In a discussion requested by Henderson City Council member Garry Daeke during yesterday’s council meeting, the Ward 3 member revived the perennial issue of jointly funded Henderson-Vance County programs.
Daeke told fellow members that the issue of joint funding has been discussed for a year, but that the council has been unable to move forward.
Daeke reminded the council that a letter was sent to the Vance County Board of Commissioners stating that the council intended to change funding formulas and have those changes in place by April of 2011. He expressed a need for the council to discuss how it is going to proceed.
Daeke predicted that the city’s budget issues will be similar to those of last year. In addition, he stated a concern that the city’s revenues from the state may be cut and the city may be in a position where it cannot give raises to its employees for a third year in a row and/or not able to fill vacant positions.
“They made it clear they did not want to change,” Daeke said of the county commission. “We need to decide as a council what the changes will be.”
In response, Henderson Mayor Pete O’Geary asked City Manager Ray Griffin to set up a work session.
Member Mary Emma Evans said that ever since she has been on the council she has been hearing about joint funding. She said that if members “don’t get their ducks in a row” that members will only be discussing one or two members’ ideas.
“If you don’t know what you’re talking about yourself, you’re going to make some wrong decisions,” Evans said.
After some debate, it was decided that only two joint funding items would be considered at a time in what are most likely to be a series of special meetings.
Although O’Geary suggested that Alcohol Board of Control funding issues be the first to be discussed, it was decided that the city would not be able to exert much influence in changing those ratios. Member Brenda Peace-Jenkins suggested that 911 funding and library funding have been discussed the most, and it was decided that they would be the first two items to be brought to the table.
Member Mike Rainey reminded members that in previous discussions the council had decided to eliminate joint funding over a period of time. Daeke said that the period of time was two years.
Council member Lonnie Davis recalled for council members that the last time the issue was brought to the county commission that they responded that Henderson’s proposal was not acceptable to them.
“And that was it,” Davis said.
Davis went on to say that the council needs to put something on the table and insist it be discussed.
Member Sara Coffey asked if someone from the library board could come to the meeting and tell the council where the money is going. She said that she has yet to see a breakdown of how the city’s contribution to the library is spent.
After further discussion, the meeting was set for Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson, North Carolina.