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MzNUTEs
ORANGE COUNTY BpARD pF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
JUNE 4, 1885
The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Public Hearing on the
1985-8fi $udget on June 4, I9S5, 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom of the Orange
County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
CQ~(~SSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Don Willhoit and Commissioners Shirley
Marshall, Moses Garet', Ben Lloyd and Norman Walker.
STAFF PRESENT: County t~ianager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County
Managers Albert Kittrell and William Laws, Recreation Birector Mary Anne Black,
Planning Director Marvin E. Collins, Director of Revenue Johnny T. Horner,
Coordinator, Co~nission for Women, Verla C. Insko, Tax Supervisor Fermit Ai.
Lloyd, Extension Chairman William E. Mainous, Economic Development Director
Sylvia Price, Hesith Director Jerry R. Robinson, Personnel Director Beverly M.
Whitehead, Financial Analyst Donna Clayton, Director of Finance Gordon Saker,
and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe.
Chair Willhoit announced that the public hearing will be on the Orange
Gountq budget as prepared and presented by the County Manager to the Board of
Go~nissioners. Another public hearing will be held on June 18, 1985, 7:30 p.m.
in the Courtroom of the old Poet Office in Chapel Idill.
Kenneth Thompson made the presentation of the recommended budget for 1985-
86. The budget will be subject to change as further refinements and revisions
are incorporated by the Board. The recouanended County budget for 85-86 totals
$26,619,000 which represents a 6L overall increase; 6.7~ increase for the
County; 6.S% increase for Orange County Schools and 14.3z increase for the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools. The recoumxended budget would maintain the 55
cent tax rate.
NOTE: THE SPEAKERS ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER TEEM APPEARED
Joe Nassif, Mayor of Chapel Sill, read a resolution approved by the Chapel
Hi11 Town Council which supported their request for continued funding of the
municipal library and parks and recreation services. He noted these services
are provided in Chapel Hill for people who live is Orange County. They are
allowed to use the facilities because of the contribution of County funds.
There has been an increase in the number of participants who use the facilities
and take advantage of the programs that are offered. It is estimated that 24z
of the county residents use the Park and Recreation facilities and that 20% use
the library facilities. The County funds are used to pay for the use of the
facilities and does not pay for any capital improvements.
Ir9~11e-Parker, Chair of the Orange County Parks and Recreation Advisory
Council, cited the growth factor as the primary reason for the increase in
their budget request. The recommended budget does not provide for the growrth
in terms of acquisition of open space and the development of recreational
facilities. She asked for support of a five-year capital provement program.
The Advisory Council recownends: (I) the Board of mmieaioners set aside an
amount of money each gear to be used for the purchase or acquisition by other
means of land throughout the County to provide recreation, open space and park
facilities fox the citizens of Orange County, and (2) funds be allocated as
requested for the Hoxaestead Road property to make it safe.
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Chair of the Board of Directors far the Volunteers for
Youth, and Harold. g~rsor_, Chief of Judicial Court Council, outlined the
programs and requested support of their request.
H ~ , Cb.ild Care iv"etworks, reported there are 35 child care
centers and 74 homes that say be used for day care. She reiterated the
accomplishments and commented about the procedures for obtaining child care
services. The same amount of funding was requested as last year plus a request
for sa additional person to work with the family day care homes.
~ertie Howard, Tzeasurer and Member of the Child Care Networks Board,
talked about the funding zesources for the coming year. The funding resources
do not include Nortriern Orange.
g~~t,_h tdest, Chair of the Orange County Senior Citizens Board, spoke about
those items that were requested but not included in the Manager's recommended
budget: (1) full-time professional clerk typist. (2) new microcomputer, (3) T-R
part-time position increased to fulltime~ (4) part-time bus supervisor, (5)
additional space for the Carrboro Senior Citizens Center, and (6) a partition
for the Efland Center.
members of the Orange County Senior
Citizens Board, endorsed the need far those items listed by Ms. West and asked
that they be included in the budget. They stressed the importance of getting
these items now instead of waiting until later.
Gwynn_&as4hax~. Wholistic Health Center. asked for support of their
request far funds and reiterated the programs offered $t the Center. She
emphasized the importance of their outreach program.
