Avery County commissioners advance FY2024-25 budget, approve animal-services and jail HVAC amendments

The Avery County Board of Commissioners met April 24, 2024, in the Commissioners Board Room in Newland and approved two budget amendments while reviewing the proposed fiscal year 2024–25 budget.

County Manager Phillip Barrier Jr. told the board that “The total revenues were up 6.02% across the board. The total expenses are up 6.7%,” and said balancing the budget would require a fund-balance appropriation if the county does not raise the tax rate.

The board unanimously approved a $10,000 amendment to fund animal services under a contract with Mitchell County Animal Rescue. Finance Officer Caleb Hogan explained the county’s contract includes an annual payment of $6,600 plus any applicable fees; the $10,000 amendment was described as a buffer to cover services beyond that annual payment. The motion to adopt the amendment (debit Animal Services 107000.6211; credit Available for Appropriations 107000.6000) was moved by Commissioner Wood Hall Young Jr. and seconded by Vice-Chair Dennis Aldridge and recorded as approved 4–0.

Separately, the board approved $117,900 to replace the Addison HVAC unit that supplies the Avery County Jail after the Department of Public Buildings and Grounds reported portions of the jail were without air conditioning. The amendment (debit Building & Grounds–Capital 105000.7410; credit Fund Balance–Appropriated 103990.0000) was moved by Vice-Chair Dennis Aldridge, seconded by Commissioner Robert Burleson, and recorded as approved 4–0.

Commissioners discussed other budget items in Barrier’s presentation. The board agreed to use state travel-reimbursement rates; Barrier proposed a new administrative/security position with emergency-management duties. Staff noted the county intends to resume direct fiscal responsibility for 4‑H programming previously handled by WAMY and that a budget amendment will be requested to cover the first half of the Summer WOW program, which Barrier said is expected to be self-sustaining through grants and fees. The proposed budget also includes two additional Medicaid positions and one CPS position for the Department of Social Services; Barrier said the DSS director requested the positions and the state has already approved them.

Barrier directed commissioners to review Tab 6 (Special Appropriations) and the capital plan updates; the board scheduled a follow-up budget meeting for Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. The workshop adjourned at 4:42 p.m.; the minutes record the adjournment as approved unanimously and were signed by Chair Tim Phillips and attested by Clerk Cindy Turbyfill. The minutes list four commissioners present earlier in the record; the adjournment line in the minutes shows a 5–0 approval, a numerical discrepancy noted in the record.