Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-01-2000APPROVED 4/3/2001 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 1, 2000 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a budget public hearing on June 1, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis, and Barry Jacobs 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 IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. Chair Carey called the meeting to order. He said that before the end of the month, the Commissioners would review the results of the two public hearings and try to arrive at an adopted budget for the County. He pointed out that in the area of school financing, the County Commissioners do not consider line items as they do with County projects. 1. BUDGET PRESENTATION County Manager John Link made this presentation. In summary he made the following paints: He commended the staff who worked so hard in getting the budget together and the school superintendents and their staff for formatting their budgets. He summarized the past achievements, which include local funding for the top performing schools, transition of solid waste operations from Chapel Hill to Orange County, land acquisitions far parkland and open space, and progress in addressing long-term affordable housing needs. He summarized how the current budget addresses the service needs of the County's citizens by continuing the commitment to education as the tap priority; providing for continuation of the COPSFAST community policing program; and addressing the Board of County Commissioner goals of long-term affordable housing, elderly population support services, and child support enforcement. The general fund totals 109 million dollars, which is an increase of 9 million dollars from the current budget. Five and a half million dollars of this increase is recommended for additional funds far education. The proposed per-pupil increase would go from $2,256 to $2,395 per child. The proposed budget calls for atwo-cent tax increase, making the tax rate 93.9 cents per one hundred-dollar valuation. He pointed out that Orange County remains in the top five school districts in the state far tax collection. Tax collection is the biggest source of the County's revenue. The second highest source of revenue is sales tax. He summarized the highlights of the budget, which include education, affordable housing, the Master Aging Plan, new staff and employee compensation, and the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Education There will be 700 new students attending schools in Orange County next fall. This is the largest increase in a decade for Orange County. The recommended allocation for schools is 49.4°~ of the general fund. The driving force for the recommended allocation is the increase in teacher salaries. Enhancements or improvements to programs were not funded. He acknowledged that in some cases the enhancements included new positions. The recommended budget addresses 94% of the total request of the Orange County school system, and 96°~ of the Chapel Hill/Carrbora school system. The number of new students drives this allocation. If the budget had addressed the total requests of both school systems, there would have been afive-cent tax increase in the County. Affordable Housina The Commissioners have adopted along-term affordability policy for affordable housing. The proposed budget calls fora $250,000 reserve for new affordable housing initiatives. Twa task forces have been set up to address this important issue. Master Aging Plan The proposed budget calls fora $60,000 reserve to address the recommendations of the Master Aging Plan Task Force. General Fund Staff Resources The proposed budget calls far six new positions in the County. These address the needs of the frail elderly, children, and state mandated building inspections. There are also other positions that have been recommended to either have additional County funding or to have increased hours. The proposed budget calls far a 3°l° cost of living adjustment effective July 1, 2000 and the continuation of the in-range salary progression at 2.5% far employees whose work performance is proficient or better. Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Tipping fees generates this fund. The increase in per-ton of $2 is necessary to carry out the functions already in existence. On the Horizon The County anticipates a revaluation of all real property effective January 1, 2001; the final sale of bands far the 1997 band referendum; start up casts for two new schools; program financing far solid waste facilities; a County space study; recommendatiansfrnm the Innovation and Efficiency Committee; and a passible Durham Technical Community College satellite campus. Commissioner Gordon asked if the Board could do the resolution of intent on Thursday, June 15th and then adopt the budget on June 20tH The Board agreed to try to adhere to this schedule. 2. PUBLIC HEARING Bob Schreiner, member of the Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees, thanked the Commissioners for their support of the public library and asked for continued support beyond what is proposed in the budget. He summarized the highlights from the past year. Chapel Hill's Public Library is the state's leader in the number of books borrowed per capita per year for residents. He said that the Chapel Hill Library Board of Trustees created a needs assessment that concluded that if no new services were instituted, the public library would need considerably more resources because of population and cost increases. He asked for increased support for all public libraries in Orange County. He especially asked the Commissioners to develop a plan with the Town of Chapel Hill so that there is not a disparity between the resources allocated to each public library in the County. Paul Farel, member of the