I’m sitting on a boat floating in the swamp, my fishing rod and tackle my only companions, the sun on my back, no phones ringing, no keys clicking, no paper rolling in an adding machine, just a gentle breeze blowing on the water. . This is David. Crack’s post-retirement dream.
Clack, Sampson County’s treasurer, announced his retirement less than a week ago and is looking forward to a less stressful life this week.
“I’m going fishing!” Clack laughed when asked about the issue. “I have a boat that I haven’t used yet, so I would like to use it more.”
After a 30-year career in Sampson County government, Clack is putting away his calculators and spreadsheets and replacing them with fishing rods and bait.
“Personally, I just wanted a change,” he explained. “I don’t really know what I’m going to do now other than fish, but for me it’s time for a change.”
Mr. Clack, a native of Clinton, has lived here most of his life. A graduate of Clinton High School, he left Sampson County to attend higher education at UNC Wilmington, graduating with a degree in accounting in 1988, and from there went on to work in accounting at a small CPA firm in Raeford. I was in charge of taxation. and audit.
“One of our clients at the time was Clinton City Schools, so I was able to come back to Clinton to help them,” Clack recalls.
Soon, he had the opportunity to return to his hometown and work for Black & Bass in Clinton. One of their clients was Sampson County government.
“I decided to leave my CPA firm because I wasn’t enjoying my taxes. It wasn’t difficult. I just wanted to make a change,” Clack said of his early days. In August 1994, an opportunity arose to serve as a permanent auditor for the county.
“Syliva Brinson is a very well-respected person. She was the Treasurer at the time and was my boss. She taught me a lot. Of course, the county is always It was very generous.”
He said he began taking various classes that finance employees take to earn their certification, and in the process became a North Carolina Certified Local Government Treasurer.
“I thought it was really exciting to learn more about how government works because politics is involved, just like any other part of government. People don’t want to do it,” he laughed. “You can never beat a proper sport. If you end up proposing a tax increase, that always seems very interesting.”
He said it was very educational to learn about government debt, the financial relationship between schools and the county, and other entities that are not part of county government but are closely connected to the county.
“When they (school systems) talk about local funding for their budgets every year, the money they’re getting from the county is coming from us, and we give both systems relatively the same amount of money. We need to make sure we are funding them,” he explained, which is why the funding allocated to schools is based on enrollment per student.
Clack said the most difficult part of his job is the issues related to the annual budget, providing information to other departments, taking it back, reviewing it, and deciding where to cut costs and where to increase the budget. He said it was a decision to be made. Things can suddenly go wrong and you have to readjust things. ” he said.
“When you do it, you get a good idea of where your tax dollars are going, but generally when things change, things change, so you have to adjust accordingly,” he added. “Some years it goes pretty well, and some years it goes not so well.”
Looking back over his 30-year career with the county, the most difficult time was during the Great Recession. “There was little growth in the tax base, with cost increases and little associated revenue.”
Clack said the second most challenging period was during COVID-19, when the county was competing with other counties for the same employees.
“Recently, given the pandemic and inflation, we have had to make significant adjustments to county payrolls to maintain cost of living, retain staff, and hire new staff at the same time. “It’s making it difficult for the county,” he explained, “employees are leaving.” “There are departments that are always in trouble, and every time we raise salaries, all the surrounding counties adjust their salaries, so we’re just constantly chasing each other. We’re chasing the same people. There is.”
Mr. Clack has many fond memories of working in Sampson County, many of those moments include knowing that what he did made a difference for residents.
“My favorite part was when we put together the funds to build three high schools and an elementary school,” he said. “When we borrowed money in the bond market, we had to convince people to invest in Sampson County. I really enjoyed going through that process.”
Mr. Clack said he knows Sampson is worth investing in because it offers a good return on investment, and paying off those debts is also one of the most enjoyable parts of the job.
“There were more people willing to buy debt than we had. That says a lot about us (Sampson County). When S&P and Moody’s think our county is worth investing in, I’m proud. I feel good,” he said with a smile. “Knowing that we helped save the county millions of dollars is a really satisfying feeling.”
What does the future hold for Sampson County government without David Clack?
“What I hope for the county after I leave is that the new (county commissions) going forward will look a lot like the ones in the past and know how to govern responsibly. “We have a board that has demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and I hope that continues.”
Clack said Sampson County has always developed a budget based on what is available and based on a responsible signature budget. Financial responsibility is important, right down to the number of boxes of desk supplies like pens and tissue paper.
“That’s why we have a 900-page recommended budget, and it’s been that way ever since I was in the county,” he recalled as he watched county commissioners walk to their cars with a 900-page review budget. , he laughed.
Now, he’s looking forward and preparing to take more time to relax.
“I’m going fishing!” he repeated, laughing again.
He’s a saltwater fisherman, but he does both.
“I’ve been out to Pamlico Sound several times to fish for red drum, and I really like the coastal region from Ocean Isle to South Carolina.”
As a resident of Sampson County, he said he remains informed even after leaving office and occasionally attends meetings as a civilian like others. “If you need to express your opinion, it’s important to do so.”
He said people didn’t always show up to meetings like they do now. It’s only in the last decade that people have started to express their opinions about taxes and spending.
“It’s become more obvious that residents are voicing their opinions, speaking up about what they don’t like, proposing housing programs, more councilors, cutting spending, whether they need more water, etc. Ta.”
But he won’t be keeping a close eye on the next person to follow in his footsteps. He said his position was neither critical nor supportive of the choices made by his successor. Mr. Clack insisted he respects their choices and just lets them do their jobs.
“The fact that there is a financial aspect to anything the county does, for better or for worse, and how that decision impacts what it can or cannot do in the future… Is it important?” It’s also done for residents, but most people don’t realize how important local government is until they need it during a crisis or emergency. ”
While Clack said he and the county recently conducted a clean audit and is proud of it, Clack credited county staff as a whole and praised their responsibility for spending.
“We are always proud of their work. In addition to the audit not finding anything, the county was also able to add funds to its fund balance. That’s because of the department heads and staff. It makes a big difference.”
He said this on his first Monday morning after retiring. I’m happy when I don’t have anything to do that day and only have things I want to do. ”
Mr. Clack chose Dec. 31 as his retirement date to ease the transition. Mr. Clack’s successor will start the new year with a hand in budget preparation, rather than jumping in midway through it.
“It’s just gotten better. Part of it is the fact that they’re finishing part of this year, but then the new budget will be theirs and they’ll have new members to work with on the new board. It just makes things easier for new people.”
Clack said his colleagues have been very supportive of his retirement at the end of the year.
“I’ve had some people call me and ask me if I’m really leaving, or ask me not to, but they understand that 30 years is 30 years,” he laughs. Ta.
