County Adopts Budget, Argues Over Changes

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Moore County Board of Commissioners adopted its 2010-2011 budget Monday, but it wasn't without changes or controversy.

The board voted 3-2 to approve the $84.9 budget, which leaves the property rate unchanged at 46.5 cents per $100 valuation.

The new budget is nearly $4.5 million, or 5 percent, less than the current budget.

County Manager Cary McSwain tried to present the board with five possible changes, with commissioners to vote on each one separately

During McSwain's presentation, Commissioner Nick Picerno requested that in the interest of time, the changes be acted on in one motion.

"There is no hidden agenda," Picerno said. "It's just something that will simplify the process and makes more sense to me."

Board Chairman Tim Lea said Picerno's way lacked transparency.

"The intent was to go through this so everybody would be able to see the changes that are made," he said.

Picerno, Jimmy Melton and Larry Caddell voted for the budget. Lea and Cindy Morgan voted against it.

The changes included reinstatement of the 2 percent discount for early taxpayers ($285,740) and the inclusion of several positions and funds to restore a cut in the Sheriff's Office budget.

The school system will receive $25.5 million for current expenses, a 3 percent decrease from its request. Sandhills Community College's budget was also 3 percent less than requested.

County employees will receive no pay increases for the second consecutive year.

Contact Tom Embrey by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.

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sneakdeac 2 years, 11 months ago

Why would they not vote on them separately unless the party of three had already decided what they were going to do?

Moore County needs some tea party candidates in the future.

horseylady 2 years, 11 months ago

Why no mention of the $50 MILLION bond issue for the jail? A public hearing will be held Mon June 21, 2010, 6pm at Old Court House in Carthage.

clbvpm 2 years, 11 months ago

Lea has to go!

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

Moore County averages 100 prisoners a month (only two are deadbeat Dads). Why are we going to bond $50 million dollars to build a Taj Mahal for prisoners from other states and counties. Don't we need that money for our children's education, Sandhills Community College, veterans, etc. in Moore County. Come on Tea Party. Time for you to weigh in!!!

teufelhunden 2 years, 11 months ago

It's all politically driven and we all know at that point common sense goes out the window.

SCCstudent 2 years, 11 months ago

"the inclusion of several positions and funds to restore a cut in the Sheriff's Office budget".

Didn't The Pilot publish an article that the schools now have authority to patrol the roads around schools to free up deputies? Now SCC is running radar on airport road in a plain unmarked car. At least, Chief of Police Dave Reese was either sleeping or playing County Mountie or city kitty. What a joke on taxpayers!!!!

The Moore County Board of Commissioners are so caught up in the politics of this county, they don't listen to anything the taxpayer has to say. Only what the power brokers like George Little, Lane Carter and the GOP tells them what they want to make themselves look good. We have to clean house the next election.

Wait ~ all those who support ludicrous funding for those in excessive salaried positions with the school system, and SCC for rent-a-cop programs, to quote Toda: "the next property evaluation will be likened to the sledge hammer effect!". Get ready to be screwed by those who have their own agendas (i.e. Larry, Nick and Jimmy).

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

Do you think it helps Caddell, Picerno, and Melton to get their $50 million dollar bond issue to pass under the radar by not mentioning it in the Pilot?The Fayetteville Observer was there and wrote about it even giving notice of the public hearing for June 21. Is Caddell, Picerno, and Meltons ego so big that they think they can vote on the taxpayers paying $50 million for a Detention Center (does not include Government Complex or new Court House) without a public vote? Doesn't Caddell and Picerno have a conflict of interest on any vote concerning the Detention Center? Hello.

SCCstudent 2 years, 11 months ago

Southernfried => I hate to say it, but they could care less what you, or I or anyone has to say about how our money is spent. And yes there is a conflict of interest from the outset. Larry Caddell and Nick Picerno were partners in Southern Software, Inc. Picerno supposedly retired ;-). It all comes down to your comment about egos: George Little had his name put on a building at SCC, Little Hall. Larry Caddell is on the Board of Directors at SCC so he is in line next to have his name on a building. I guess they think voters and taxpayers fell off the turnip truck. I'm all for a petition to force those jack***'s to allow those of us who will be paying for decades to come decide if we want to spend the money. But then they have lost control of our purse strings....

BTW: George didn't have to spend a dime of his money for Little Hall, just ours. Keep in mind that Dr. John and George are buds! Ergo the lucrative SCC budget!!!

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

SCC student: You missed the middle man in the chain of command. When you control the press you control the outcome. So how about GL-DW-LC. Don't you think by not writing a single word in the Pilot about the $50 million bond issue the good old boys will get it passed. It is the middle guy who facilitates it all. I wonder if he has political ambitions of his own one day? After all he has done enough favors for LC. Definitely it is the one hiding in the shadows who has the most power - the power of the press.

SCCstudent 2 years, 11 months ago

Southernfried => I don't think he [David] is as entrenched as the Beef Eater crowd.

Doesn't anyone wonder about the amount of interest paid on Municiple Bonds since the inception of SCC? Never - never has a bond been retired before the school system started a new campaign by sending home letters to parients and taking out full page ads in newspapers and magizines for taxpayer support of another bond referendum. How short term memory works on the masses. Before another Muni is lauched, Larry Caddell and his cronies should provide all taxpayers a copy of paid-in-full bond obligations. See how that flies in the face of behind-the-scenes politics.

