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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19870629198x . - MINUTES - ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 29, 1987 The orange County Board of Commissioners met an June 29, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina to hold a public hearing on the proposed 1987-88 budget. - BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Shirley E. Marshall and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell and Don Willhoit. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: County Manager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County Managers William T. Laws and Albert Kittrell, Finance Director Gordon Baker, .Clerk to the,Board Beverly A. Blythe, ,Budget/Management Analyst Donna Wagner and Director of Personnel Beverly Whitehead. 'Chair Marshall made opening comments and opened the public hearing for citizen comments. •-~=•- 1. MARY BRIDGERS asked the Board to~restore the money to the Social ~ Services Daycare Unit for the technician and half-time social worker.. She pointed out that the daycare unit needs these added positions in order to be'able to give proper services to families that they serve. At the present time the daycare coordinator is also a part-time bookkeeper. The social workers are carrying too many cases and there is a lack of services far families and, in particular, children. She referred to a report that,--~~ indicated that those children who have attended daycare are less likely to fail in school, need special help in school or drop out of school. She'_,,_ asked that the children be provided with the best social services and support services sa they may have a bright future. 2. KATE SANFORD , Director of the Chapel Hill Preschool, referred to a paper. that was done at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center which talks about the quality of daycare and preschool intellectual development in disadvantaged children. The report emphasizes ~4hat ~~.hese children need less remedial training and that they advance through the grades. She asked that the two positions in the Depa~~-tment of Social Services be funded. The half-time position will enable the services that are .presently being given -to continue. .without this position, the _ Department of Social -Services will -not be able to -achieve _ the- state's mandate of meeting with each family on a quarterly basis. -- - . ° --_-- 3: ~ . CT~ZIS NII`?'TER - - encou}--aged'. and requested that proactive preventive _~--~-.:~aaintenance be practiced across the broad areas of-human service programs. There are many rewards in preventive maintenance .including cost savings. She requested that the Board give- an increased amount of her tax dollars - to preventive programs in the human service area. 4. PINDIE STEPHEN , Director of the orange County Literacy Council, noted that Orange County has S,opQ functionally illiterates or 15~ of the population. These individuals are .limited and not able to.functian =u].ly in society. .Being illiterate affects home, health and job. She asked that the County Commissioners fund 4~ of their budget to help in the efforts of the Orange County Literacy Council. - :, 5. TED PARRISH ,'member of the Chapel. Hi11 Board of Education and speaking for David Parrish, spoke on the issue of equity. Two things to consider in the discussion of equity are (1) making sure that both districts have the same amount of people for educational. purposes and (2) capacity. The issue needs to be discussed by reasonable people over a fair amount of time rather than having budget deliberations to define equity. 6. DAVE THADEN , Assistant Principal at Phillips Junior High, talked about the relationship of quality education and the need to compete. Phillips has received two successive grants to be a model school in math and science. He stated that people come from all over to Chapel Hill because of their quality school system. The people of Chapel Hill have indicated their feelings about the school system with the funding of a district tax. He encouraged the Board to take advantage of the fact that the people have spoken in support of the district tax and use that tax to fund the expansion budget. 7. DARYL DUNLAP , spoke for S' Orange County School System. She consideration the Board has given to the Board help increase the morale of mental increases as proposed by both attract and keep quality teachers. ~ephen Kegg who expressed her the school budge the teachers by school boards. is a teacher in the thanks for the ,t. She asked that ~funding the supple- This will also help -,-~8. BARBARA DAY spoke on behalf of the Glenwood PTA. She stated her support for the daycare and childcare issues mentioned above. The PTA endorses the budget as proposed by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board. She spoke about the teacher salaries and expressed a concern for attracting and keeping quality teachers. She spoke in support of the teacher supplements and the supplements for teacher aides. 