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APPROVED 6129/93
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 27, 1993
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on
Thursday, May 27, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom of the new County
Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners
Stephen H. Halkiotis, Alice M. Gordon and Don Willhoit.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Verla C. Insko
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr. , and Assistant
County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser, Extension Director Fletcher
Barber, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Planning Director Marvin Collins,
Budget and Management Analyst Donna Dean, Administrative Assistant I Debra
Graham and Budget Director Sally Kost.
WELCOME BY BOARD CHAIR
Chair Carey welcomed everyone to the meeting. He announced that Ms.
Helen Urquart asked to present a petition and he requested her to do so at
this time.
Ms. Urquart read the petition as follows: "We the undersigned property
owners in the vicinity of the UNC Power Plant, the Readymix Concrete Company
and within distance of downtown Chapel Hill and the UNC campus believe that
the quality of life has deteriorated in our neighborhoods denying us the full
enjoyment of our properties. Many of our property assessments have increased
by higher percentages than those of other neighborhoods that are also near
downtown and the campus. The statistical model used in revaluations does not
include quality of life factors such as noise, light, exposure to high voltage
power lines, the threat of coal fires and explosion, air quality, traffic,
parking problems and crime. All these affect property values. Our
neighborhood is unique in that it continuously pays for university growth and
power plant modernization through daily irritations and nuisances. it is
doubly unfair if they are also to pay more than others through
disproportionate assessments and taxation. Therefore, they respectfully
request that the 1993 revaluations of our properties be reopened and revised
to reflect the considerations listed above. "
Chair Carey referred this request to the County Manager.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED 1993-94 BUDGET PRESENTATION
County Manager John Link thanked everyone involved with putting this
budget together into a document that is easily understood.
Highlights of the budget include the following:
General Fund Budget $ 60,577, 088
Additional Debt Service will total 2, 100, 000
(5 cents on the property tax rate)
Increase in Current Expense Appropriation 1, 100, 000
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(from 15.7 million to 16.8 million)
COLA for County Employees and Revised Merit 2%
17 new permanent full time positions
Establishes General Fund Property Tax Rate at 83 .0 cent
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 9,599,940
Orange County Schools 7,240,520
(Allocation based on projected student population)
In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit about the Assistant
Fire Marshall position, Mr. Link stated that the amount does include a new
vehicle.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the four new positions being requested
for the jail and asked for a report on the revenues being generated by the
jail. Mr. Link explained that, although they have no way of knowing, he feels
that the six (6) new time-limited positions in public works will be paid for
from the amount they will save from tipping fees, fuel, and maintenance
because of less solid waste going to the landfill.
Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a trip that he and Commissioner
Insko made to Johnston County last year to look at their jail facilities and
see their 911 operation. He was intrigued because the populations are similar
and yet they have fewer people working at their 911 center. He would like to
be assured that the County is not person-heavy at the County's 911 Center.
He would like to know how many people are working there compared to other
similar counties, why is there an 11$ increase in calls, what kind of calls
are coming in, have the citizens been educated as to when the citizens should
be calling 911, and how efficient is this County in this operation.
Commissioner Gordon asked about the library positions. John Link noted
that these are only new positions in that the library is now a County
department with the revenue staying the same. The figures for library funding
includes state funding and not just County funding as shown in the past. No
new positions have been added.
Mr. James Goldstein asked about the additional protective services
position since the case load has decreased this year from previous years. John
Link stated that there are significant initiatives being pursued by the
General Assembly and the Governor to reduced case loads for protective
services because it is evident that case loads are too high and social workers
are not able to do a thorough job because they do not have enough time to
investigate all the cases assigned.
IMPACT FEES
Chair Carey noted that two public hearings have been held on the impact
fees proposal. He asked that the Board give the County staff some specific
direction on the major points they want considered in establishing a system
of impact fees to finance public school facilities in Orange County.
The Board agreed that the impact fee should be collected at the time at
which the Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Commissioner Willhoit stated
his support for collecting an average fee per residential dwelling unit of
$500 and his preference for not basing this on the number of bedrooms.
Commissioner Gordon stated that she supported going with the $750 fee and
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setting up a separate fund from general fund monies to defray the expenses for
the lower income. There was a consensus of the Board to go with the $750
average fee per residential dwelling unit and create a fund that will be used
to refund agencies and organizations that build low income housing. The County
staff will bring back to the Board the options available for creating this
fund and a recommended amount for the fund.
County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill noted that the enabling legislation
allows the Board to create a time period from zero to twenty years for
spending the impact fees collected. The Board decided that impact fees must
be spent within ten years following their collection. This will be reflected
in the CIP document.
Commissioner Gordon emphasized that each district must have a plan and
a documented need for the schools within the period that the impact fees will
be expended. If the money is not spent, it will have to be given back year
by year.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further discussion, Chair Carey adjourned the meeting. The next
regular meeting will be held On June 2, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. at Superior
Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina for the purpose of holding a public
hearing on the Manager's recommended 1993-94 budget.
Debra Graham, Acting Clerk Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk