BY KARISSA MILLER

County Manger Beth Mull presented a $323.6 million budget proposal for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the Iredell County Board of Commissioners earlier this week.

The proposed budget represents a 25 percent increase in spending from the current budget of $258.7 million.

Mull recommended that commissioners reduce the property tax rate from 53.75 cents per $100 valuation to 50 cents per $100 valuation.

That does not mean property owners will see a reduction in their tax bills.

As a result of the recent countywide property revaluation, the county’s tax base has increased by about 40 percent since the last revaluation, according to unofficial projections.

Counties are required to calculate and publish the revenue-neutral tax rate, which is the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as last year. Iredell County’s revenue-neutral tax rate is 39.86 cents per $100 valuation.

New Revenues

According to Mull, the new revenue would be used in a variety of ways and will help provide an increase in public services to the community for the next four years.

Some of the highlights include:
• Increasing the current expense educational funding;
• Utilizing a portion of these funds to make debt service payments on a loan for the additional funds needed to supplement the $80 million bond for the new Weathers Creek High School.
• Setting aside some of the money to start saving for an elementary school.
• Completing some of the county’s capital projects, including a new Health Department facility, completion of Jennings Park and a new ADA accessible entrance at Government Center.
• Funds to cover unfunded mandates and growth in the county.

Education Funding

The county funds three educational entities in the county: Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mooresville Graded Schools and Mitchell Community College.

In the proposed budget, the county’s allocation will increase to $2,223 per student, up from $2,056 over the current budget. That’s an 8.12 percent increase.

• I-SS will receive $52.3 million, up from $49.4 million, (6 percent increase);
• MGSD will receive $14.7 million, up from $13.5 million, (9 percent increase); and
• Mitchell will receive $4.84 million, up from $4.49 million (7 percent increase)

Fire & Rescue Funding

Iredell has an all-county fire tax that is used to fund fire services. The fire tax will remain at 9 cents per $100 valuation. Each department will see a 23 percent increase in operational funding.

Employee Raises

Mull said that the county must continue to work to fill the vacancies as well as show appreciation to employees “who have weathered the storm with us and continue to stay dedicated to improving the lives of their fellow citizens.”

The proposed budget calls for a 5 percent pay scale adjustment, which will increase the county’s entry level pay in an effort to fill some of their open positions with “good qualified applicants,” Mull said.

She’s also recommending a 4 percent merit increase that will be paid to all existing staff beginning July 1.

“It’s become very unpopular to be a public servant,” Mull said. “It’s become difficult to continue to serve in the face of adversity, and unfortunately the trend is shifting away from government employment, which means the challenge we are facing will continue.”

New positions

Mull recommends adding 30 new full-time positions and two part-time positions during the upcoming fiscal year.

Among the new positions are:

• Fourteen new positions in the Department of Social Services, including an attorney and two specialists in the child welfare division and 11 income maintenance positions to create another team as a result of the Medicaid expansion. The 11 income maintenance positions will be funded for six months, so they will be added in January.
• Eight EMS positions, which will be funded for six months and only filled once the other vacancies are filled.
• Two positions in the county’s IT Department; one application developer and another system analyst with a GIS focus.
• One part-time election specialist in the Elections Department.

Capital Projects

Mull recommended that the county move forward with co-locating the health department adjacent to the existing Department of Social Services.

This will allow the two departments to become “twin facilities” and realize numerous efficiencies. The county has saved Medicaid Maximization funds to help offset the cost of the new facility.

Mull recommended moving forward with completing the funding of this facility and the initiation of planning and construction.

In the coming weeks, commissioners will hold budget work sessions to examine the spending plan in greater detail.

A public hearing will be held in June before the adoption of the budget.