9. MARTHA DILL , parent, property owner and teacher, addressed the issue of equality of funding between the two school systems. The issue is significant but is one that cannot be resolved in a budget deliberation. it needs to be resolved at the state level. She stated that the teachers in Chapel Hill are funded $700 below a number of other communities in North Carolina. She asked that the Board effectively represent the voters in Chapel Hill and support the Chapel Hill district tax. 10. JUDY HAIL teacher at Chapel Hill High School, spoke in support of the increase in. the supplemental pay. She asked that the Soard consider the role that they play in setting and enforcing the values in the community. She used the Olympic Festival to compare the. values which are set for this event and the values set for the schools. She asked that the Board increase the supplement to show that they have not lost sight of what is important in Orange County. 11. AL BALDWIN , teacher at Chapel Hill High School, commented on the inadequate teacher salary. He stated that the teachers want to teach in a community that cares as much about their teachers as the teachers care about their children. 12. SARA CLAYTDR emphasized that medical insurance will be increased by approximately 33% while teachers funded by the state may receive a 4.5~ salary increase. The teacher salaries will erode and diminish. She expressed concern for the classified employees and stated that many of the teacher aides live at below the poverty level. This increased medical cost will add an additional burden to these employees. She talked about 4 , t ~ a -~.y `..~ the changing attitudes toward the teaching profession and the importance of attracting the best, the brightest and the most dedicated teachers to the system. - 13. SARAH STEWART recognized those in the audience who attended in,~ ` support of the two school budgets. She noted that many employees have:. spoken about the need for livable salaries. Many citizens have spoken about the value of education and. their desire to pay better salaries to school employees. She expressed concern about several aspects of the budget process stating that suggested priorities are acceptable but that specific proposals are not. She spoke about the career ladder that Orange County has and will have the per pupil allocation to advance programs. Chapel~Hill has only the per pupil allocation and will have to choose between employees and programs. She asked that Chapel Hill be allowed to use their district tax for teacher supplements. The issue of the district tax should be dealt with outside of the budget process. She asked that the Commissioners consider whom they represent and what they are saying before making the final school budget decisions. 14. DR. EDGARTON past president of the Mental Health Association, spoke on behalf of the Association stating that the Mental. Health Association supports the request for- the funding of the Crisis Emergency Services Unit. There are 400 persons in Orange County with chronic mental illness who need these crisis services repeatedly. Nationally, 70$ of all admissions for inpatient services are repeat admissions. They frequently need only a~very short stay or support without hospitalization in order to continue to function~in a job or in a community. Without it they may end up on the street, in a nursing home or as excessive burdens to their families. The families of these persons deserve this k~.nd of program to-., enable them to cope. He stated that other counties have. this type of program. It will save money in the long run and is the right thing to do. ` 15. JANET COLM , Executive Director of Planned Parenthood, stated that an increase in funding has been requested for their educational program. She emphasized that these are.real kids who need to build on a positive experience. She asked that full funding be granted. 16. ELEANOR SCANDLIN asked the Board to listen to the teachers. As a senior citizen she values education as one of the most important possessions. She stated that everyone is willing to put their taxes toward the education for the children. 17. JULIE LINEHAN , Rape Crisis Center, informed the Board that the North Carolina Status for Women has decreased their level of funding from $20,000 to $8,000. She distributed a revised budget to the members of the Board. She reiterated about the growth the Center is experiencing with their outreach program in reaching the citizens in the County. She stressed that the Center would like to be able to sustain the services they offer at the present time. _- 18. HOWARD FRIED talked to the Board as fellow democrats. He asked that the Board fund both school systems at whatever level it takes. 19. LARRY WAKEFORD stated that the real issue is the serious inequity of teacher salaries versus those of other professionals in the area. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board is attempting to address this inequity with a revised supplement schedule to be funded by an increase in the district tax. This district tax was initiated by the citizens to upgrade the quality of education. He asked that the Board approve the _> increase in the district tax. 20. DR. BILL HOLLISTER , teacher of mental health programming at the University, appealed to the Board to replace the funds that were-dropped out for the emergency services that he feels are so critical to this community. Because of the increased growth in the community, the Mental Health Center does not have the staff or facilities to handle the increased load and responsibilities. The Center has been dependent upon Memorial Hospital to provide these services. However, the load on that clinic is high and there is a deficit in funds. He asked that the Board reconsider seriously the cut that was made. 21. WILMA WILLHOIT spoke in support of the request for the Crisis Emergency Service. She stated there is a service needed midway on the continuum between the clinic visit and the emergency room visit where a person in crisis can be talked down, supervised and taken care of. This new program will not only take care of those chronically mentally i11. but also will help those with acute problems. She stated that it would be cast effective because first line caregivers will be nurses. A community is known by what they do for those who cannot care for themselves. 22. JUDY JONES , high school teacher, parent, volunteer and citizen of Chapel Hill-Carrboro. She made comments about the issue of equity. Equity for the two school systems does not mean that everything has to be equal. The ideal of equal opportunity to choose or to pursue goals is the foundation of this nation. School districts serve different communities with different priority lists. It is a requirement of governing bodies to insure that every school district meet basic standards for a good education. Beyond that, the communities themselves should have the right to individualize. The citizens of Chapel Hill-Carrboro have clearly indi- cated their support of the budget approved by their school board and the people have indicated, by signing a recent petition, their willingness to tax themselves to pay for this budget. Seventeen cents per $100 valuation is needed from the district tax. She asked that the Board respect the wishes of the community and not hesitate to fund the budget in full. 23. DR. JANOWSKY , made brief comments about the need for the crisis center as proposed by OPC. The center will offer an alternative to those who normally come to the hospital. The chronically mental ill in a crisis situation could be served at this center. The people will be trained to handle the situation. 24. MARY ELLEN PR2ESLEY , retired professor of English and literature, indicated she knows of no tax she would rather pay than that for education. She stated that education cannot stand still if the young people are to be prepared to make a living and learn how to live. The schools need the very best teachers who are also the very best people. Necessary backup people and equipment are needed. She spoke in support of the increase in teacher salaries and the funding of the expansion budget. 25. DAN HOOKER asked that the Commissioners not try to make Chapel Hill-Carrboro accept less for the sake of equity but to try to upgrade education in general. He stated his willingness to pay additional taxes so that both school systems are funded as they have requested. 26. ROSEMARY PLADNA spoke on behalf of the troubled preschooler. She - described the problem she had in finding a daycare for her son who was later diagnosed as being hyperactive. Children who have emotional problems need to be reached before they enter kindergarten or they will be ~ u / :~I lost in the system. 27. LYLE LANSDALL , property owner from Carrboro, asked that the property owners be allowed to spend their money the way they would like. „-.,, She talked about the value of .having good public schools. She urged the, Board to support the increase. ~ ~; 28. RICHARD SCHRAMM ,parent of two children in the Chapel Hill-~ Carrboro school district, stated that those who come to Chapel Hill do so because of the schools. The school district has a national reputation for excellence across the country. He urged the Board to give the resources to the schools to fund the increase in teacher salaries. 29. DEAN DETER farmer the proposed Orange County. Education Center. The lost revenue for the county. He the public and the private venture. and livestock producer, spoke on behalf of Livestock and Horticulture Market and Rural of the livestock market has meant a lost of stated that this is a unique opportunity where sector can come together and have a joint 30. ALAN BIERMANN spoke in favor of the expansion budget for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system. The expansion budget includes a request which will increase the salary paid to teachers and an increase in the salary paid to school bus drivers. He stated that the taxes are in place to pay for these expansion items and asked that it for used for .this purpose. ' 31. CAROLYN HORN , member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, reiterated her plea that the Hoard extend and expand use of the district, ,, tax as a source of financial support for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District. She stated that the two school systems are not at cross y purposes with each other but rather that they would be very happy to mave'-~ in concert whenever a logical system has been devised which penalizes neither system. 32. PHYLLIS LOTCHIN , member of the Chapel Hill.