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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19960618APPROVED 10/15/96 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 18, 1996 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session on the Manager's recommended 1996-1997 Orange County budget on Tuesday, June 18, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at the Homestead Community Center, Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Stephen Halkiotis Alice Gordon, Don Willhoit and Bill Crowther. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Assistant County Managers Rod Visser and Albert Kittrell., and Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Kathy Baker. John Link gave a brief report on the budget items to be discussed at this Work Session. Those items were then discussed in greater detail. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW: The overall breakdown of these figures indicate the majority of County employees receive a rating of highly effective or above. Approximately 63% received Highly Effective and another 6% received Outstanding Achievement. Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the State Legislature is discussing the possibility of giving a 10% raise to the top performing teachers in the system. Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification on the Performance Review percentages. In particular, she questioned the meaning of "Highly Effective" as a rating when vast majority of the employees receive that designation. There was discussion about the effectiveness of this particular performance rating plan. The issue of "salary compression" was discussed. It was agreed to by consensus that a work session will be held early in the fiscal year to review this plan as well as several others to see if there is a more effective way to evaluate employees fairly and accurately. Whatever plan is chosen needs to make sure that the employees on the lower end of the salary scale are treated fairly. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTH INSURANCE & BENEFITS: Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director, distributed the following information for discussion: Participation rates in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Healthsource plans, information on health insurance options for 1996; a comparison of the health plans; the estimated annual cost savings information; and plans the final approved recommendation. She indicated that it could be a cost savings to participate in the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Health Plan; however, they only offer one provider. This issue will continue to be reviewed and new developments will be presented to the Board of Commissioners for information and suggestions. PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES: A listing of all items in this budget category was distributed and discussed. In particular, the issue of reimbursement for medical coverage for inmates was discussed. The General Assembly has recently approved a bill that provides a way to seek reimbursement for medical expenses if the inmate has private health coverage. PROJECTS/AGENCIES NOT CROSS-REFERENCED TO COUNTY DEPARTMENT: A list of was distributed and discussed. It was mentioned that the Innovation and Efficiency Committee had suggested that projects be funded for several years to help with startup and then funding discontinued. This would ensure the opportunity for new projects to be funded and would assure that they would seek other sources of funding. The Board of Commissioners agreed to discuss this recommendation at a later time. Outside agencies often provide services that the County cannot provide or is provided more efficiently by an outside agency. The agencies that are in some way related to a County department could be reviewed first. The funding for the Carrboro Library was also discussed. VISITOR BUREAU FUNDING ORANGE COUNTY SIGNS: The money for these "Welcome to Orange County" signs will come from the Visitor's Bureau budget. They have allocated $20,000 for each of the next three years. There was consensus that these signs are needed. It was mentioned these signs need to be easily visible on 1-40. They also need to be certain that this money is well spent. CEDAR GROVE RURAL HISTORIC DISTRICT: The funds for this project were allocated out of the 1995-1996 fiscal year budget. There was no further discussion. MEDICAID: A handout listing the Medicaid Revenue was distributed. John Link indicated that he would work with the Health Department to reconcile this matter. He felt that it could be managed without allocating County funds. ORANGE RURAL FIRE DISTRICT: The Orange Rural Fire Department Board of Directors has been advised that the County Commissioners would be willing to increase the tax rate to pay for an additional fire fighter. However, the would need to receive confirmation of the necessary tax rate for the Fire Department. SCHOOL SYSTEMS FUND BALANCE: John Link distributed a letter conveying a preliminary assessment by the two school systems concerning the impacts that the General Assembly's failure to adopt an expansion budget for 1996-97 may have on the funding picture for each system. IMPACT FEE REVIEW: John Link stated that staff is closely monitoring funds received from impact fees. Current revenues are not what had been anticipated. It is assumed that many projects were started early in anticipation of the increase in the fee. PROJECT TURNAROUND: Jim Huegrich, Chapel Hill Police Department Crises Counselor, spoke in support of the Board of County Commissioners funding this project. After discussion it was decided by consensus to fund this project and to channel the money to the project through the Sheriff's budget. ARTS COMMISSION: Commissioner Crowther spoke in support of reorganization for the Arts Commission so that they would not be considered an outside agency. In fact, they were created by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners and should not be considered an outside agency. He also requested that the Board of County Commissioners consider reassigning them to a Department other than Recreation and Parks. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, to approve the changes as presented by the County Manager and the changes as made by the County Commissioners to the Manager's recommended 1996-97 budget. The County Manager was requested to draft the appropriate documents for adoption at the regular June 26, 1996 meeting. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at the OWASA Operations Center, Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, NC. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Kathy Baker, Deputy Clerk