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MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARA OF COMMTSSIONEFtS
MAY 31, 1978
The Orange County Berard of Commissioners met in a special
budget hearing on Wednesday, May 31, 1978 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Commissioners' Room of the Court House in Hillsborough,
The purpose of the meeting was to review the proposed budget
of the Chapel fIill-Carrbaro City School System.
Commissioners present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Norman _
Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman [calker and Donald Willhoit.
Persons from the Chapel Hill-Carrbora School system were
pr. Robert Hanes, Superintendent, Charles Rivers, Assistant Super-
intendent, Carolyn Freeman, Finance Officer, Phillis Sackwell, Board
Chairperson, Ned Parrish, Board member, James Riddle, Board member
and others.,
County staff personnel present were 5. M. Gattis, County Manage:°,
Pleal Evans, Finance Director, Joe Bradshaw, Administrative P_ssistant.,
and Agatha Johnson, Clerk.
Chairman Whitted opened the meeting and recognized Phillis
Sockwell, Chairperson of the School Board. Mrs. Sockwell informed
the Board that the budget being presented tonight was not a padded
budget, but a realistic one. She referred first to the capital
outlay budget, and stated this budget is composed of yearly needs,
renovations and replacements. The budget is broken down into four
categories: 1) furniture and equipment replacement, 2) safety
features, 3) completion of Band projects, and 4) maintenance of
vehicles. The School Board is presenting to the Commissioners a
request far $450,000 for capital outlay needs. In the current
expense budget, the Board is presenting to the Commissioners a reau t
for $270,000 for improved programs. Included in this budget is the
$182,027.06 which will be needed to maintain current programs in
operations.
Mrs. Sockwell asked that the Board consider raising the supple-
mental School District tax above the present 25~C.
Dr. Hanes, Superintendent of the school system, spoke of the
current expense budget of the school system. He stated the request
reflects two categories: l) basic or continuing cost and 2) improve-
ment programs. The basic cost increase reflected is $182,027.06 which
represents a 13 percent increase in cost for the next year over this
year. About 1/3 or $60,000 of this is tied up in five (5) additional
teaching positions. The number of state allocated teachers for
1978-79 is projected at 5 less than the current year because the
current year's allotment was based upon anticipated growth which
did not occur. Roughly 4~ percent of the 13 percent is tied up
in these five teaching positions. The remainder of the 13 percent
is tied up in salary increases for employees.
Tha added, or improved programs included in the proposed
current expense budget reflect essentially seven major emphases.
The anticipated cost of these improvements is $289,070.38. These
seven categories are 10 improvement of maintenance services at a
cost of $79,484.16, 2) expansion of remedial programs at a cost
of $64,550, 3) services far children with special needs -
Dr. Hanes stated this was a major area of concern. Three new
programs are proposed: (a) services for emotionally handicapped
pupils, (b) services for children who have severe hearing impairments,
and (c) services for gifted and talented children at the junior high
level. In addition, 30 percent of a psychologist position will be
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added using federal funds. The anticipated cost for this improve-
ment is $59,436, plus $36,000 is anticipated from federal funds,
4) continued development of the aids program at a cost of $34,719.63,
5) teacher supplement - This is a 5 percent increase in salaries at
an anticipated cost of $15,000, 6) Textbooks and supplies at a cost
of $16,589.59, and 7) corrections, modifications or improvements in
various operating costs at a cost of $19,291.
Dr. Hanes reviewed for the Board the existing positions which
are state funded and those locally or federally funded. The proposal
for the handicapped requires eight positions. Three of these are
state funded, three are federally £unded, and two are under vocational
education. For the educationally mentally retarded program, four
positions are locally funded and two are state funded. The Board
is proposing two teachers for the emotionally handicapped to be
locally funded. The TMR Program requires one position funded from
local funds and two from state funds. The gifted and talented
program requires 3.43 positions from state funds, and 3.6 positions
from local funds. Teachers required for children with learning
disabilities are 10.5 from state funds and 2.03 from local funds.
A teacher for children with hearing impairments calls for ~ a
position from local funds. The 5peach Therapist Program requires
three teachers from state funds. The Director far exceptional
children is one which will be funded from state funds. Psychologist
requirements are 1.3 from state funds and 1/3 position from federal
funds.
From these quoted positions, 4'~ positions are being added.
Thirty-two and one--half of these positions presently exist in the
school system.
Dr. Hanes stated the total cost then for the added programs
and to maintain current programs is $471,097.~k4. He informed the
Board that $450,000 is being requested in local funds for the school
system's capital outlay budget. A breakdown of this is: completion
of band projects - $163,573, continuing capital cost of the school
system - $170,027, a contingency funds of $30,000.00 and renovations,
~~ alterations, construction and reconstruction by schools at a cost of
$86,40D.
A summary of the request is $182,027.06 which is needed to
• maintain current programs: $289,070.38 for added or improved
programs, and $130,000 for capital improvements. The $130,000 is
the difference between this year's capital improvement and the
requested $450,000 for the next year, which calls for $130,OOD of
new monies. Total request then is $601,097.44.
Dr. Hanes stated that his Board was suggesting that $300,OOD
for current expense come from the General Fund of the Gounty and
that the remaining $170,000 come from an adjustment in the School
District Tax Rate.
It was pointed out that the school district has 5,335 students
enrolled which is a decrease of 131 pupils over the previous year.
Dr. Hanes spoke o~ the cost for utilities for the school system
for the coming year. He stated that he anticipated receiving from
the State approximately $69,000 for utilities.
The superintendent reviewed for the Board the major cost
increases found in his budget. He stated that between $67,000 and
$70,000 would be required to fund the five teacher positions which
had been lost. Fifteen percent must then be added for fringe benefits
for these positions. There is buzlt into this budget an 8 to 9
percent salary increase, a 5 percent projected cross the Board increase,
plus the step increase for some employees. In the use of energy,
it is projected that cost will be up by 10 percent in existing
buildings. There is an estimated cost for the three elementary
school buildings where there is a switching from gas and oil to
electricity. This is a substantial increase. The school system is
also now going to year round cooling as opposed to just heating.
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The two Boards discussed at some length the new mandated
programs enacted by the General Assembly and their effect on the
City and County school systems. It was pointed out that the
Congressional Delegation in Raleigh should be made aware of the
critical situation in which local governments aze being placed.
Chairman Whitted stated these new mandated programs meant
more monies to come from the local coffers. He added that counties
must establish a partnership with the State of what to do with public:
school financing. Commissioner Gustaveson proposed a meeting with
the Congressional Delegation, the two school boards and the County
Commissioners to educate the Congressional Delegation regarding
the impact mandated programs are having on counties.
Chairman Whitted informed the Boards that he would be attending
a hearing before the Joint Agpropriatian Committee on Thursday,
and that he would attempt to schedule a meeting with the Congression-:: ?_
Delegation at that time.
The meeting was adjourned,~~ ~ _.,.../~
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~~tichard B. Whited; Chairman
Agatha Johnson, Clerk
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