-Carrboro School Board, stated that budget decisions should be based solely on each school's legitimate needs. Equity has never been debated in an open session of the Commissioners in front of the public and the press. However, the equity issue has become a factor in this years' budget process. She stated that regardless of the definition of equity, all the children in Orange County should have educational opportunities equal to those of other students in the United States with whom they will be competing in their postsecondary education and in their choice of work. Soth school systems have put together a budget that meets each system's individual needs. She asked that the Board consider each individual request and respond to them as economic issues, not sociological or political ones. 33. DR. VAN STEE stated that Orange County represents the finest blend of people in their living space to be found in North Carolina and one thing that has improved the quality of life here is the special relationship with one's pets. The community is growing. He made reference to the Animal Control Task Force and the focus to improve the quality of life for everyone including the animals. He expressed appreciation to the Soard and stated he looked forward to working with the Board and the County administrators to further improve the quality of life in Orange County. i _'~ ~ ._. 34. PAT SANFORD , Executive Director of the Animal Shelter, spoke in support of the salary increase for teachers. She asked that the Board fund the Animal Shelter in full so that the Animal Protection Society could go forward with an educational campaign throughout the County to assure compliance with the ordinance. If the Board cannot fund the shelter fully, please include a separate grant of $4,000 to be used for the educational program to insure compliance with the new ordinance. 35. LUANN SMYTH spoke in support of the expansion budget for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School system. Specifically, the money is needed for salary supplements for teachers and staff. The teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. She asked that the Commissioners make their decisions about the budget based on the outcome of the last County Commissioners election rather than on fears of some future election. The people of Orange County have spoken for better services. 36. PENNY HODGSON asked that the Commissioners use the tax that was voted on 50 years ago and fund the budget in full. 37. MARY BUSHNELL co-president of the Carrboro PTA, parent and taxpayer, spoke about the importance of having a good school system. A child has different needs at different ages. She stated that the Board cannot afford to not fund those things that have been identified in the budget to meet the needs of the children. It is important to attach and keep the very best teachers possible. She asked that the district tax be raised to seventeen cents per one hundred dollars so that the teachers are paid as they would like them to be paid. 38. CAROL OSTEYEE , employee of the University, stated that with her many responsibilities it is crucial that she have daycare for her child. She emphasized the importance of having quality daycare. She receives -' funding from United Way. She told what quality daycare means to her. She asked that the Commissioners consider what daycare means to families in America. 39. STAN COUNCIL stated he has two children in daycare. ~He is grateful for the scholarship he received from the United Way so that his children could have the advantages offered by the daycare center. There are so many who need these services but the money is not there for them. He hopes the Commissioners will hear his plea and do whatever is possible to fund additional daycare services. 40. PAT DEVINE , Assistant District Attorney in Orange and Chatham Counties, made reference to a letter mailed from the Dispute Settlement Center and expressed concern about the overcrowded situation in the jails. She emphasized that every person in jail, costing the citizens $11,000 a year, does not need to be in jail. The job of the criminal courts is not only to hold a defendant accountable for a crime but to get a victim the rightful restitution that a victim deserves and just as important to rehabilitate the person. This proposed program is aimed at diverting a certain percentage of convicted felons in Orange and Chatham Counties from prison and coming up with an alternative way to punish the particular offender. The punishment will be designed by and takes place in the community where the crime happened. 41. REV. DAVID HARVTN , Pastor of the Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and coordinator for the orange County Ecumenical Farm Relief, spoke in support of the livestock market and agricultural center. once a commitment is given by the Hoard of Commissioners, others will come forth :-:~ -- ~ ~.~ to support the Center with either money, land, or land at a reduced costs, etc. This venture will represent an opportunity for a number of different elements in the community to support the agriculture sector- of this county. He expressed concern for keeping agricultural people on the land,--,~ in this County. Th~.s is an~investment which will pay for itself over time and represent a vision of a number of people working together. 