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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19850625000~~3 MINUTES ORANGE COIINTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING NNE 25, 1985 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Public Hearing on the 1985-86 budget at 7:30, June 25. 1985 in the Board Room at Lincoln Center, Chapel Hill. North Carolina. Chair Don Willhoit and Commissioners Shirley Marshall. Moses Carey, Ben Llogd and Nprman Walker. PR County Manager Renneth R. Thompson, Assistant County Managers William T. Laws and Albert Kittrell, Finance Director Gordon Baker, Financial Analyst Donna Clayton, Director of Personnel, Beverly Whitehead, and • Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe. Chair Willhoit indicated the agenda would be as indicated below: 1. Presentation of the school current expense dilemma. A lot of information is still forthcoming from Raleigh. 2. Review of the Commissioners' markup list of the Manager's budget which will include (a) adjustments in certain line items. (b) the increase in the fee for dog licenses, and (c) the three cent tax increase for two years to permit the start of construction of the priority capital improvements of the schools. 3. Public comment and any questions about the budget. Chair Willhoit noted that the public hearing is to receive comments on the budget as adjusted by the Commissioners. A meeting had been scheduled for Thursdap. June 27, to consider the adoption of the budget. However, because of all the uncertainties in Raleigh. the meeting will not be held. He proposed the adoption of the budget be placed on the agenda for July 1, 1985 with a passible continuation to Juiy 3, 1985. Chair Willhoit read through the modifications that were made to the budget by the Commissioners. He indicated. where necessary. the justification for the change. The cost for those items on the markup list totaled $32Q,642. A $2.00 increase in the dog license fee would bring in about $18,000. The proposed three cent propertq tax increase for two years would provide monies for the long-range capital needs of the schools. Kenneth Thompson distributed information on the current expense budget for the two school systems and explained the handout in some detail. He outlined the items still to be decided by the General Assembly and showed the affect of these decisions an the current expense budget for each school. Wayne Watts. Finance Officer for Orange County Schools, noted that there is a discrepancy in the fund balance. The fund balance is expected to be approximately $40.000. If the County does not fund $100.000 for the fund balance. there will need to be $100,000 in cuts made. The contingency balance is $6.800 which is not really enough to go into the beginning of next year. At least $20,000 or $30,OOp ie needed for contingencies. Harveq Gay. Finance Officer for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, noted there is a considerable gap between what Chapel Hill-Carrboro requested and what is . proposed. The Board requested $1,200,000 in new money; $775,000 is proposed in the Manager's recommended budget. v UUU~54 1. ~ri,&._..~lunaan, President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, stated his belief that good schools are good for business and good business is good for a solid tax structure and that a solid tax structure is good for the schools. He outlined the capital needs of the Chapel Hill- . Carrboro school system and emphasized that the needs need to be addressed now. He supported Chair Willhoit~s proposal for a three cent property tax increase. 2. Mary Br' era. Orange County Day Care Director. endorsed the day care coalition and the need for prevention programs for the young children. Three hundred children who qualify for day care under the Title XX guidelines are on the waiting list at the Department of Social Services. She requested the County consider allocating 100x county money to pick up lOX of the children which would cost $63,000 for the next fiscal yeas. 3. ~,~~~ Cregorv_, Director of the Community School for People Under Six, asked for 1002 county dollars for 100X care for children. The proposed budget is less this year than last. The need is for quality day care. 4. Ar. Dan Lunsford, Superintendent of Orange County Schools, spoke in support of Chair Willhoit~s proposal and asked that the Commissioners approve the proposal as submitted. He also strongly supported the markup list for securing capital. He urged the Commissioners to keep in mind the low fund balance. He asked that his qualified staff receive the same treatment as those in the Chapel Hi11-Carrboro sgetem. 5. Norman Haithceck, Orange County School Board Chair. noted that the continuing dilemma of crumbling school buildings still exist. He agxeed to a tax increase if there is a need and it will be used for the children of Orange County. 6. Walter F~irbault, member of the Orange County School Board, spoke in support of the three cent property tax increase stating that the extra money will allow the capital needs to be kept on schedule and will help move ahead on the renovation and expansion of the vocational building for Orange County. Also he supported the reorganization and restructuring of grades 9-12. He expressed concern for the allocation for current expense, the fund balance and contingency. 7. ~j~dsay Efland;, member of the Orange County School Board, spoke in support of the three cent proposal. Asa member of the school capital task force he emphasized the capital needs of both systems are real. He asked for funding at the current level. 8. ,]ytne Haas, member of the Orange County School Board. asked that full funding be provided as requested. She asked that the Board not use the school system as a reason to raise taxes in Orange County. 