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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19940615891 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION JUNE 15, 1994 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in Regular session on June 15, 1994 for the purpose of holding a budget work session at 7:30 p.m. at the Homestead Community Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.' COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Verla C. Insko, Stephen Halkiotis, Don Willhoit and Alice M. Gordon. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser, Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker, Human Resources Administrative Assistant Gwen Capers, Human Resource Analyst Lana Chandra, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Human Resource Technician Stephanie Collins, Budget & Management Analyst Donna Dean, Register of Deeds Betty June Hayes, Human Resource Director Elaine Holmes, Purchasing Director Pam Jones, Senior Citizens Program Adminis- trator Kathy Kearns, Budget Director Sally Kost, Commission For Women Director Lucy Lewis. Administrative Officer Rick Poole, Budget Techni- cian Theresa Pope, Health Director Dan Reimer, Library Director Brenda Stephens, Major Don Truelove and EMS Director Nick Waters, Chair Carey convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. He distributed a proposal and said that it was his hope that consensus on the budget could be reached this evening. He announced that Chapel Hill Council member Joe Capowski had requested permission to address the Commission- ers regarding Chapel Hill's request for additional library funding. The Board agreed by consensus to give him 2 minutes to make his comments. Joe Capowski requested an increase in the funding for the Chapel Hill Public Library. He indicated that the current level of support did not cover the usage by county residents. He stated that the County should increase their support to the library by 25%. This is a more appropriate funding level because it more closely reflects the actual usage by county residents. He also indicated that this would more accurately reflect the source of tax revenue as 350 of the property tax revenues come from Chapel Hill-. He also mentioned that this library system is a part of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School System and, as such, reduces the amount of funding necessary for school libraries. Chair Carey distributed a budget summary which summarized some of the items that have been discussed. He indicated that a substantial amount of money was saved as a result of the favorable bond sale. He explained that the Manager's recommended budget totaled $66,188,728 and proposed a 4.4 cent tax increase which would result in a tax rate of 88.00. The bond sale allowed Orange County to obtain a lower tax rate which will result in a savings of $142,500 per year. If the recommended tax increase is reduced by the amount of the gain in savings from the bond sale, a savings of 0.3094 cents on the tax rate would be realized. However, there are several outstanding items in the budget that need to be considered. One such item is a match for a recent grant received through the Sheriff's Department in the amount of $8,000 and an additional Sheriff's Deputy position which would be effective September 1, 1994 costing approximately $28,464. An additional increase for the schools in the amount of 3/4 cent on the tax rate or $26.00 per pupil 892 could also be considered. That would increase the budget by $342,000 making the Manager's recommended budget $66,424,904. He further proposed to reduce the Chapel Hill-Carrboro District Tax by approxi- mately .35 cents or $105,770. The final Manager's recommended budget, including these proposed changes, would result in a tax rate of 88.5 cents. Commissioner Insko asked for clarification on the requested Civil Rights specialist. Commissioner Gordon stated that she would like to discuss the compensation plan, new positions in general, stadium lights and outside agencies. A motion was made by commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, that $275,000 be set aside for recreational needs in the Parks & Recreation reserve fund, instead of funding stadium lights for the new Stanback middle school. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Carey commented on the need for the Board of commissioners to prove its commitment to use school facilities in cooperation with citizens and noted that some money will need to be spent to make that happen. John Link distributed a summary sheet which listed the nine (9) proposed new positions. The need for each of the positions was reviewed and discussed. He stated that the money for additional temporary clerical help is a line item in the budget for departments which had requested additional clerical staffing. Management's intention is to study these requests thoroughly, with right-sizing in mind, prior to recommending permanent staff. He also mentioned that the Youth Service coordination money was set aside in non-departmental funding; the Human services Coordination money was located in the miscellaneous budget and proposed funding for Family Youth Program Coordination has also been set aside. He recommended that consideration be given to the best way to provide the Family & Youth Service Coordination. A Family Youth Coordinator could be hired immediately, however, it would be more useful to look at the functions that need to be coordinated prior to moving ahead. He