But then again. Susan and John have high salary requirements along with a host of subservients who do their jobs for them giving them time to politic.

tell_it 2 years, 11 months ago

Didn't The Pilot publish an article that the schools now have authority to patrol the roads around schools to free up deputies?

The SRO just had their designation changed from Special Police to Company Police. Nothing has changed except their name. The basic is now they can legally enforce traffic laws on roadways directly attached to school property. They have been directing traffic on roadways while sworn under the Sheriff. I dont see them writing alot of tickets unless there is a problem.

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

SCC Student= I would like to think you are right about David but Larry never has had any bad press. It appears Larry is under the "Pilot's Larry Caddell Protection Plan for Higher Office". Pretty scary thought him staying around.Just look at the incredible slanted press the Stop the Detention Center group got. They even published a cute and cudly story about the prisoners vegetable garden!Give me a break. Robert Stewart is incarcerated there now! You are right. They all think we fell off the turnip truck. It is like Caddell has a desk at the Pilot and David publishes what Little and Larry want to push their agenda.Now they think we are so stupid to pay $50 million in bonds for just the jail alone and another $50 million for the government complex? Where's the turnip truck I was supposed to fall off of?

SCCstudent 2 years, 11 months ago

Southernfried => Well like you, most of us know and have 20-20 vision when it comes to Moore County politics. You are right on target - finally another taxpayer who can see through the smoke and mirrors. Just some insight about The Pilot: for some unknown reason, the County Board of Commissioners has in-house support on any tax issue for their tax and spend policies. For the life of me, I don't understand why the people in Moore County express so little resistance to spending more and more money without publishing proposed budget requests: Have you looked at Susan Purser's Power Point presentation? http://www.ncmcs.org/19061022492612953/site/default.asp

It comes up short on actual budget line item expendatures like for salaries for her assistants as well as support staff at the Central Office. Really, no one cares as long as the money goes for education....If the teachers and professors at SCC aren't getting salary increases - who is?

SCCstudent 2 years, 11 months ago

Southernfried => for some better insight let me refer you back to my previous post: "taking out full page ads in newspapers and magizines for taxpayer support of another bond referendum".

Taxpayer funds pay The Pilot for those full page ads. Surely it's a matter of economics, taxpayers foot the bill - as usual.

I hope Toda will chime in on how we will pay for all of this out of control spending! And TEA party members chastise Congress for out of control spending when it's happening right here at home!

None 2 years, 11 months ago

I can only say there are too many over inflated egos in Carthage using North Carolina Law to support their money craving appetites. As I've commented before, just wait until the next property re-evaluation. It is the sledge hammer effect. Taxpayers who appealed the last property evaluation found that our county attorney, who by the way we pay her salary, defended the actions of the Tax Department. Conflict of interest?

Appeals to Raleigh were met with disdain for those who thought their property was over valued. Quote: "if your property re-evaluation wasn't more than 30%, then the commission hearing your action will probably dismiss it". And they did! Using those numbers if your property value increases by 25 percent, those in Carthage who have the legal authority to collect taxes, will collect all they can get. Don't complain because hindsight isn't always 20-20.

Just a little background on those who place a value on your property. I built a spec property in Village Acres in Pinehurst. Before the Certificate of Occupancy was issued, a person from the tax department paid me a site visit to an adjoining property where I was building another spec house. He inquired about the "crawl space access" and how he could see under the house. Puzzled I asked to see his paperwork for property evaluation. It clearly stated that the house was "slab" construction ~ meaning there was no crawl space! After several whimsical moments, I suggested he go back to Carthage and have his supervisor change the tax listing to show a crawl space and when he came back it would be accessible. MC taxpayers shouldn't complain - just accept it for what it is....

CSmithson 2 years, 11 months ago

@toda So, once he dug his way up under the slab, was he able to find his way out or did you forget to include a "crawl-space exit" in your slab design?

None 2 years, 11 months ago

Chris ~ he never came back...I guess his supervisor was a bit embarrassed and didn't send him back for a follow-up. That is a true story....one I enjoy telling. At one time the tax department had a problem filling the appraisers position. Obviously another political appointment....

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

@Toda Great story. Did Caddell appoint him? Our last tax reappraisal doubled. Now we will see how much it will be raised with the County needing another 100 million for the Detention Center and Government Complex Center. All for Caddell and Picerno's children to get rich. Actually they will use it as a demonstrartion showplace for their software Jail Pak, Sheriff Pak, Jail Management System, etc. So glad the tax payer can pay for their new showcase for all their software.Check out ww.southernsoftware.com

Southernfried 2 years, 11 months ago

@ SCC Student If you think Susan Pursers budget had holes in it how about the County Commissioners not showing us theirs. At the last meeting they actually fought over it. Picerno tried to help his ex business partner Caddell out by saying "For the sake of time we will just give a lump sum and move on." Truth of the matter was he was just trying to hide the amount Southern Software would be getting. Lea and Morgan protested. Lea said they needed to be transparent. In the end it was 3 to 2 as usual in favor of lack of transparency. The Caddell/Picerno way of doing things. They will try to sneak this thing through. Caddell and Picerno need to excuse themselves from any future voting on the Detention Center due to HUGE conflict of interest.I will be just fried if we as taxpayers end up having to pay for their ads as you said to promote this huge showcase for Larry and Nick's business. This is why we are bringing 840 prisoners to Moore isn't it?

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