9. Joe Sj,~lair, Chair of the &oard of Directors for the Dispute Settlement Center. thanked the Co~iasianers for their past support and asked for continued funding of their programs. 10. Mary Pinta, Planned Parenthood of Orange County, talked about the goals of Planned Parenthood and asked for funding in the amount of 513.130. She outlined the educational programs offered by the organization. ll. one Sp~h, representative of the Sewell PTA, urged the County Commissioners to pass a budget consistent with maintaining existing programs and services in all levels of the Chapel Hi11-Carrboro School System. 12. , representative of a committee that was set up to study programs for learning disabled students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, stated that 335 students have been identified as having learning disabilities. The State funds 197 of these students. She asked that the needs of these students be considered in adopting the budget. 400~~5 13. v president of the Chapel Hill High School PTSA. made remarks about the need for additional teachers. The goal of the PTSA is to raise $10,000 to help pay the costs for an additional English teacher for Chapel Hill High which would reduce the student-teacher ratio. He urged the Board to look at the funding requirements of the real needs of the school system. 14. „LUdv Tones, immediate past president of Estes Hill Elementary School PTA and current Chapel Rill High School teacher, expressed concern for education - both locally and nationally. She asked the Board to consider the budget as presented which nearly only continues the current pxogxams. She stressed the need for a fund balance in order to maintain the excellent programs in the schools. the need for air conditioning at Phillips Jr. High, the need far multipurpose rooms at Glenwood and Estes Hills^ and repairs at various buildings. She expressed support of the three cent tax increase recommended by Chair Willheit. 15. ~~i~ Pa¢ram, Principal of Glenwood Elementary School, emphasized the need for excellence is education is now. She stressed the need for a gym at Glenwood Elementary and listed various reasons and ways the multipurpose room will be used. 16. flick _Richardsnn, immediate past president of the PTA Council for Chapel Hill-Carrboro indicated the PTA Council is the coordinating Council for the nine C9) PTA's in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He talked about the PTA Thift Shops. which. because people care about the schools enodgh to volunteer time and effprt. have been recognized throughout the State. He mentioned that thousands of volunteer hours are spent in the schools but that these labors are only supplementary. The Board of Commissioners and taxes are the keys tv quality education. The Council does support a bond issue to meet the capital needs of the school system. There is a willingness to pay for the needs. He noted that the three cent tax increase for two yeaxs proposed by Chair Willhoit has many. attractive featuxes. The Council will support additional taxes by whichever method the Board deems appropriate and necessary. l7. Cynthia Swisher. recipient of day care assistance, talked about the need for more money for day care. She asked for increased money for low-income people. Most people want to support themselves but cannot do so without assistance from day care. 18. .Ton Meer, President of the Chapel Hill Righ School Student Government, expressed fear for the schools if the full request is not funded and pregrame must be cut. He asked the Board to consider the benefits of raising taxes now instead of sometime in the future. 19. Sara Claytaa, teacher in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools and co- president of the American Federation of Teachers, asked for support of the school budget so that the present statue could be maintained. She asked for funding for the capital needs of both school systems. 20. citizen of Orange Countys talked about the priority list as presented by the Chapel Hi11-Carrboro School Board. The air conditioning was rated number two in the Manager's budget. She noted that the morale is deteriorating in the schools as well as the buildings. 21. Robert R,,~t~gber, PTA President at Frank Porter Graham, noted that 83x of the school budget is for teacher salaries. This is a result of raises long overdue. He supported the request for air conditioning at Frank Porter Graham and talked about the growth I-40 will bring. 000~~~ 22. Dan Hooker, member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Learning Abilities Task Force, expressed frustration at not being able to improve the overall programs because of inadequate funds. He hopes that none of the new programs implementated last gear will need to be cut. He supports a tax increase. 23. Glenwood parent, expressed her willingness to pay additional taxes to educate the children is Orange County and to maintain the current level. She asked the Board not to adopt a budget that would reduce the current level of services and programs. 24. Bets~Underwood. parent and outgoing President of the Culbreth PTA, asked the Board to maintain the proposed budget at all costs. 25. Nancy Salmon, parent and outgoing President of the FPG PTA, supported the zequest fox aiz conditioning for Frank Potter Graham. She emphasized the priorities for capital needs that were listed by the Capital Needs Task Force and that the list should be followed. She expressed support of the bond referendum because the actual cost of the projects would be borne by the people who will actual benefit from them and that a temporary three cent tax increase might mean the Board may not commit sufficient money for current expense projects. She asked that the County Commissioners take the long range view and adopt a policy of encouraging quality education and improved schools throughout grange County. She asked that the Board listen to the School Boards and what they need in the way of funding. 