R• e_~ rm;rr LirxLe_, spoke in support o£ the program and
support services offered by the Coalition for Battered Women. The request
increased from $9,000 to 512,000 for this year which represents lOX of their
budget. Andg Little talked about the structural changes and stated that the
increased request will just take care of the increase in the demand for the
services. The Orange County section will break away from the Durham Chapter
and become autonomous.
Executive Director of the Home Health Agency, sum-
marized the work the agency is doing in the County. The demand, in services has
increased each year by 60-90%. Much of the increase is due to the increase in
health care. The budget request of $15,000 is for the same level of funding as
last year.
Jeanette 3on~_, spoke in support of the County School budget. She stated
the schools need replacements and repairs.
and firma Wrigllt_, spoke on behalf of the Orange County Rape
Crisis Center. They requested full funding of their request fox $15,000 which
represents a 17X increase oven their current County allocation. The increase
is due to a need far expansion and an increase in their outreach programs due
to the increase in demand for their services. They outlined the growth in the
program and the need for increased services. A summary of the personnel and
duties was also given.
Bill Baxter, Director of OPC-MHC. noted the budget request represents a
lOX increase ($30,000) over last year. A 6.5X salary increase is recommended
for the employees. The Manager's recommendation of $14,059 does not represent
half of the request which may create a concern for enough money to grant
employees a 6.5% salary increase.
Nancry,Massev, Director of the Hyconeechee Regional Library. and C c•
Ski ord. Chair of the Orange County Library Board of Trustees, spal:e in support
~f rhe;r rem,ear r'nr 5203.355. The additional reauest of $68,757 would be used
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for salary increases and substantial salary upgrading for employees to bring
them in line with County employees and the State salary schedule and to start
a branch library at Cedar Grove. The estimated start-up coat for the first
year would be $23,8+5.
Nikki Vanssnes, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Women's Fealth
Counseling Service, explained that the additional request of $700 will be used
to supplement the expansion of services. She summarized past accomplishments
and the new focus for services. She highlighted two of their programs and
reasons for their importance.
~nda ReifsnySler, Chair of the Grange Gounty ~'outh Services Needs Task
Force, emphasized that the emergency shelter for delinquents is of high
priority. She requested support of the full request.
v Dice-President of the Planned Parenthood of Orange
County: presented in detail the new program which will select. train, and
provide ongoing support to specific people in the community who will serve as
educational providers on a variety of topics. Their request of $I3,I30
represents one third of the expenses for one new project.
Cgnreann Eubanks, Chair of the Board for the Grange County Women's Center
and ~arlene~P,l.ls_+ Executive Director of the Board, indicated this as the first
time a request had been submitted to the County for funds. The Orange County
[Jmen's Center offers a variety of services and are in their sixth year of
service. A history of the Center was given as well as the future goals. The
sources of funding from the State and the Municipalities were outlined. The
$10,000 from Orange County would allow the center to address the needs of the
unemployed and underemployed and would fund a phone line from Hillsborough to
Chapel $ill to help reach those women in Northern Orange.
M' , Director of the Dispute Settlement Center, indicated that
requests for services are received directly from the courts (53X), or from the
community (62X). Sn an effort to reach more people in Hillsborough, the Center
is establishing a half-time position to serve the area.
Carolvn Lloy~_, volunteer mediator with the Dispute Settlement Center.
outlined their service in helping people to solve or work out their problems
and ultimately get along with each other.
Ginny Gregory, Community School for People Under Six, commented about the
growth in the County and her dedication to quality day care. Sixty-three
thousand dollars will onlq take care of lOX of those children on the DSS
waiting list. She urged the Board to allocate funds to get lOX off the list and
into level two centers.
nary Brj~~gErs, Victory Village Day Care, stated that as an advocate for
young children she requests that the Board help get 3D0 children pff of the
waiting list for day care.
~u~ ChamyTion, Animal Protection Society, stressed that along with growth
comes additional animals. The shelter has requested $65,800 from the County,
The County Manager has recommended $5,800 less. He asked that the full amount
be considered for funding. Without full funding, something would need to be
cut.
N~~c, M. Kennedy, Hember of the Orange County School Board, indicated
capital projects have had to be put off because of County projects and other
expansionary projects. Por several years there has been insufficient funds for
the capital projects. The school capital task force has indicated that
$750,000 is needed each year for each school system for capital needs. He
asked that the Board allocate the funds necessary for capital improvements,
00._1:x. ~
The recommended amount for current expense will not maintain the present level
of services.
.7acaues MenachQ, Director of the Carrboro Art School. talked about the
impact the school has made on the County. He asked that the County support the
budget request sad indicated the importance of that support. The $5,000
request would be matched by the State.
D n g~i, Department of Social Services, highlighted the cuts that were
made to the Social Services budget which totaled approximately $90,000. Fie
requested full funding and support from the County.
Verla lnskv, Coordinator of the Co~iesion for Women, stated that as
agencies grow to meet the needs of the community, the need for trained volun-
teers increases. The Commission for Women supports full funding for the
following agencies:
1. Orange County Rape Crisis Center
2. The Orange County Coalition for Battered Women, and
3. Child Care Networks.
The Couanission supports the same level of funding as last year for the Women°s
Health Counseling Service with the condition that this year be used to discuss
and/or coordinate the consolidation of some of their services. Clinical
services should be evaluated to reduce duplications with other agencies. The
Commission for Women suggests discussing the proposal for Planned Parenthood at
the time Women's Health Counseling Service is discussed because both are seek-
ing to provide health related services. The Commission recommends that 56,000
be budgeted for the Women's Health Center.
Dan Lunsford. Superintendent of Orange County Schools, asked that the
Board discuss in further detail the budget se presented by the Board of Edu-
cation.
R.,.&te_Sanf~, Director of Day Care. supports the day care budget. She
summarized situations in which day care has helped the child develop to become
a vital part o~ the community. She supported the budget request for $53.000.
> Day Care, emphasized that a lot of low-income families
cannot afford to work because of the high cost of day care. The money put into
day care is an investment in the youth of today.
~~i, Van Ideas, Vice-president of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of
Commerce, endorsed the County Manager's 85-86 budget. He asked Chat the money
received from revenue sharing, if it is not cut. be placed in an undesignated
reserve account to be used at a later time. He noted that 85-86 should not be
the year for expansionary items.
parent of children in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School
System, expressed concern with the financial arrangements for the coming school
year and the squeeze between the state funding sources and the county funding
sources. Hooker feels Chapel Hi11 would support a tax levy in support of the
local school system. He asked that the Commissioners support the increase in
Iocal taxes that is needed to fund the Chapel Hill-Carrboro system and the
Orange County system. tilithout more local tax money, the system will be forced
to cut back which will severely affect the quality of education the children
will receive.
Sarah Stewart, parent of children in the Orange County School System,
expressed support of the budget as presented by the School Board. She spoke
about the added position in Music. Art and P.E. and gave reasons to justify
each position. She talked about the Orange County school attendance policy and
supported the funding of this position. She went through the items on the
G~ ~~.:4
requested budget and ask for full funding for all items including current
expense and capital.
R Director of Health, spoke about the expansion of the
school health program and the addition of a part-time person. He requested
funds for both new positions.
L~indsav_Eflnn2~, Orange County Roard of Education member, stated that if
money cannot be found to fund everything. that priority be given to the capital
requests first and the expansionary current funding second. He realized the
difficulty in funding a back-to-back increase for salaries. He supported a tax
increase to meet the capital needs.
Orange County Board of Education member, noted two
observations: either the Orange County school budget is too costly or the
County Ntanagerfs recommendation is not adequate= and (2) the community is
continuing to expect a high level of vocational requirements and academic
education, exceptional children programs, etc. Adequate funding of the Grange
County schools is absolutely essential at the level requested. He asked that
the Board review the budget and prioritize the other departments but give the
children the opportunities they need to Pace the future.
R , Principal of Orange Bigh School, expressed appreciation
for the improvements made at Orange High School the past year. Ile stressed the
need to move ahead. He reiterated the capital needs proposed for Orange Pugh
and noted that the lack of parking space is also a big pxoblem.
THERE $EIIdG NO FURTHER COAtAIEITTS r THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSER .
Chair Willhoit adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be a budget
work session scheduled for June 6, 1985.
Don Willhoit, Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk