By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó County commissioners discussed the possibility of putting a quarter-cent local sales tax on the November ballot during the first day of the board’s retreat.
Municipal elections are scheduled in Rowan’s 10 cities and towns, but no countywide issue is currently scheduled.
Nancy Evans, the county’s elections director, said it would cost around $40,000 to open additional polling places and print the ballots.
Commissioners are looking at the revenue from the additional sales tax to cover major expenditures, including a new jail facility to hold 100 or more prisoners.
A quarter-cent added to the sales tax would generate around $2.5 million in revenue, equivalent to more than 2 cents on the tax rate.
County manager Gary Page will outline what could be paid for by the sales tax today, during the second day of the retreat.
County department heads met with commissioners Tuesday at the Tadlock South Rowan Library to discuss various short- and long-term needs during the first day of a three-day board retreat.
Much of the discussion Tuesday focused on the need for more space and moves likely to be triggered when the Department of Social Services moves from West Innes Street early next year to a renovated and expanded Health Services complex on Faith Road.
Groundbreaking on the combination renovation and new construction is scheduled next week.
Evans cited the need for additional space for the Elections Office and ample parking for staff members and voters.
Under the tentative plan, the Elections Office would move to the Social Services location on West Innes.
Evans said her staff needs to make the move at least two months before an election. “We’d like to be in by July” 2010, Evans said.
Under the scenario being discussed, the Elections Office and the Daymark mental health program, now on Faith Road, would move to the West Innes property after some renovation.
Evans also reported on the success of early voting.
“It’s the wave of the future,” she said. “We voted more people early than on election day.”
Once the Elections Office moves, the county Finance Department would move out of the basement and into the vacant space at the county administration building.
Ken Deal, director of administration, showed a nearly 10-year-old schematic of a building to house maintenance and storage. Estimated to cost $800,000 10 years ago, Deal said the cost could be $2 million now.
The county has temporarily moved into the former Silver Eagle building on Airport Road. The county bought it with federal money as part of the airport protection zone.
Deal said the building will have to be torn down in two to five years. In the meantime, county maintenance staff has moved in and huge quantities of files and other materials from various county departments are also being stored there.
Deal told commissioners he’s also looking to move the garage operation from Faith to the Airport Road site.
Several department directors urged the county go to computerized imaging systems, noting the massive amount of files they are required to keep.
Sandra Wilkes, Social Services director, estimated that caseworkers for food assistance and Medicaid could handle twice as many cases if they had a paperless system.
County commissioners will set their priorities for the upcoming budget on Thursday after hearing recommendations from the county manager.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.