26. ~Ig~~iller. President of the Cameron Fark PTO, asked that the Board of Commissioners find a way tv finance the needs of the ,schools. He endorsed the three cent tax increase. 27. fig, taxpayer and faculty member at UNC. stressed the need for faix and equitable distxibution of costs. He emphasized the danger of raising taxes when the economy is good. He feels the County will be in trouble if there is a recession or downward business cycle. He recommended that the Board look at a way to provide things by being more efficient. 28. Ted Parrish, Chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, emphasized his desire for the best for the children in Orange County. The budget is a status quo budget and if less money is allocated, the quality of education will be threatened. He supports the three cent tax increase to fund the capital needs. 29. Phyllis Lotchin. member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, spoke about two capital requests: (1) nix conditioning at Phillips and Frank Porter Graham and (2) the multipurpose rooms at Glenwood and Estes Hill. The children in these schools do not have equal educational opportunities. She outlined the many ways in which the multipurpose rooms will be used. She noted the working conditions at Phillips and Frank Porten Graham ate different on hot and humid days. Because of the heat in the rooms. classes are dismissed earlq. The PTA's axe in full support of these projects and ask that every effort be made to fund these very important needs. 30. ~. member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, talked about the city tax supplement and the responsibility of the Board of Commissioners to use the sources of revenues to provide for the needs of the school system. 31. pgyid_ Lineberger, taxpayer, expressed hie feelings that fine buildings. multipurpose rooms, and air conditioning does not make for better education. He opposed the three cent tax increase. 32. Mike_ arn, expressed concern about the needs of the preschool child. He supports the budget for increased day care services. 000~~7 33. , representative of the Orange County Youth Services Needs Task Force, urged the Commissioners to reconsider the amount of money that has been recommended for the four (4) programs. 34. ~.J,n~, member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, emphasized that if programs are cut, the start-up time will coat even more than before. She noted that cuts had been made in the budget before it was presented to the Board of Commissioners. She talked about some of the improvements that will not be implemented because of the lack of money and asked the Board of Commissioners to consider increasing the district tax. 35. Susan Bernstein. President of the Ephesus PTA, expressed her willingness to support a tax increase and asked for support of the present programs. 36. Aileen J. Miller, Principal of Estes Hill Elementary School, talked about the overcrowded condition of the school and emphasized the need of a multipurpose center to be used for various activities. 37. t~i~ Cppyerse. asked of the audience if they would like to see all the requests received without a tax increase. He suggested that a review be made of the line items to determine what can be cut. He suggested that all the salary increases be reviewed to see if some may be more deserving than others. He feels the tax base must be broadened by the development of commercial interprisea and light industry. 38. Dr. Steyg~ Halkiotis, Principal of Orange High School, spoke in support of the budgets for bath school systems. He supported the three cent tax increase for two years. 39. Wayne Watts, parent. taxpayer and citizen, asked about the funding priorities of the County and why none of the department heads requested additional funds. He questioned the allocation of funds for the seven new positions as recommended by the County Manager. 40. ~a_~pllinger, emphasized that the administration and Board of the Orange County Schools had already reduced their budget request before it was sent to the County Manager. He stated five (5) teaching positions will have to be cut if the budget is sot funded as presented. THERE BEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THE HEARING WA5 CLOSED. Chair Willhoit noted there are still uncertainties in the cuxrent expense budget for the schools because of the uncertainties in Raleigh. A determination will be made as to what is a continuation budget for the schools. He asked the finance officers for their interpretation on what is proposed for a salary inexease for the teachers and emphasized that when State funding positions open up, the teachers with the higher salaries should be placed in those positions so the State will be paying for the most expensive teachers. He stressed a need to look at the teaching positions to determine who is paid by local funds and who is paid from State funds. Chair Willhoit proposed, and it was a consensus of the Board, that the budget work session scheduled for Thursday, June 27 be canceled and the adoption of the budget be place an the agenda for July 1, 1985. ~QrrFMENr of Pu$i~~.~~9A~ r~,g Motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd to postpone the Public Hearings for (1) Pineview Road/Pineview Drive. and (2) Clearwater Lake Road that were scheduled for July 1, 1985. VOTE: UNANIMOU5. Chair Willhoit adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be held on r„ib i_ IoRS :,r ~,~n n_m. in rhP Courthouse. Hillsboroush. North Carolina. ooo~~~ Don Willhoit, Chair Beverly A. Blythe. Clerk