March 17, 2008
Good morning, and welcome to the State of the County address for Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
Thank you all for being here today. I am honored to work with a County that gives us so much to be proud of and so much to be thankful for. I invited many of our county employees and our community partners here today to emphasize that everything I will talk about today reflects on the people we have living and working here, the numerous community groups, neighborhood organizers, parents, students, volunteers, faith leaders, teachers, business owners, and other caring souls who make our county what it is. We are a rapidly changing community, but we are still friends, neighbors, and family. Today’s discourse is not about me or the Board of Commissioners, it is all about you. So thank you. (recognize some in the crowd)
As we look forward into 2008, we see several challenges ahead for our county. Although Mecklenburg County is one of the most prosperous counties in North Carolina, with a high per capita income and a strong and growing tax base, we are beginning to feel the effects of the economic downturn that is troubling the rest of our country. We continue to be one of the fastest growing areas of the country, rated one of America’s most livable regions. We continue to add jobs, both in services and in manufacturing, and people continue to transfer here from other parts of the country. However, we can not deny that our economy is slowing, and the county budget will face some challenges this spring as the most vulnerable citizens in our community find themselves in need of more services to help them get back on their feet and on the road to self-sufficiency again.
Our shared vision for Mecklenburg County is that in 2015 Mecklenburg County will be a community of pride and choice for people to live, work and recreate. We hope this vision is reached every year along the way as well, but we have given ourselves concrete measures to aim for by 2015. Each year the Commission evaluates the County budget based on these guidelines, 25 distinct results that fall within the four focus areas of county government– Social, Education & Economic Opportunity; Community Health & Safety; Growth Management and Environment; and Effective & Efficient Government.
I am proud to say that with 7 years to go to meet our goals, we are on target. We have achieved desired performance for almost half of our county-wide performance measures and many of the areas that need attention have seen progress over last year. As a Board of Commissioners we have worked together to understand those areas where we need to focus more attention and resources to enable us to meet our goals.
While there is much work to be done, it is appropriate to pause and recognize the many accomplishments and hard work over the past year.
Social, Education and Economic Opportunity
Education in a rapidly growing and diversifying district continues to be a challenge and a strong priority for the County. Communication between the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners has been open and engaging, not always free from differences, but strong enough to help us achieve a unanimous Commission vote to put $516 million in school construction bonds on the ballot last November. Voters not only recognized the continuing need for new and renovated schools, but showed a renewed trust in the management of our school system by approving $516 million in school bonds. Thank you, voters, for your overwhelming support –68%-- of our school bond package. We have issued bonds and will work with CMS to get more schools built this year than ever before as we try to catch up with our growing needs. The softening construction market may actually help abate the soaring cost of construction we’ve struggled with in recent years.
The County and the school system and school board have seen a year of increased dialogue and collaboration in other ways as well. County manager Jones and Superintendent Gorman have led this effort. In January, the two boards met jointly for an afternoon session focused on sharing information and open dialogue about issues of mutual interest. (recognize any CMS management in audience)
One challenge where we are working together is trying to keep kids in school and lower our drop out rates. The County is supporting successful programs like Communities in Schools, which follows a national model with proven results, and several after-school programs for middle school students who are particularly vulnerable to falling behind academically.
The county’s literacy rate is one performance measure where we face challenges. We have established a working group called the Literacy Collaborative which brings together county-funded stakeholders to create a shared vision and jointly plan strategies to avoid duplication and ensure success. Our partners in this effort include the Public Library, Communities in Schools, CMS, and Central Piedmont Community College. The collaborative members are committed to continuing their individual efforts as well as partnering to promote the importance of literacy; provide targeted outreach and mentoring for adults and youth; provide supplemental programs for at-risk youth; continue partnership efforts among stakeholders; and leverage resources within our community.
I see members of our public library here (have them stand). The Library has just finished an extensive and comprehensive planning process, and continues to innovate and expand so that they remain on the cutting edge of technology and service. I have to share a quote from a visitor named Nada from Pennsylvania whom I met at ImaginOn recently: “First, I want to thank you and the tax payers of Mecklenburg County for our great creative experience at ImaginOn. A library that makes the connections of books, creativity and technology taught in a myriad of ways reinforced multiple times throughout the building. I just wish I could adequately articulate the effect of this program. ImaginOn is creativity oozing out of every brick’s pore. And my kids, they had the best time “ever”!
We are glad to be working also with Central Piedmont Community College on literacy, among other things (such as Little Sugar Creek Greenway). We often forget that we have one of the top community colleges in the entire country right here in Charlotte, and the demand for their courses continues to grow.
Community Health & Safety
Less than two weeks ago, the County participated in the first Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Summit held at UNC Charlotte. The impetus for this summit grew out of the Women’s Commission and I served on its steering committee. We partnered with UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute and the Institute for Social Capital to collect data on the status of women and girls in Mecklenburg County. We discovered that too many women don’t receive adequate healthcare, too many face daunting care-giving challenges, too many are not paid equal to their male counterparts. The summit provided the opportunity to report the findings of this research and to bring the community together around the needs we have to improve the lives of women and girls in our region. It was a tremendously successful event, producing six action initiatives and raising enough money to fund an ongoing commitment to the needs of women and girls. Sponsors included AT&T, The Knight Foundation, UNC Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, among others.
One of the issues highlighted by the Women’s Summit is domestic violence, which continues to be a serious problem in our community. The County, in partnership with United Family Services and other key community stakeholders, continues to champion efforts to combat and prevent domestic violence. We as a Board have recognized the need for additional shelter beds in the county. We have made it a priority request for federal appropriation funding over the last two years and in the FY08 federal budget we did receive an appropriation for almost $200,000. UFS anticipates a multimillion dollar campaign to begin in 2008 to build a larger, more extensive emergency and transitional shelter for battered women. The proposed domestic violence transitional living center will be located on five acres in central Mecklenburg County. With 80 beds instead of the current 29 available, the self-contained campus will offer short- and long-term transitional housing.
Through the County’s Youth and Family Services Division, we continued to make significant improvements this past year to ensure the safety and permanence of children in our community. The division has focused on a variety of ways to keep children safe and divert them from custody to obtain permanent homes. I had the opportunity to attend the county’s Adoption Day festivities this year, and I want to be sure to thank the hundreds of volunteers and parents who adopt children or provide caring foster homes for some of our most troubled youth. The agency has also collaborated with other agencies to ensure that children and families receive wrap around services and to be more community based in delivering services.
In the area of Community Health and Safety, we have administered a federal Ryan White grant for HIV/AIDS treatment in our community. This process has been one of strong regional collaboration and increased service outreach to get life-saving treatment to more people with HIV. The county has worked with community partners in 5 other counties to increase outreach and extend treatment to those living with AIDS. This regional collaboration has spread to other areas of health and environment as well. The Health Department administered the grant so well, rapidly getting a new program set up, contacting partners, and improving treatment programs, that the federal government is rewarding us for this efficiency by granting an additional half million dollars in Ryan White money to this region. (recognize any health dept members)
Our community continues to be challenged by the growth of the homeless population. Despite an excellent array of homeless services provided by non-profit and faith-based agencies, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, the homeless count performed twice each year has documented over 5000 homeless persons and families. While 15-20% is chronically homeless, there is also a very large population of homeless families with children, over 40%. CMS reported over 2200 homeless children this past year in our school system. The jail houses as many as 600 homeless inmates on any given night. The men’s and women’s shelters have also experienced 13% growth in the past year. And, perhaps most disturbing of all, an estimated 25 percent of our homeless are veterans. We have a problem, folks.
The County is responding in several critical ways. A few weeks ago, the Board of Commissioners adopted the recommendations of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, a comprehensive report involving community wide collaboration to address the many facets of poverty and life changes that lead to homelessness. The county looks forward to working with the City of Charlotte and other community groups to address the need for affordable housing. The County provides partial funding for several non-profit and faith-based agencies who are serving the homeless. We also provides prevention services, employment and housing services as well as treatment for substance abuse and mental health, issues that are often linked with homelessness. (recognize Homeless Helping Homeless and others)
In the area of public safety, in February, the Board of Commissioners appointed Sheriff’s Office veteran Chipp Bailey to replace retired Sheriff Jim Pendergraph. Sheriff Bailey has indicated that he will focus on improving rehabilitation and job training programs for inmates to reduce recidivism. As we struggle with crowded jails, we know that reducing recidivism and helping residents re-enter the community with job skills and community support must be priorities. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is also working with Area Mental Health to identify repeat offenders who have mental health and substance abuse needs to keep them focused on treatment and recovery, addressing their root problems in order to keep them out of the criminal justice system.
