HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19770523~%~1
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MAY 23, 1977
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Monday, May 23, 1977,
at 7:30 p.m., in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough
to continue budget hearings.
Present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson,
Jan Pinney, and Norman Walker.
Absent was Commissioner Donald Willhoit.
Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance
Officer and Agatha Johnson, G1erk.
Chairman Whitted stated that the Board would hear the budget presenta-
tion of the Chapel Hill--Carrboro School System and he recognized Dr. Norm
Weatherly, Chairman of the School Board, and Dr. Robert Hanes, Superin-
tendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System. Dr. Banes introduced
to the Board other members of the School Board.
Dr. Weatherly opened the presentation by speaking of the number of
meetings held in the past months to determine the needs of the School
system. These meetings included professional organizations and many
individuals who were concerned and interested in the programs in the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System.
Dr. Robert Hanes was asked to characterise items in the proposed
budget. Dz'. Hanes stated that the per capita expenditure for the current
sshaol year was estimated at $274.95 per pupil. The proposed current
expense document request an increase to $358,49 per pupil, showing an
increase in the amount of $83,54 per pupil. As a comparison, the antici-
pated revenues from the School District Tax, the per pupil expenditure
for this year is $186.75. The projection for the coming year is that
this tax will produce some $200.88 per pupil.
Dr. Hanes stated that the per pupil figures which were being used
were projections by the State Board of Education based on an average daily
membership enrollment. The current figures for this year if 9,427 and
the projected figure for the coming year shows an increase of 39 students
making a total of 5,466. Teaching positions paid by the State are based
on these figures, and the 5,466 figure will bring about three new teaching
positions for~~he coming year.
The proposed current expense budget for 1977-78 calls for an in-
crease in county per capita funds in the amount of $467,262.50.
Of this amount, $266,449,p5 is for basic or continuing programs, and
$200,813.00 is the anticipated cost of improvements. The $266,449 is the
cost of the basic programm of the budget itself, and these projections
are essentially to continue into next year, various programs which are
now offered. The causes for the $266,449 increase are (1) an increase
in the base salary of locally paid employees by 7~ percent and (2) a sub-
stantial increase in the expected cost of utilities. The reasons far the
projective increase in utilities is the fact that new rates went into
effect this Spring and this projects sn increase of about 40 percent in
cost within the School districts. Another reason for the increase is due
to the renovations of the heating and air-cooling systems in three schools
-- within the district.
The $200,813 cost is for added, or improved program section of the
proposed current expense budget reflects essentially eight major emphases.
(1) Special Needs of Exceptional children, (2) the provision os Additional
Aides, (3) provisions for Increased Instructional Operating Costs, (4)
provision for improved support of after-school programs., (5) changes in
the Junior High School program, (6) support for~student field trips. (7)
improvements in maintenance, (8) special support activities, and (9)
support of summer.schaol costs.
Dr. Hanes spoke of the program for special needs of exceptional
children. He stated that the School system was presently serving 920
children with special needs.
~2z
This school year, the system is serving 148 people in the Mentally Retarded
Program, which include 18 trainable mentally retarded, 109 speech and langu-
age impairment, 330 with learning disabilities, 285 gifted and talented,
and 30 listed as emotionally disturbed. Three new teaching positions are
planned for this program, while 60 percent of funding for these positions
comes from the State, 40 percent will be expected from local funds. One
position is anticipated to direct the special needs program.
The second program, the Provision of Additional Aides. Under this
proposal, the part-time aide position would become full-time and the
individuals would work as classroom aides, between the morning and after-
noon monitoring duties. Funds provided in this proposal would convert
some 8 to 10 of the 36 monitor positions to full-time monitor/aide positions.
Dr. Hanes continued to review with the Board the various programs and
improvements anticipated for 1977-78.
He stated that it was anticipated that a fund balance might be pre-
sent at the end of this school year of $163,000. Eighty-eight thousand
of this is unappropriated fund balance from the previous years and the
remaining some $75,000 is unextended funds from the current year's budget.
Dr. Hanes stated that the grand total of projected teaching positions
in the proposed budget is 360.7 positions. 6.5 positions are from the
current school year, 266.1 positions are State allotments, 10 positions
are Federal allotments, and 84.5 teaching positions are .paid by local funds.
The system employees in its administrative staff 29 people. The
Maintenance Staff is composed of 9 people.
Chairman Whitted asked Dr. Hanes to comment on the types of testing
done throughout the year.
Dr. Hanes stated that the system was in the fourth year of a
Standarized Testing Program where the tests are administered at the
third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh grades. The Towa Test for basic skills
is used.
Further discussion ensued regarding the program, Special Needs of
Exeptional Children. Dr. Hanes stated that the School System was not
reaching the target population of emotionally disturbed people. The
proposed budget identifies the creation of a third trainable mentally
retardation class. The system presently has classes for. the primary
grade to the junior high school grades, but there is a gap for .ages 9
through 13, and this third class is a proposal to cover the child with
special needs from the time he comes to school until he is old enough to
enter the Sheltered Workshop Program.
