. This is $210,421 less than the 2009-10 budget. There are no proposed tax or fee increases in the budget. The current tax rate will remain at .3325 cents per $100 valuation. “In this budget we have deferred and delayed important items including awarding employee merit raises, purchasing fewer police vehicles and other capital items, left open positions unfunded, and decreased staff training for the second year in a row. While we all recognize during these tough times this is the proper course of action, over time these cutbacks will impact our ability to provide government services,” Matthews Town Manager Hazen Blodgett commented. The Town has lost almost $1M in revenues over the last two years as a result of the economy.

The budget includes using $314,237 from the Fund Balance to cover budget items. The Fund Balance is the Town’s savings account or “Rainy Day” fund. All municipal budgets are similar to the average person’s budget. The Town has a “checking account” – the General Fund and a “savings account” – the Fund Balance. In North Carolina laws are in place to ensure that every town has a healthy Fund Balance. Thus, the Town is able to use this account when times such as this economic recession necessitate.

Highlights of this year’s budget include:

• No tax or fee increases.
• No employee merit raises.
• Vacated positions remain unfunded.
• Continued implementation of the Town’s Strategic Framework which will ensure resources are best allocated in order to achieve the Town’s goals.
• Reduction in operating expenses in all town departments for the second year.
• Employee share of health insurance contribution remain at 2009-2010 levels.
• Capital Improvements Plan funded at $300,000.

Departmental Highlights
General Administration - This includes the Governing Board, Manager, Human Resources, Finance, IT, and Safety/Risk Management.
• Out of Town Board planning conference eliminated;
• $2,000 On-line citizen survey- normally $6,500;
• Continue Strategic Planning process;
• $62,000 for lobbyist included for twelve months;
• Employee Innovation Initiative- $2,500;
• Customer Service Initiative- $5,000;
• Janitorial Contract reduced to 2-days per week;
• $6,000 for repair and painting Town Hall building columns;
• $15,000 for computer hardware replacement and repair.

Police
• Current staffing levels maintained;
• Operational expenses were reduced;
• One police vehicle and associated equipment to be replaced;
• Records Clerk position remains unfunded.

Fire and EMS
• Increased volunteer incentives by $44,000 to $140,000;
• Idlewild VFD contribution reduced by $4,622. Same percent reduction as Matthews Fire and EMS;
• Purchase of Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles- $14,000.

Public Works
• $330,000 for road paving; $20,000 less than FY10 but matches projected tag fee revenues;
• $25,000 for initial work on Comprehensive Transportation Plan;
• Reduction of office staff from two to one position;
• Currently, department has four unfunded positions.

Planning and Development Department
• Reduced operating expenses;
• Land use plan, downtown master plan, and UDO revisions underway;
• Code Enforcement Officer position is unfunded.

Economic Development
• Reduced operating expenses by $75,000;
• Implementation of Economic Development plan through limited marketing activities;
• Economic Development director’s position not funded;

Parks and Recreation
• Reduced operating expenses;
• Existing program levels to remain;
• $5,000 for Senior Center;
• Tourism Grants increased by $5,000 to $65,000.