Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 05-30-2000APPROVED 4!312001 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING May 30, 2000 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to hear a presentation of the budget and to hold a public hearing on the Manager's Recommended Budget for 2000-2001. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis, and Barry Jacobs COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE 1N THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. Chair Carey explained that there was a meeting scheduled last week for a budget presentation to the County Commissioners so that the public could have it in advance of the public hearing. However, the meeting was cancelled due to the damage from the storm last week. BUDGET PRESENTATION County Manager John Link made the presentation for the Orange County 2000-2001 Annual Operating Budget. He recognized the people who spent a lot of time getting the budget together. He particularly thanked the school superintendents for their cooperation in submitting the school budgets in the same format. In summary, he made the following points: The County achievements in the past year were as follows: • Local funding provided resources for top performing schools and high quality learning environments •:• Successful transition of solid waste responsibilities from the Town of Chapel Hill • Major land acquisitions for parkland and open space • Multi-dimensional progress in addressing long-term affordable housing needs This proposed budget continues the County Commissioners' historic commitment to education as atop priority. The proposed budget calls for a countywide rate increase of two cents from 91.9 cents to 93.9 cents per hundred-dollar valuation. The scenarios for a zero tax increase and aone-cent tax increase are located in the back of the budget document. The Chapel Hill-Carrbora School district rate remains at 22 cents. There were four fire districts that requested increases in the district tax -Cedar Grove, New Hope, Orange Rural, and South Orange. The General Fund budget total is $109,150,500. This is an increase of about nine million dollars from the current budget. This provides increased funding for education of 5.5 million dollars. The County continues to rank in the top five in the state for tax collection. As a result of the fund balance, 3.487 million dollars is being appropriated toward the revenue for this budget. This is equivalent to almost 4.9 cents on the property tax rate. In the proposed budget, 49.4°l0 of the County's general fund will go toward Education, 23.7°Io will ga toward Human Services & Outside Agencies, and 9.0°~ will go toward Public Safety. The remainder will go toward Public Works; Community Services, Planning, Administration, and Tax and Records, County Capital and County Debt, and Miscellaneous and Non-Capital Transfers. Education The proposed budget calls far an appropriation of $53,885,103 far education. The increase of 5.5 million dollars addresses three major areas: • An increase in student population of aver 700 students • An increase in the school debt service payments of 2.6 million dollars resulting from sale of 1997 bonds • The implementation of the final phase of the Excellent Schools Act to raise teacher salaries by 6.5% The proposed budget addresses 95.25°~ of the requested funding from both school systems. The proposed budget does not include enhancements or improvements to programs, including the need for additional local teachers. Long-Term Affordable Housing The citizens approved an affordable housing bond of 1.8 million dollars in 1997. From that, bond funds were awarded to three housing projects this year. The County approved along-term housing affordability policy. The County Commissioners recently created two housing task forces to work with the other towns' non-profits and the University to address future affordable housing initiatives. In regard to a housing trust fund, the proposed budget calls for an appropriation of $250,000 from the County. The County and its partners in affordable housing have leveraged 46 million dollars and 977 units of affordable housing over the past 10-12 years. John Link feels that the housing trust fund should also be a collaborative effort with other organizations and municipalities and a challenge far the private sector to match funds from the County. Master Agina Plan The Master Aging Plan Task Force is coming forward after very in-depth work with recommendations for haw the County can improve promoting wellness, independence, and functionality of senior citizens. The $60,000 reserve provides funding for these anticipated recommendations. Increased Debt Service Two-thirds of the bonds that are being sold from the 1997 bond referendum will have no property tax impact because existing sales tax revenue will be used to address the first 37-38 million dollars. The bands, aside from providing for new schools, will also address parks and the renovation of Whitted and Northern Human Services centers. The County will save about 2.3 million dollars over the life of the debt due to favorable bond ratings. Staff Resources The proposed budget includes six additional staff members in the general fund -Social Worker (Aging}, Child Support Officer, Building Inspector, Inspections Clerk (Planning), Outdoor Recreation Specialist, and Community Social Services Assistant. There are other staff resources being requested that relate to increases in hours ar costs. The County is entering into the second year of atwo-year employee compensation plan. The proposed budget calls fora 3% cast of living adjustment effective July 1, 2000. The in-range salary progression will continue at 2.5°~ for employees whose work performance is proficient or better. Solid Waste The solid waste enterprise fund is paid for by tipping fees. It is recommended that the tipping fee be increased by $2 per ton -from $40 to $42 per ton. The solid waste