Chapel Hill Library Board of Trustees, emphasized the disparity in the funding sources of the library compared to the users of the library. He also emphasized that there are close ties between the schools and public libraries. He showed a series of slides on the patron residency based on registration records. About 44°~ of the patrons of the Chapel Hill public library live in Orange County, outside the Town of Chapel Hill. He showed that only 14°~ of the library funding is provided by County sources. He said that there was a great disparity between the people who use the library and where the funding comes from. He said that the mean percentage of the general fund that the surrounding counties give to their public libraries is 1.65°~ and Orange County only gives .85°~. He said that just as the library plans for the long-term needs for our schools, we should also develop along-term plan for our libraries. He urged the Commissioners to heel the disparity in funding to the libraries. Chair Carey said that as a result of the requests that the County received in the last six months far investing County dollars in new access sites for library services, the Board will appoint a task farce of citizens and officials in the County to look at the long-term plan for library services in the County and what the County's role should be. Florence Soltys, Chair of the Aging Board, added a few statements that she could not make at the last public hearing. She said that one half of all the people in the world were reaching 65 years of age. She said that North Carolina's aging population would increase by 80°~, which would add one million people over the next 19 years. The projected growth far Orange County with people aver 60 for the next 19 years is 135°l°, while the rest of the Country is projected to grow by 38%. She pointed out an article in the U. S. News and World Report that lists Orange County as one of the five best places to live and retire in the country. Money Magazine and ABC News reported the same thing. She thanked Jahn Link for the work he did on the budget. She said that the total budget for the Department on Aging is less than one percent. She said that the Aging Board was very concerned that the needs of the aging would not be met. Keith Bowles, resident of Orange County far eighteen years, spoke about the severe shortage of soccer fields in Orange County. Currently, there are no soccer fields that are of regulation size for adults. He asked that the Commissioners consider building adult sized soccer fields in the future. Greig Ashurst, band director at C. W. Stanford Jr. High School, asked that the County Commissioners review the entire funding process for schools. He said that the quality of education should not be compromised. He said that it was a shared responsibility of the teachers and the community to give the students the education they deserve. Beth Barba, resident of Bingham Township and past president of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center, said that this group was incorporated to manage, solicit, and provide financial assistance to a senior center in Central Orange. The senior center for central Orange County is currently housed in a County building on Tryon Street. The group is also trying to promote and campaign far new and expanded facilities. They would like to rent same space in the Meadowlands area. She said that the group has also approached Hillsborough to request funding to help pay for the utilities of the senior center. Linda Carver, a first grade teacher in the Orange County School district, spoke in support of additional funds for the new Pathways Elementary School. She asked the Commissioners to reconsider some of the funds for Orange County schools. Ann Wagoner, President of the Board of Directors of Orange Congregations in Mission, said that OCI M supports the entire budget for the Orange County school district. This year the weather has been a major factor in the support dollars received by OCIM. The monetary and in-kind gifts are lower than they have been in several years. She asked that the Commissioners adopt the recommendation far OCIM. Mariah McPherson spoke in support of the Central Senior Center for Central Orange. She said that while the seniors appreciate the space they have, they would like to have nicer facilities. The parking at the Richard E. Whitted Center is not adequate. She is the Treasurer for the Central Senior Center and the center is trying to raise $4,000 to help fund the drop-in center. Bonnie Huskey spoke on behalf of the funding for Orange County schools. She asked for full funding of the Orange County schools budget. Her son is in the reading program and she appreciates everything the teachers have done for him. Kate Melcher, Reading Recovery Teacher at Hillsborough Elementary School, said that she works with children in the first and second grade, teaching them how to read. She thanked the Commissioners for their support for the Reading Recovery Program. She spoke on behalf of the third, fourth, and fifth graders at Hillsborough Elementary School because there is not a reading teacher for them. In the past, the art and music teachers have taught reading to the third, fourth, and fifth graders. This year, only the music teacher will be teaching reading. She asked far the Commissioners to fund the Reading teacher position for Hillsborough Elementary School. Norm Gustaveson spoke about the changes that are going to occur with the senior citizen population during the next twenty years in Orange County. With the current budget, some of the needs will be addressed, but not all. Libbie Haugh, a parent from Grady Brawn Elementary School, spoke about Spanish instruction in the Elementary Schools and presented to the County Commissioners a petition signed by 90 parents. These parents are requesting funding