Dr. Hanes reviewed with the Board the Capital Outlay Budget for 1977-
1978. He stated that this proposed budget totals $425,960, which is an
increase of $34,96D over the 1976-77 outlay budget of $391,000. This
budget reflects no new major construction projects but is a continuation
of those types of capital expenditures needed each year in an on-going
school system. The proposed expenditures are separated into four categories,
Category T, Acquisition of Real Property, and Construction Enlargements, ar
Renovations of Buildings. Category 22, Acquisition yr Replacement of
Furnishings and Equipment. Category TI2, Acquisition of School Buses,
Activity Buses and other motor vehicles, and I~, Contingency.
Dr. Hanes pointed out to the Board, Category 2, Project 2, which is
the construction of a new guidance offices in former art roams areas at
the Chapel Hill Senior High School at a cost of $19,000 and the modifica-
tion of Science Rooms to create one .additional Science Lab at a cost of
$16,000. These modifications became necessary because of relocating
other classrooms in the Cultural Arts Building.
Dr. Hanes was asked how the bond referendum monies would be spent
and he stated that $480,000 would be used for construction of a warehouse
at Lincoln Center, $200,000 will be used toward construction of an athletic
field at Phillips High, $200,000 to be used for construction of an athletic
field at Culbreth Junior High, $75,000 is proposed for a bus parking area
at Seawell Elementary School. The remodeling of schools at Carrboro, the
Estes Hills Elementary School and the Glenwood Elementary School totals
about 3/4 of a million dollars. $19fi,000 of the bond monies will be used
for a Multi-purpose Center at Phillips High School, $200,000 is to be used
for a Multi-purpose Center at Frank Porter Graham, $400,000 has been used
for the Cultural Arts Building, $175,000 is to be used to bring Lincoln
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Center up to the electrical and heating codes. The remainder is to
used for architect fees and contingency.
The next department presenting a budget request to the Board of
Commissioners was the Agricultural Extension Service.
Chairman Whitted recognized Mr. Ebert Pierce, Chairman of the Exten-
sion Service. Mr. Pierce stated that this budget increase essentially
is to pick up one-half of the salaries of two 4-H Program Assistants
which amounted to $6,D00.
_. The County Manager informed the Board that the State is attempting
to induce Counties in the region to assume the responsibility of 50 percent
of the payroll in agricultural programs over a two year period. The State
- has introduced a salary range concept which classifies the people into
various classification with a suggested salary range. In Orange County
most of the professional people are already within this salary range, with
the exception of one person. He stated that the problem with this is that
the State has final control over the salaries. Of the County wants to
adjust a salary, and the State does not, then the County is actually paying
the State's part. Presently, the County is paying about 38 percent of the
agents salaries and about 65 percent of the secretaries salaries. To
assume 50 percent of the payroll of the agricultural programs would in-
crease the Counties' share 9 percent, or an additional cost of $11,000.
The proposed budget request for the Agricultural Extension Service for
1977-78 is $72,942.
The proposed budget of the Tax Supervisor~Department was presented
by Archie Kelly, One position in the Tax Department has been taken from
the Manpower payroll to the County payroll, which was done through a budget
amendment several months ago. This budget includes the 6'~ percent pay
raise and approximately $1,50D of part-time help.
Two new objectives for 1977-78 are to (1) Collect all sales and verify
in order to establish market value as revaluation schedules must be establ-
ished and (2) appraise mobile homes not listed and located when they are
found. The proposed budget for the Tax Supervisor:Department is $210,955.
The Board reviewed the Planning Department's proposed budget for
1977-78. A discrepancy was pointed out by Commissioner Pinney of the
proposed staff for 1977-78. The objectives for 1977-78 are as established
by the Board of Commissioners in a meeting of December 14, 1976.
Commissioner (,ustaveson asked if there was any idea of the revenues
projections for the Inspection Department for 1977 as opposed to 1978.
The ~`inance Officer stated that the Inspection Department was paying
for itself. For next year, the Inspection Department may project $10,000
over this year's revenues.
Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he was concerned with how the
objectives, which have been spelled out, fit into the policy statement
of the Berard and the work Alas, or how these objectives will be in a modifi-
cation or revision. He stated that he would like to keep very clear the
schedule for actually getting the Zoning Ordinance extended. He suggested
that the Board and the Planning Staff have further discussion of where the
Planning Staff is in their proposed work plan.
The proposed budget for the Planning Department for 1977-78 is $139,985.
Chairman Whitted informed the Board of requests from the Towns of
Carrboro and Hillsborough regarding the proposed positions through the
Durham-Orange Empleyment Training Office. The Board agreed to meet with
the Towns of Garrboro and Hillsborough and any other interested parties
on Thursday~.~:May 26th to discuss this matter.
Chairman Whitted asked members of the Board if they were interested in
going to Greensboro or Charlotte to look at an EMS system prior to adopting
this year's budget.
The Board agreed to wait until after May 26 to decide whether or not
to travel to Greensboro or Charlotte to see this system.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Richard E. Whitted, Chairman
Agatha Johnson, Clerk