budget includes reserves to address construction of the Rogers Road water line. There are also two new positions recommended to address the increased workload at the landfill site. On the Horizon The following are considerations far the budget in the near future: • In January 2001 the outcome of the four-year revaluation on all real properly will be available • The second sale of the 1997 bonds is anticipated • Start up casts for Smith Middle School and new Orange County High School • Solid waste facilities/program financing • Task forces are addressing: space needs of County government, how to be more innovative and efficient, and the consideration of locating a satellite campus of Durham Technical College in Orange County John Link pointed out that this was the first of two public hearings. The second public hearing will be Thursday, June 1, 2000 at 7:30 in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough. John Link said that he believes that the recommended budget addresses the Board's most important priorities and is balanced between the competing requirements of the County. PUBLIC HEARING John Herrera, a board member of the Central Latino, said that the doors of the center would be open on July 15t". He asked for the Board of County Commissioners' support of their request for $20,000. He said that this request was very frugal. He promised that there would be no increase in this request for next year. These services include education, English as a Second Language, activities for children, and technical assistance to County agencies in order to involve the Latino community. The services that they will be providing will be efficient and effective. Betsy Fenhagen, Chairperson of the AIDS Service Agency of Orange County, said that she was representing the Alliance of AIDS Services Carolina, which just merged with AIDS Service Agency of Orange County. They have submitted an application for $5,000 for funding for the coming year. They emphasized to the Commissioners that the Alliance HIU Prevention and Faith Ministries staff delivers sensitive and accurate age and culturally appropriate information to young people in Orange County that will help them avoid becoming HIV positive. She said that most high school students are under the impression that AIDS is no longer a problem. They have afaith-based operation. The intention of this proposal is to help with addressing one of the public health concerns stated by the Human Services Health and Safety Committee of the Orange County Citizen's Committee on Shaping Orange County's Future. She summarized the services offered by this alliance. She asked far the Board of County Commissioners' support for their request of $5,000. Florence Soltys, Chair of the Department on Aging Board, said that as of today there were 14,363 people in Orange County that were over 60 years old. Of that, there are 2,613 that are over 80 and over 700 people in institutions in Orange County. She said that by the year 2020, the number of people over 60 in Orange County would increase by 138°~. On behalf of the Aging Board she said that they are appreciative of John Link for the complexity of the budget. She thanked the Commissioners far funding and allowing 100 residents to participate in the development of the Master Aging Plan, which will be coming to the Board in August. She said that the Department of Aging Board was very appreciative of the amount set aside for the aging, but that they wish it were more. She pointed out that the budget for aging this year was less than 1 °~ of the County's total budget. Sheila Benninger said that she has had children in the Chapel Hill-Carrbaro City Schools over the last 15 years and she asked that the County Commissioners fund the request as presented by the Chapel Hill-Carrbora City School Board. She said that it is important to have high quality schools to keep and maintain. She said that the school board had already pared three-quarters of a million dollars from the budget proposed by the superintendent. She spoke in support of the state mandated wage increases for teachers, casts related to student growth, and increases in the local teacher supplement. Chris Moran spoke on behalf of the InterFaith Council and ABODE as a partner with other human service agencies. He said that in Orange County the human service agencies work very well together. He asked that the County Commissioners allocate one cent to affordable housing. He said that he applauds Orange County for the complexity of the budget and for what they have done for affordable housing. He asked that the Board seriously consider one cent on the tax rate far affordable housing. Grady Fullerton said that he was invited here by UNC-CH to work at the Institute of Government. He was brought here to instruct finance officers of cities, counties, school districts, and other special districts in the accounting aspect of running local government. He commended Ken Chavious on Orange County's financial report. He thinks it is the duty of every elected official and every public entity to make a full and fair comprehensive annual financial disclosure to the public. He said that he would be happy to work with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district in preparing a comprehensive annual financial report for next year. He said that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School's financial report for this year was not sufficient. Alison Weiner, Chair of the Community Land Trust in Orange County, asked haw many people were there to help support the housing trust fund. About 60 people indicated that they support the one- cent increase in the property tax rate. She made reference to the Shaping Orange County's Future task force report and said that there have been studies of housing affordability in Orange County that have revealed that there is not enough affordable housing in Orange County to meet the needs of low-income residents. She read from the task force report that says, "In order to house projected population, a total of 25,656 dwelling units will need to be constructed between 1998-2030." She said that there were for- profit developers that were ready to construct affordable housing units. Ann Johnson spoke about the Senior Center. She said that the senior center is a facility that reflects what a community feels about the older adults and their value. A senior center provides adequate staffing for the overall administration of the system and for each discrete service within the system. She told about the activities at the senior center and how they contribute to the wellness and well being of the older adults in Orange County. She said that the staffing was a critical issue for the Orange County's response system to the needs of older adults. She said that the Director of the Department on Aging and the Director of the Transportation service needed to be separated into two positions. She said that the senior center needed to have full-time staff for management. She said that the current position of Senior Center Administrator needs an assistant who can fill the absences of staff that occur at centers and keep the Administrator's position available to network with other agencies and programs. She said that the department needs to strengthen its Social Work staff as well as round out its professionals with health related specialists. Libbie Hough, resident of rural Orange County and a teacher at Grady Brown Elementary School, spoke in support of Spanish instruction in the County's Elementary Schools. If approved, the budget would support Spanish teachers in two of their Elementary Schools. She presented letters that were signed by parents that support Spanish instruction in the Orange County Elementary schools. Susan Hauck, parent of a child at Grady Brown Elementary School in Orange County, presented some of the findings of her informal research. She said that in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, all eight Elementary schools offer foreign language instruction, and all of them begin in either Kindergarten or first grade. She said that in Orange County, all six Elementary schools currently offer no foreign language instruction. She encouraged the Commissioners to pass the entire school budget to make sure there is foreign language instruction far the Orange County Elementary schools. Bob Seymour said that he appreciates the impetus that the County Commissioners have placed in the Master Aging Plan process. He suggested that when giving new student figures that also figures be provided for citizens reaching 65 years of age. He said that growth in the County has created great needs at both ends of the life spectrum. He said that the seniors do not want to take money away from the public school system, but the seniors do need substantial support. He said that the members of the senior centers were weary in fund raising. He said that they would need substantial support if they were going to take the Master Aging Plan seriously. Myles Presler, with EmPOWERment, Inc., asked that the County Commissioners allocate one cent for affordable housing. He pointed out the different groups in the County that support this allocation. James M. Putnam spoke in support of one cent for affordable housing. He said that what we have here are people who are asking the County Commissioners to raise their taxes by one cent. He said that there were na people complaining about high taxes. Mel Rashkis said that he has been a resident of Chapel Hill for 38 years and is a retired teacher. He is involved in a program called Community Alliance for Student Success and has become aware of the fact that students who have parents involved with their child's school are mare successful than thane parents who are not involved with the schools. He asked that the County Commissioners consider the total request that Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board has submitted. Robert Dowling, with Orange Community Housing, spoke in support of one cent of the tax rate for affordable housing. He supports there being a plan but feels that money should be allocated while a plan is being developed. He emphasized that the affordable housing need exists and whatever the affordable housing organizations are doing, it is something that is useful to someone out there. He said that the private sector is not providing affordable housing. He said that the federal money was disappearing and affordable housing needs local money. He said that the intention was not to put a tax burden on those with a fixed income or on seniors, but to help shape Orange County. Lenor Arab said that she has been a Habitat for Humanity volunteer for many years and is now a part of the selection committee. She spoke in support of one cent of the tax rate for affordable hausing. She gave examples of some of the families who are in desperate need of affordable housing. Etta Pisano, Chair of the Parent Advocacy Committee at Mary Scroggs Elementary School, spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School budget. She asked that the County Commissioners consider funding the full budget and not the reduced budget. She said that there is a lot of prosperity and it would not always be that way. She is more than willing to pay higher taxes to sustain the schools. She said that some of the best teachers that her children have ever had are leaving the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District because they are getting better offers at other districts. She said that there should be an impact fee for the new housing that is going up. She said that the developers needed to pay substantially more for impact fees. She spoke in support of a school band in 2001 because the schools were too crowded. Ray Reitz, Chief Technology Officer for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, spoke in support of full funding far the schools. He