for the school budget in full. Natalie Hough, a student at Grady Brown Elementary Schaal, dedicated her speech to her Spanish teacher and her school. She said that her friend's mom volunteered to teach her Spanish. She said that learning Spanish would prepare elementary students for language tests in middle school. She was disappointed when she found out that other schools had Spanish classes but Grady Brown did not. Jack Nestor, a parent of children who attend Grady Brawn Elementary School, asked for the Orange County school budget to be funded in full. He said that currently all eight Chapel HiIllCarrbaro City schools offer foreign language studies beginning in kindergarten and first grade. None of the six Orange County elementary schools offer foreign language instruction. Matthew Freytag spoke in support of Spanish instruction in the Elementary Schools in Orange County. He asked that the County Commissioners support the full budget as presented by the Orange County Superintendent. He presented some statistics about the Hispanic population in the Triangle. He said that the addition of foreign language teachers in Orange County schools was not a frill in the budget. Liz Brown, a volunteer at Grady Brawn Elementary School who teaches Spanish, stressed that it was important to teach Spanish to the younger students. She said that foreign language could help in many areas of life. She has lived in Japan and China and has taught foreign language at the university and elementary level. She said that the younger students learn so much quicker than the university students do. Judy Aikins made reference to the budget presentation and the increases in the budget for education. She said that her mother was now an adult child. Ms. Aikins grew up in Hillsborough far 18 years, left for awhile, then came back to care far her elderly parents. Her father died last year. She spoke about the disparity between funding for children's education and the funding for senior citizens. Bath of her parents taught school in Orange County. She asked the County to help the senior citizens live a loving life. Martha Stucker, member of the Orange County Board of Health, said that one of the reasons that children are healthy and the elderly are living so long is because they have received immunizations from the Health Department. She spoke about the accomplishments and challenges facing the Health Department. She spoke about the four to six-week backlog in Environmental Health's well and septic programs. She said that inspections for restaurants have fallen behind 85%. The staff is being stretched and the department cannot take any cuts. Lee Werley, member of the Orange County Board of Health, said that there was not enough staff in the Health Department to do what needed to be done. He is the pharmacist representative. Janet Southerland, member of the Orange County Board of Health, made reference to the personal health and dental health services and said that far the last two years they have had to provide nurses far public shelters for natural disasters, a Hepatitis "A" response, and a meningitis response. They have provided over 35 nurse hours and 87 support staff hours outside of the regular work schedule for rubella vaccinations in the community. A major challenge facing personal health this coming year is the unbundling of the Medicaid services. This has required a great number of staff hours. She said that the dentist program has been a great success. They have nearly achieved the state goal of 50°fo of school-aged children with dental sealant. The dental hygienists have been very difficult to recruit and maintain within the department because of the competitive salaries in the private sector. She is the dentist representative and Vice-Chair of the Board. Peggy Pollitzer spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill Museum. She said that they have a very popular educational program where the school children can visit and do reenactments of the Last Colony in costume, etc. The museum would like to extend this program to the northern Orange County schools, but they do not have the staffing. She spoke in support of funds far a prafessional- level program on a continuing basis. The museum would need a Professional Education Coordinator for part of the time to work with the volunteers. Amy Smith, a teacher at Grady Brown Elementary School, spoke in support of the budget as presented by Superintendent Bridges. She also spoke in support of the future pre-kindergarten programs. She spoke about the necessity of pre-kindergarten programs. Sue Bulfin urged the County Commissioners to support the full budget as presented by Superintendent Bridges. The resources at hand are used wisely but there are not enough resources. She said that literacy far all was not a frivolous goal. She said that far three years in a raw, the Superintendent's budget has included a request for an additional half-time teacher for academically gifted students. This position has never been funded. She said that the gains being measured in the academically at-risk population are not being mirrored in the academically gifted population. Sean Smith, a parent of a student from New Hope Elementary Schoal, asked for full funding of Superintendent Bridges' budget. He said that the decision the County Commissioners make on this budget would send a clear message about the County's support to every prospective teacher, administrator, and central office staff that Orange County schools tries to recruit. He said that what the County does with this budget will largely determine whether Orange County schools will be able to recruit the best or something less. Tom Rankin, a parent of two children in the Orange County school system, asked that the County Commissioners support the full budget as presented. For the past two years he has served