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All County Supervisors on Monday night indicated a strong willingness
to go to a different form of county government — that of county manager
in the coming years. In so doing the constitutional offices of county
treasurer and county commissioner of the revenue would be eliminated.
The frustration with the current system came after County Treasurer
Linda Foster submitted a letter to County Administrator Bryan Foster,
dated February 29, 2008, in which she submitted a proposal from
Datasych Corporation for tax implementation software programs for twice
annual billing and real estate collections as well as personal property
tax collections.
"Since we are having problems with the Munis tax program (which the
County has recently purchased), we will need to go with another program
that is faster and more convenient to employees and customer service,"
Foster wrote. The charge for the program, she quoted, was $21,000.
"As chairman of the Finance Committee, it bothered me to get this
letter," said ED#4 Supervisor Dug Bowman. "We (Chairman Fitzgerald and
I) have worked with the Treasurer and Commissioner of Revenue over the
past two years, giving them plenty of time to acquaint themselves and
their employees with the Munis system. We have accommodated their needs
for office space and additional personnel and now we are getting
nothing but resistance. I take this as a personal affront, as well as
one to our taxpayers and a dereliction of their duties, resisting
something we have worked on for two years. We made it clear to them
this was our goal," Bowman said.
Bowman and Fitzgerald agreed they would talk with Foster and
Commissioner of the Revenue Brenda Powell on Tuesday and report back to
Supervisors who will meet again on Monday evening, March 10 for a work
session.
Foster said yesterday that she and Powell had met with the two
Supervisors, pledging to work toward implementing the Munis system for
their work. Foster said her biggest objection had come in trying to get
the Munis system to reflect the checks and balances of taxpayers'
accounts.
Bowman said yesterday the change in county government form is still "a
live option," but he's not sure about the timing of the change. Citing
the state code, he said a referendum would have to be held for voters
to approve the change during a general election and in order for the
matter to be placed on the ballot, 20 percent of the voters who
participated in the last general election would have to sign petitions
asking that the question be included on the ballot. It is unclear at
this point, Bowman said, whether or not the question of changing the
form of government would have to be on the ballot the same year as the
terms of County Supervisors. If that is the case, then the question
could not be decided in the upcoming November election since no
Supervisors are running this year.
However, Bowman said he feels the more county taxpayers explore the
issue and realize the savings that can be accomplished, the better it
is to have public discussion on the question.
Foster said County Attorney Jeremy Carroll is researching the procedure
for changing the type of government for the county and researching the
time line for getting the matter on the ballot.
In other business Monday night Supervisors re-appointed Lisa Kipps
Brown to a four year term on the local Industrial Development Authority
and named John Cannon to replace Jack Slagle who was ineligible for
re-appointment. They also re-appointed Ray Waller to represent ED#1 for
another four year term on the County Planning Commission. Cleve Wilborn
and Lowell Brewer were recommended for another term on the Board of
Zoning Appeals and Bryant Claiborne was named to be the alternate on
the Southside Regional Service Authority with Fitzgerald serving as the
county's representative. Katherine Duffer was named to represent ED#1
on the Recreation Committee.
Earlier in their meeting Supervisors unanimously approved a conditional
use permit which will allow Gene Comer and Kathy Brown to operate a
general contracting office in ED#7 at 1190 Loftis Road.
The Board also heard a report from Marcus Hargrave, Executive Director
of the local YMCA, who talked about the progress made over the past
year and his plans for future growth.
Cheryle Watts presented a well organized plan for recycling and also
reviewed the work of the local Humane Society in successfully placing
767 dogs and cats in new homes over the past year.