42. DIANA ALTMAN , Vice-President of the Board of the Women's Health Counseling Service, stated that during the seventeen year history of the Center the major concerns of women have been addressed. The Center plans to address two issues in 1987-88 = namely, that of AIDES and Respite Care Services providing caregivers of the elderly. The Center has remained flexible to help women lead happier lives and prevent serious illnesses from developing. She described the programs offered by the Service. She asked that the County fund them at the previous level. 43. HARVEY REID spoke representing the daycare. He stated he has two children in daycare. Without the assistance of United Way they would not be in daycare. Daycare is valuable because of the skills the child learns. He asked that the Board support the daycare and also the teachers. 44. EVELYN HARRIS spoke on behalf of the Orange County Board of inhome Care Providers. She appealed to the Commissioners to consider their hourly wage of $3.85. They do not receive any money for gas or for fringe benefits. The inhome care providers are being hired by the private sector because they can pay more and furnish fringe benefits. Most of the inhome care providers are single parents or retirees. As a recipient of inhome care, she asked that the Board consider the salary paid to the inhome care providers and also to consider providing fringe benefits. 45. THOMAS BROWN , Co-President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Federation of Teachers, stated that excellent education opportunities for all students in Orange County is a goal the Board should want to achieve. The citizens of Orange County have shown support for the schools through public comments and letters. No one in Orange County wants to see either school district provide second rate education to the students in order to achieve the equity that has been talked about. One school system should not have to stand still while another catches up. He stated that once the definition of equity is clear, the means for each school will need to be provided so that each school in the County can reach the goal of excellent educational opportunities for every student. The Board must provide the leadership needed to implement whatever is needed to continue the improvement of the schools in Orange County. 46. PHYLLIS SOCKWELL , stated that the teachers and administrators are doing a fine job. She expressed concern with the discontinuation of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district tax. She stressed that if each school system is offering the kind of programs that is appropriate for its clientele and paying the faculties the amount needed to live in their communities, then there is parity in funding. She asked why the Board was unwilling to let them subsidize their own school district so that they may provide an appropriate education for their students. She encouraged the Board-to use the district tax to increase supplements for teachers and support staff. WITH NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. ~:: Chair Marshall adjourned the meeting. The next regular meeting will F ", - " - ~ be held on July 6, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. __ Shirley. E. Marshal]., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 30, 1987 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on June 30, 1987 at 7:30 in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Shirley. E. Marshall and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Stephen Halkioti.s, John Hartwell and Don Willhoit. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County Managers William T. Laws and Albert Kittrell, EMS Director Bobby Baker, Finance Director Gordon Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly Blythe, Data Processing Director Keith Brooks, Finance Deputy Office Ken Chavious, Purchasing Director Pam Jones, Budget Analyst Donna Wagner and Personnel Director Beverly Whitehead. INTERIM BUDGET DOCUMENT (A copy of this interim budget document is attached to these minutes in the Minute Book on pages ~ O g ~ Motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell to adopt the interim budget from July ]., 1987 to June 30, 1988. `: VOTE: UNANIMOUS. SPECIAL MEETING A special meeting for a budget work session was set for July 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners' Room. The adoption of the budget will be done on August 3, 1987 at the regularly scheduled meeting. REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS REVISIONS Ken Thompson reviewed the revenues noting any adjustments that need to be made to the original figures. The revenue figure for ABC was decreased by $8,000. The revenues expected from Lands Records was increased by $11,950. Revenues generated from the Animal Protection Society would depend on the fees that will be charged in conjunction with the new Animal Control Ordinance. The discussion of fees will be on the July 6 agenda. The revenues that will be generated from the impact fees will be placed in a reserve account until a decision is made by the Board on what and how these funds will be expended. The sales tax revenues were discussed. Gordon Baker informed the Board that the revenue estimates for 1987-88 are projected to be lower than those that were estimated for 1986-87 because revenues received for the first three quarters of this year have been lower than the amount estimated for that period of time.