spoke about the technology support needs in the schools. Robert Campbell spoke about affordable housing and the need for more affordable housing. He spoke in support of the schools and asked for full funding of the two school budgets. He said that the majority of the people in his community were seniors and that they are having a hard time maintaining their own homes. He is in favor of whatever it would take to support affordable housing and full funding far the schools. Jahn Jordan, who represents the soccer players of Orange County, said that he has played and coached soccer for some thirty years. He spoke in support of additional soccer fields in Chapel Hill. The available soccer fields are overcrowded and dangerous. He said that Chapel Hill was a soccer "Mecca" and they need more multi-field soccer complexes so that people can play in Orange County instead of in Durham. He asked the Commissioners to support funding far additional soccer fields. Patrick Sullivan said that he has been a volunteer in Orange County for sixteen years coaching kids and adults in soccer. He is now a member of the Orange County Recreation and Parks Board. He hears a lot of complaints about the lack of soccer fields. He realizes that this may not be something that can be considered in this year's budget but he hopes it will be considered in future budgets. He said that soccer is a game for all children and adults. There is not enough space for this popular sport that is gaining popularity. He said that the County has never had to spend any money to meet the demands of the residents for soccer. He said that private organizations like Rainbow have met these needs until now, but the demand is too high now. He asked that the County Commissioners consider finding a way to use the fields that the school athletic programs use. The Reverend Stephen Stanley spoke in support of one cent on the tax rate for affordable housing. His church, Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church, was a founding partner of the InterFaith Council, Project Homestart, Habitat for Humanity, and is committed to the work of EmPOWERment, Inc. and the other agencies that are seeking to address the causes of homelessness. He feels that the citizens should stand on the principles of the historic and civic values that helped to build this community in the first place. He said that many of the downtown clergy were seeing an increase in numbers of people seeking hausing and rent assistance, and a dramatic increase recently of people who have been evicted from their homes. Stephanie Willis is a 22-year resident of Chapel Hill with three children in the schools. She spoke in support of full funding far the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She is a school nurse. She made reference to the additional school nurse position in the proposed budget. She said that although this way a state-funded position, it might not be funded if the other County-funded items were not addressed. Sam Brooks spoke as a board member of EmPOWERment, Inc. She is a local realtor. She spoke on two issues about why Orange County does not have enough affordable housing - it is market- driven and community supported. She supports one cent of the tax rate for affordable housing. Bill Rahe, Director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, spoke in support of the one-cent tax increase for affordable hauling. The non-profits that are trying to provide affordable housing are not getting enough resources to meet the need. He said that when you provide decent affordable housing for people you are doing more than putting a roof over their heads, you are providing them with the stability they need in order to lead productive lives. Gary Byrd spoke in support of investing in facilities far soccer in Orange County. Richard Leber shared some thoughts on affordable housing. He said that the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough all support one cent of the tax rate for affordable housing. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Community Action Network have also endorsed one cent for affordable housing. He made reference to some things that are happening with affordable housing in other parts of the country. He said that supporting affordable hauling was not just making a contribution to another charity, but it was taking care of the public and private employees of the future. He said that Durham County has raised 50 million dollars of local funds for affordable housing. Jonathan Klein, Chair of the Board of Health, talked about the value of health services in Orange County. He said that there were many challenges facing public health. He said that public health services were invisible to most people in Orange County. Some of the services offered are clean water, safe and effective wastewater treatment, safe restaurant food, and control of infectious disease outbreaks. He said that the cost of providing these services was small compared to not providing these services. He spoke about indicators of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives. He spoke about the staff needs for Public Health Services. The lack in staff is resulting in backlogs for well and septic permitting and restaurant inspections. There were no other speakers. Chair Carey reiterated that there was another public hearing in Hillsborough at the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom on Thursday, June 1St CLOSED SESSION A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to ga into closed session "To discuss the County's position and to instruct the County Manager and County Attorney on the negotiating position regarding the terms of a contract to purchase real property" in accordance with North Carolina G.S. 143-318.11(a}{5}. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Brown to adjourn the meeting. The next meeting on the adopted meeting calendar will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk