Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19900614 99 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSIONS JUNE 14, 1990 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on June 14, 1990 at 4: 00 p.m. in the Agriculture Extension Meeting Room for the purpose of holding a budget work session. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners Shirley E. Marshall, Stephen Halkiotis (arrived at 4:35 p.m. ) John Hartwell and Don Willhoit. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr. , Assistant County Managers Ellen Liston and Albert Kittrell, Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Secretary V Theresa Pope, Budget Administrator Rod Visser, Budget Management/Analyst Donna Wagner, and Emergency Management Services Director Nick Waters. A motion was made by Chairman Carey, seconded by Commissioner Marshall, to appoint Kathy Baker as the Acting Clerk for this meeting. VOTE: UNANIMOUS County Manager Link distributed a document from the Public Private Partnership meeting of June 13th. The first page indicated two changes to the Public Private Partnership Resolution regarding a County-Wide Needs Assessment And Human Services Strategic Plan. The document was changed to request that United Way appoint a member of the PPP to their needs assessment team. The Board also supports the efforts of the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission to develop a Human Services strategic plan to address short and long term Human Services needs in Orange County and pledges it assistance to that end. The remainder of the document was a report to the Public Private Partnership entitled, "The Status Of The Chapel Hill/Carrboro Arts Center. A copy of this document is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office. Link also distributed a draft Budget Adoption Ordinance which is based on the Manager's recommended budget, which includes the modification made during the earlier budget work sessions. Also included are motions to adopt the amendments to the Personnel Ordinances and an ordinance establishing the Classification and Pay Plan. He indicated that item "J" Sheaffer House was not previously discussed and reflects the fact that they will not need $2,552 due to the fact that they received additional CBA funds. The total of $33, 191 reflects a decrease in the budget. Specifically, the Home Health Agency has been reduced back to their original allocation as of the current fiscal year. A $1,500 increase in being recommended for OCIM. A reduction of $16,200 is reflected for OPC Crisis Mental Health Center. Reduction in the increases to Chapel Hill and Carrboro's Recreation and Library are reflected as well. An increase of $1,250 for the Arts Commission will fulfill a match which will allow them to draw down all of their state funding. The ArtsCenter funding of $5,000 has been placed in a reserve account. Lastly, $4,400 has been placed in contingency for a permanent position for Recreation and Parks Dept. A copy of this document entitled, 1990-1991 Budget Adoption is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. The final document, "Options for Dealing with State Revenue Shortfalls" was discussed. This document is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. Commissioner Hartwell indicated that Option 1 was most agreeable to him. He also indicated that his understanding was that 1/2 of the OCIM allocation would come through the Jobs Program. Link agreed that this should be reflected in the Social Service's budget. This will be reflected in the official copy of the budget. Chairman Carey indicated that he had reconsidered his earlier position on the Triangle Hospice request. He indicated that there is a category of people who do not qualify for Medicaid/Medicare or any other third party. This allocation would help to protect this group of people by increasing the number of indigent who will be served by Triangle Hospice. After discussion, the consensus of the Board was that $2,000 was an acceptable figure. Link indicated that additional information had been received from Bill Baxter. Basically this information is the same as the original budget request from OPC with additional detail. Discussion centered on the Analysis of their salary increases. The question centered around the percent of increase of salaries. The requested 4 1/2% increase in salaries resulted in an overall salary increase request of 9 1/2 or 10%. This increase is a result of OPC's request that Orange County participate in the area wide programs as well as the administrative cost for central operations. Chairman Carey indicated he felt that if the other counties were participating proportionately the increase would only be 4 1/2% for Orange County. Commissioner Willhoit mentioned that throughout the years Mental Health has always lagged behind in the salaries they were able to pay their employees. Also, he indicated that he feels Orange County is not supporting Mental Health and Public Health on a per capita basis at the level necessary to serve our citizens. Commissioner Marshall stated that a study has been requested from the Health Department in order to help clarify Public Health needs. Mental Health could also be requested to supply the Board ith a report on current status and future needs. Commissioner Halkiotis pointed out that the $16,200 reduction is not a cut in the amount requested by Mental Health. The $16,200 was included at the county administration level. It was the consensus of the Board to cut this $16,200 from the budget. Commissioner Willhoit asked for clarification as to what the Chapel Hill Library and the Mebane Library's request were cut. Chairman Carey indicated that he felt that this was not the year to be increasing funds to the municipal libraries. The programs for the Orange County library have been suffering due to lack of funding. Commissioner Willhoit indicated that at one time Orange County had made an effort to catch up on the appropriation to the Chapel Hill library. The funding was equal to that of the Hyconeechee Library. During one of the tight years the Chapel Hill appropriation was not increased and it has progressively fallen behind over the years. The rationale at one time was to take people who lived outside of Chapel Hill but lived in Orange County and use that figure as a fraction of their total circulation. That figure was then multiplied by the operational budget. That formula was used at one time but we've been falling behind. He indicated that the County has an obligation to fund the Chapel Hill Library. The rationale originally was to supply the need near where the most people are located. Commissioner Marshall indicated that she believed the Chapel Hill Library needed continued support from the County; however, the County Library is excellent and was in even greater need of support from the County. She also indicated that it was time to have an equity study completed. Chairman Carey indicated that an effort needed to be made to include Carrboro in this funding process. He also indicated that he would be willing to fund this increase if the county was not faced with such a difficult budget year. It was the consensus of the Board of Commissioners to decrease the Library request. A motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Marshall to adopt the Orange County Budget Ordinance for FY 1990-91 based on the Orange County Managers Recommended Budget to include the following stipulations. a) Cost of living shall be distributed among all all departments b) Home Health Agency (2,000) C) OCIM 1,500 d) OPC Crisis Center (16,200) e) Chapel Hill Recreation (5, 372) f) Carrboro Recreation (2,302) g) Mebane Recreation (436) h) Chapel Hill Library (11,427) i) Mebane Library (52) j) Sheaffer House (2,552) k) Arts Commission 1,250 1) ArtsCenter (5, 000) m) Arts Center Reserve 5,000 n) Contingency 4,400 (Creation of permanent position for Recreation and Parks Dept. ) o) Triangle Hospice 2, 000 The total for the general fund modification is ($31, 191) . The appropriated fund balance will be reduced by $31, 191. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Marshall, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell, to adopt an ordinance establishing the Classification and Pay Plan as attached and as based on the County Manager's Recommended Budget. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Marshall, to approve the attached Revision of the Personnel Ordinance. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the Classification and Pay Plan has the potential to lead to misunderstandings by county employees. He asked that the presentation be complete and thorough. Commissioner Willhoit indicated that he wished to discuss the fire district increases. Budget Administrator Rod Visser indicated that the increase of $0.55 for South Orange was included in Carrboro's recommended budget which has not yet been accepted by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. This is not a recommendation from the South Orange Board of Trustees. Commissioner Willhoit indicated that the Board of Trustees for the fire district should be looking at how the requested positions are being allocated. He stated that since the rate is being increased he really felt that the Board of Trustees should make the recommendation. Link indicated that the recommended increase is supposed to come from the Board of Trustees of each fire district. The General Statutes indicate that the tax rate cannot be raised or lowered after the budget is adopted. On the advice of Liston and Visser it was decided to remove all of the Fire District portion of the budget ordinance from the current motion. The Fire District tax rates and the Fire District portion of the 1990-91 budget ordinance will be presented to the Board for a vote on June 26th. A motion by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell, to reconsider the motion to adopt the Orange County Budget Ordinance for FY 1990-91. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell, to approve the Orange County Budget Ordinance for FY 1990-91 based on the Orange County Managers Recommended Budget to include the modifications to the County Manager's recommended budget with the addition of a $2,000 appropriation to Triangle Hospice, and a decrease of the South Orange Tax Rate Levy to eight (8) cents. The total for the general fund modification is ($31,191) . The appropriated fund balance will be reduced by $31, 191. A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell, to withdraw the motion. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to adopt the Orange County Budget Ordinance for FY 1990-91 based on the Orange County Managers Recommended Budget, to include the following stipulations: a) Cost of living shall be distributed among all all departments b) Home Health Agency (2,000) c) OCIM 1,500 d) OPC Crisis Center (16,200) e) Chapel Hill Recreation (5, 372) f) Carrboro Recreation (2,302) g) Mebane Recreation (436) h) Chapel Hill Library (11,427) i) Mebane Library (52) j) Sheaffer House (2,552) k) Arts Commission 1,250 1) ArtsCenter (5,000) m) Arts Center Reserve 5, 000 n) Contingency 4,400 (Creation of permanent position for Recreation and Parks Dept. ) Fir' 6 o) Triangle Hospice 2,000 The total for the general fund modification is ($31,191) . The appropriated fund balance will be reduced by $31, 191. All Fire Districts are excluded from this motion. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Fire Districts will be reconsidered by the Board of Commissioners on June 26th. The need for Financial Reports and Audits from each Fire District was discussed as well as the necessity of having an active Board of Trustees for each fire district. It was the consensus of the Board of Commissioners that each fire district be advised of the County Commissioners request for this information. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for June 26, 1990 at 7:30 p.m. in the Courthouse of the Old Post Office, Chapel Hill, N.C. Moses Carey, Jr. , Chairman Beverly Blythe, Clerk