I see a few members of our Sheriff’s Office here today (have them stand). Chief Deputy Felicia McAdoo was promoted by Sheriff Bailey on February 6, 2008, the first woman to serve as Chief Deputy. She is a 21 year veteran of the Sheriff's Office and has worked at almost every post in the Agency. Deputy Michael Henderson, K-9 Unit and an 18 year veteran, was recently presented with a Certificate of Merit Award for his quick action during a house fire. Jennifer Williams, Inmate Finance/Property Division, has been recognized with an award for Cost Savings/Operation Efficiency. The Inmate Property/Finance Division became the first division within the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office to be up and running with a new information software program called SharePoint, which posts Policies and Procedures, forms, schedules, newsletters, etc. Thank you all for your service.
We have tremendous needs in our criminal justice system. Today I am calling for the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Criminal Justice. In a few weeks we will be receiving an extensive consulting study by Kimme Associates of the operations of our criminal justice system, and this Blue Ribbon Commission will build from this study to give us a road map for the steps we need to take to improve the entire system. On this Commission will be our District Attorney, representatives of our Court System, our Sheriff, the Director of Area Mental Health, the Police Chief, the City and County Managers, community and grassroots leadership, and others. We will explore every aspect of criminal justice to improve the functioning of the system so that we can keep our neighborhoods safe, have detention space available to lock up violent criminals, and end the revolving door of incarceration for those who are willing and able to return to society and follow the law.
Growth Management & Environment
Attention has been focused on our natural resources lately because of the severe drought conditions that continue to face Mecklenburg County and the entire state. We have been able to respond quickly and effectively, however, because of excellent regional collaboration to monitor drought conditions and to aggressively promote water conservation efforts. I would like to thank our residents and our businesses for taking conservation seriously and for making conservation a priority. Although we have experienced rain recently, we must remember that the drought continues. The City of Charlotte and the County are working to maintain a conservation mentality in the region. In February, I had the privilege of helping kick off the Choose to Conserve campaign to educate residents about how conservation means more than just adhering to water restrictions. We want everyone in the county to know how you can do small things in your daily lives to save water, which collectively can have a huge impact on our environment. Our Land Use and Environmental Services Agency sells rain barrels so our residents can save money and save water by using barrels to collect rain for use in watering plants and lawns. I also want to thank our regional partners who collaborated on Clean Air Works as we continue to combat air pollution as well.
The County has also shown leadership in environmental stewardship and will be hosting an Environmental Summit, with the help of many community partners, on May 2. (recognize community partners) This summit was a joint initiative by me and Charlotte City Councilman Anthony Foxx, and I want to thank him for his leadership on city of Charlotte environmental issues. We have adopted an Environmental Leadership Policy with principles that guide how we do business in a manner that protects our natural resources, making ourselves a model for other organizations in the community. In 2007 we saw many accomplishments in this area, including the adoption of a County Energy Plan with a 2008 goal of 5 percent energy savings. Our recycling program diverted 2,064 tons of paper waste recycled equivalent to 12.2% of the total waste, ahead of our FY07 goal of 12 percent. We preserved land through the acquisition of 350 acres for parks, open space, greenways and watershed protection. These are just a few of the many accomplishments.
Also we have just opened phase I of the newly renovated Freedom Mall facility. This renovation project uses our environmental leadership policies, with maximum use of natural lighting, recycled materials, waterless urinals, and rain gardens in the parking lots. We anticipate Freedom will receive LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design," a 3rd Party green building rating system, managed by the US Green Building Council), making it the first LEED certified county building. Imaginon, which was constructed by the Public Library, was actually the first LEED certified project in the geographic area of Mecklenburg County.
In the fall voters approved $35m in land bonds, much of which will support Mt. Island Lake Watershed, helping to preserve water quality for our drinking water, as well as helping to continue development of our highly successful greenway system and preserving open space. Park and Recreation has recently undergone a 10 year Master Planning process, focusing on issues of coverage, equity, land needs, greenways, recreational needs, and polling the needs in the community. I commend the department and the Park Commission for seeking input from the community and going back out into the community to share the draft plans. During this planning process, we recently have responded to concerns from residents about greenway plans, in Huntersville and other areas, and their input has helped us refine our planning processes. We also hope to set up a community committee to allow residents even more input into greenway planning, in a more timely and accessible way. I see a number of our park commissioners here today and I want to thank them for their service and their advocacy. I also see some other great greenway advocates, including the bicycle advocates (CABA Charlotte Area Bike Alliance) who work to get people out of their cars to save our air and onto their bikes to save their health.