indicated that he had recommended that $20,000 of the additional CBA funds be added to these funds. He also recommended that the CIP be adjusted by $25,000 to assist private human service delivery agencies with upgrading their computer technology. Commissioner Halkiotis applauded the approach of including the University in the issue of youth who are becoming an increasing burden to our society. Commissioner Insko suggested that this is a perfect opportunity to take an outcome based approach. -Commissioner Willhoit asked if this issue had gone to the Human services Advisory Commission (HSAC) to review? It was decided that the HSAC would be asked for their comments and suggestions. John Link recommended that the needs of youth be the focus for the $93 fall Human Services Forum. He also commented that he has recommender: his proposed budget that each of the human service agencies be assesse 1/2 of one percent of their county allocations so that collaboration ;.?. coordination of services could be studied and enhanced. Y„ The Employee Incentive Program was discussed. Commissioner Gordor questioned why extra funding for this program was needed and suggested that the program could be funded from the savings which the employee suggestions generated. John Link indicated that although this program will fund itself, it does require initial funding to draw from so that awards can be given within the first year or two. COMPENSATION PLAN Commissioners Willhoit and Carey indicated that they support this proposal. John Link stated that this plan was borrowed from the State's compensation program. The recommendation is for a Cost of Living Adjustment of 2.25% for all permanent employees. A Career Growth Recognition Award of 1.25% would be offered to employees who are effective or above in their performance evaluation. A one-time lump sum Performance Award for permanent employees with highly effective or outstanding achievement work performance will also be awarded. Those awards would be $400.00 and $800.00 respectively. PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS: The 10 positions recommended for funding in the Proposed Budget include the following departments: Personnel 1 Social Services 1 Health Department 1 Commission For Women/Human Relations 1 Sheriff 6 Deputies (5) Custodian (1) The funding of these ten positions was discussed. Commissioners Gordon and Halkiotis were opposed to adding one of the positions, and also supported a delay of six months in funding a-second position, but the other three commissioners disagreed. The result of the discussion was that all ten positions were funded. Commissioner Insko reemphasized her earlier comments that money for clerical support is critical to the smooth functioning of County departments. Professionals need to be free of clerical responsibility so that they are able to perform the work they were hired to do. Commissioner Gordon requested clarification concerning the increase in funds that has been requested by the Town of Chapel Hill for the Chapel Hill Public Library, and suggested some increase was appropriate. John Link indicated that he has been operating under an earlier understanding that an agreement regarding equity would be reached before considering additional funding for this Library. Chair Carey stated that the.Mayors have requested that equity be discussed at the fall Assembly of Governments meeting. Commissioner Willhoit requested that an additional $14,166 be 89 4 allocated to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Public Library. A motion was made Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Gordon that funding for the Chapel Hill Library be increased by $14,166. VOTE: AYES: .Commissioners Willhoit, Halkiotis, Gordon and Insko NOS: Chair Carey A motion was made by Commissioner Insko, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, to allocate $20,000 from lapsed salaries for a temporary clerical staff person in the Sheriff's office. VOTE: UNANIMOUS It was decided by consensus that travel for county departments will be maintained at the 93-94 fiscal year level. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District Tax was discussed. Commissioner Gordon proposed that, instead of reducing the district tax rate by .35 cents, the reduction be changed to .15 cents. This would move the two school systems closer to equity but still allow the Chapel Hill--Carrboro system to retain some needed funds; however, no other commissioner supported this proposal. Some commissioners felt that, in order to continue moving toward merging, a reduction of .35 cents was appropriate. It was decided that, in order to continue moving toward merging, achieving equity is still an important goal. A motion was made by Chair Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, to approve the Manager's adjustments to the budget plan including the $26 per pupil increase, and also incorporating the changes made in the course of this meeting. The County Manager was requested to draft the appropriate documents for adoption at the regular June 28, 1994 meeting. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Insko requested that $10,000 be put in the Capital Budget to purchase confiscated guns from the Sheriff's office. John Link suggested that this be handled in the C.I.P. .-The meeting was adjourned. The next regular,meeting.will be held. on Tuesday, June 28, 1994 at the OWASA Community Meeting Room, Carrboro, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly Blythe, Clerk