CCTA WATCHDOG REPORT FEBRUARY 2, 2013

CCTA MEMBERS & FRIENDS,


The Craven County Board of Commissioners will meet this Monday, 4 Feb13 at 7:00 P.M.
I just reviewed the agenda. You know, it only comes out a few days before the meeting, usually on the Friday before. There are some agenda items that will be interesting to us all.

1) There is to be a public hearing on the FY 2014 Targeted Transit Assistance Program Section 5317 (New Freedom). Isn't it interesting the way the progressives can take money away from us taxpayers and give it to someone else and call it "New Freedom?" Well, it's new all right, it represents the ever growing scope of government. This new program for taking away our taxpayer dollars is a result of the new Municipal Planning Organization (another evidence of growing government in the County). The previous programs under the Rural Planning Organization (also to be continued) required from 10% to 20% local funds. Of course, in her "introductory Memorandum" to the public hearing, Kelly Walker, Transportation Coordinator, says these funds will be raised out of operating capital. This should be harder to do under this new program. Will she have supporting projections? I wonder what Phyllis Toler would have to say about it. I trust her to tell the absolute truth. In the same memorandum mentioned above, Kelly Walker stated, "It is at the recommendation of NCDOT that CARTS apply for all possible grants." If this is true, we need to let our representatives to the State Legislature know that this needs to be changed.

2) A public hearing on the Craven County Tall Structure Ordinance will be set. The Commissioners will be asked to set the public hearing for Feb 18th, 2013 at 8:30 A.M.- a great time for the public to make the meeting! We support this ordinance.

3) Mark Griffin, Craven County's appointee to North Carolina's Eastern Region, will make a report. I hope he sticks to his guns and tells the board to get out of this organization and disassociate itself with the Global TransPark fiasco. The Board has made noises that it doesn't like the Global TransPark or the Eastern Region, but has not taken any official action so far.

4) The Health Department Budget Amendment. First, it is a good thing that the Craven County Health Director, Scott Harrelson, will present this budget amendment instead of the Assistant County Manager for Finance, Rick Hemphill. Let these department heads feel some of the heat of going public with their spending of taxpayer money. Secondly his pre-meeting memorandum reveals some problem with a company named Allscripts. No specifics, but Allscripts has refunded $83,000 to the county. Mr. Harrelson has use for $31,000. Apparently, he wants to contract with a company named McGrady to straighten out Allscripts mess. McGladry's rate is $60 per hour. A reasonable rate, but doesn't the county have people who can bill? Don't they understand the process?

5) Request to set public hearing on redistricting. Some of our folks will be very interested in this agenda item.

Well, that's about it. I hope some of you can attend. There is no real crisis, though. Just continued growth of government at taxpayer expense.

Respectfully submitted,

Hal James

Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association
Watchdog Committee Chairman