We are a county and a region that can be thankful for economic prosperity and tremendous growth, but with that growth comes challenges as well. Voters last fall also showed overwhelming support for this community’s bus and transit system by voting to keep the ½ cent transit sales tax. And when the LYNX Blue Line opened for operation in late November we celebrated this success. Ridership continues to exceed projections, with local residents using it daily for more convenient access to work as well as thousands of visitors piling on for easy access to uptown sporting and cultural events. This year as chairman of the county commissioners, I also chair the Metropolitan Transit Commission. While we are happy with the success of the Blue Line, there is much work to be done. (We had a few bumps with the Ticket Machines) We are working closely with the northern towns and the university area to move forward on two north lines, one a commuter rail to Mooresville through Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson, and the other a northeast line to UNC Charlotte. This effort will require careful planning and regional collaboration. I am confident in both. We have also seen increased usage of our bus routes at all levels, especially the express service, and as gas prices rise we will hope to add even more service as demand continues to increase.
This past year we saw another example of strong regional collaboration with the approval of the Bryton project in Huntersville. The County and the town have agreed to work together issuing debt for infrastructure improvements that will be paid for by increases in the property tax as a result of the investment. The mixed use project incorporates bus oriented and transit oriented designs.
Effective & Efficient Government
Our fourth focus area is effective and efficient government. This is an area that permeates all the other issues and accomplishments I have described today.
This county’s success depends on the dedicated work and leadership of our county employees who provide essential services to county residents every day. Because of that dedication, we successfully met our customer and stakeholder satisfaction goals for the previous year. Because we know our employees are our greatest resource, we not only measure success by customer satisfaction, but by employee motivation and satisfaction as well. We have seen successful performance in this area for three years in a row.
The county proudly maintains its AAA bond rating which allows us to continue to save money in capital projects by receiving lower interest rates. It is an indication of the county’s sound fiscal policies.
More than 3,600 low income seniors and disabled taxpayers took advantage of the Homestead Exclusion benefit for 2007. This benefit allows those who qualify an exemption on the taxable value of a permanent residence. Our state leaders increased this benefit and expanded the income eligibility limit for 2008. To receive this benefit low income seniors or disabled property owners must complete an application by June 1. We also continue to work toward the goals established by our Status of Seniors Initiative and our Status of Veterans Initiative, and I want to thank my colleague Norman Mitchell (a decorated veteran himself) for his leadership with both of those initiatives.
We are all concerned about the economy. We are hearing from more and more neighborhoods that are sliding into distress, with absentee landlords and empty houses that area a result of the mortgage crisis. I want to thank Mike Craft, a community leader who could not be here today, for working hard to hold absentee landowners accountable and to seek out all resources available to keep his neighborhood from falling apart. Citizens like Mike help the city and county work together to confront the real needs we have at the neighborhood level.
Preliminary figures show slowed growth for tax revenues. We will be taking a close look at our priorities and essential services and as always looking for the most efficient use of resources. There may be some programs that will have to be cut back.. There is no doubt that the needs this year for vital services are great, and we look forward to working with the County Manager to meet them.
I’ve only had the opportunity to touch on some of our accomplishments. To learn more about the county’s prior year performance, both successes and challenges, I invite you to review a copy of our 2007 Performance Report. Print copies are available in the lobby and Manager’s Office. You can access a copy of the report by visiting MecklenburgCountyNC.gov and clicking on the County Manager’s page.
I would like to thank my colleagues on the Board for allowing me to serve as chair for a second year and I thank each of them for their service: Karen Bentley, Norman Mitchell, Valerie Woodard, Dumont Clarke, Dan Bishop, and Bill James; and at large representatives Parks Helms, Dan Ramirez.
I would also like to recognize county manager Harry Jones and his staff and thank them for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance. Mr. Jones is an extremely capable manager with many years of experience, and, while the County Commissioners direct policy, Mr. Jones has the job of putting this policy into action. Thank you for your leadership.
We will have to make some difficult choices in the coming months and I will be reaching out to the community and working with all of you here today to do what is right for this county and our community.
We are one community. We are strongest when we stick together. We will meet our significant challenges head on and we will make the tough decisions and provide the leadership necessary to emerge stronger than when we began. Thus, I return to the community here at the end of this speech. It was all about you from the beginning, and the solutions to our challenges are all about you as well.
Thank you all for coming today. Please join me in the lobby for some refreshments.
