The Cumberland County Commission met last night. The following resolutions passed:

RESOLUTION 06-220-16 – Gives County Mayor Allen Foster authority to negotiate discrimination claims.

RESOLUTION 06-2020-1 – Appoints Garry Blaisdell to be the new Veterans Service Officer for Cumberland County after the retirement of Bill Ward. Blaisdell’s first day will be July 1, 2020.

RESOLUTION 06-2020-2 – To accept offer(s) to purchase property owned by Cumberland County. Over 50 properties were sold at the recommendation of the Delinquent Tax Committee and will return to the tax rolls.

RESOLUTION 06-2020-3 – approving a contract with Upland Design Group to develop a program, schematic design and budget for a new garage at the Road Department.  The resolution was approved 16-1 with Commissioner Jim Blaylock voting no.

RESOLUTION 06-2020-4 – to hire Upland Design Group for repairs, renovations and construction at the County Archives building. Funds are appropriated from fees that are allocated solely for the preservation of records.  Commissioner Jim Blaylock was the only no vote.

Several other resolutions appeared for budget amendments. All were approved.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY FINANCIAL REPORT

According to County Finance Director Nathan Brock, property tax collections are at 99.6% compared to 100.9% at this time last year. The second notices for those that haven’t paid were recently sent. This is later than normal and is due to COVID-19.  Those notices likely will get us over the 100% mark.

Hotel/Motel tax collections are approximately 71.4% of the $817,283 budget as revised down due to last year’s collection. So far $583,431 has been received, but the COVID-19 pandemic will definitely negatively affect this line item.

Prisoner boarding is at 60.6% of budget at $450,021 after nine months of revenue has been collected.

Local option sales tax collections for the BOE (board of education) came in at $854,049 which is $2,223 above estimated revenue.

Overall, the county is approximately $60,336 above the budgeted amount year to date.  The next update will be for April spending which was likely the worst month financially.  EMS (emergency medical services) collections for the month were $358,907. This puts year to date collections at $4,558,112 which is $891,449 above budget estimates year to date.  The annual budgeted amount is $4,000,000 so the county is above that amount with one month left.