on the board of the Orange County Education Foundation. He said that the budget was fully justified to provide the best for Orange County residents. The County Manager's recommended budget reduces an already lean budget, making it seem nearly impossible to fully fund the mandated teacher pay raises, the opening of Pathways Elementary School, ESL teachers, etc. He urged the Commissioners to move on behalf of Superintendent Bridges' request. Sharon Bottesch, a teacher and a resident of Orange County, urged the County Commissioners to fully fund the Superintendent's budget. She said that without full funding of the budget, it would be increasingly more difficult to maintain the excellent standards that the school system has. Joanna Massoth, a fifth grade teacher at Hillsborough Elementary Schoal, spoke in support of a reading teacher at Hillsborough Elementary School for the third through fifth grade students. Sheri Nutter, a parent of a first grader, asked that the County Commissioners fully fund the budget so that a reading teacher can be hired at Hillsborough Elementary School. Her daughter has been involved in the Reading Recovery Program and has made tremendous improvement in her reading ability. Dana Thompson spoke on behalf of the Orange County schools and a group of citizens. She thanked the County Commissioners far their past support. She said that the Superintendent's budget would allow the progress to continue in Orange County schools. She said that the Superintendent has only asked for what the schools need. Derrick Byrd, a member of the Board of Directors far Hopeline, said that he is appreciative of the funding that the County Commissioners have included in the budget. He explained the programs that Hapeline offers. Hopeline is the only 24-hour crisis line serving the entire Triangle region. They have enhanced their services to add toll-free phone numbers to better serve residents of Durham and Orange Counties. They offer help with any type of crisis, including suicide. They have two programs that are directed at youth, Phone Friend and Teen Talk Line. Phone Friend is available from 3-6 p.m. for children who are home alone after school or just need a friendly ear. Phone Friend helps more than 3,000 elementary school children per year. They will be distributing a newsletter to students in Orange County schools. Teen Talk Line is available far middle and high school students from 4-8 p.m. and is staffed by trained teen volunteers. They have initiated a new program this year where volunteers come in and make calls to senior citizens that may be sick orshut-in. Tina Farmer, a parent, a taxpayer, and a volunteer in Orange County and Orange County schools spoke on behalf of the children that are our future. She spoke about the many needs in the school system. She attended the school board meeting where the principals made budget requests that were modest. She asked the Commissioners not to deny the children the best education that we can provide. Greg Sampson said that the education budget does not show a line item that reflects the supplies that are purchased by the teachers to make up for the various shortfalls produced by the policy of the County aver the years of funding less than 100°~ of the requested education budget. He has four children, and not one of them has had a school year when the teachers have not felt compelled to donate supplies. He urged the Commissioners to adopt a policy of adapting 100°~ of the education budget. Jahn Pringle urged the County Commissioners to support the education budget in its entirety. He spoke in support of the AG Resource teacher. Orange County schools made a commitment to put a nurse in each school. This year's budget includes two nurses, which are needed. He spoke in support of the request for Spanish teachers in the Orange County Elementary Schools. Andy Burham urged the County Commissioners to support the full budget for the Orange County schools. Cindi Chamberlain, a representative of the Hillsborough Elementary School Governance Committee, spoke in support of the full budget as presented by Superintendent Bridges. She said that the budget only includes the essentials and functional necessities. Keith Cook, a member of the Orange County School Board, spoke about the support of the teachers and the parents far full funding. He asked that the County Commissioners seriously review the budget as presented by the County Manager and as requested by the Superintendent. He said that he was mystified by the budget because when the Commissioners asked that the schools not surprise them with various requests, the school board let the Commissioners know about the new elementary school, the need for Spanish teachers, the need for AG teachers, etc. He said that the schools were asking for very little because of the new elementary school. He said that the schools should not have to consider making choices about the mandates. He said that the Manager's recommended budget was not even close to what was needed for Orange County schools. Delores Simpson, a member of the Orange County School Board, acknowledged the presence of the other school board members. She said that the Orange County school system has made much progress, but has not yet reached the point of satisfaction. She spoke in support of full funding of the Orange County School budget. David Rass, a teacher at Hillsborough Elementary School, spoke about funding and asked that the County Commissioners consider the future. He said that if the County Commissioners did not provide the funding, there would be fewer and fewer good teachers available. He asked that the Commissioners consider full funding of Superintendent Bridges' recommendation. 3. ADJOURNMENT With no further items for the County Commissioners to consider the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, CMC