HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 20050620APPROVED 1 01312 0 0 5
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION
June 20, 2005
7:30 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a budget work session June 20,
2005 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. and Commissioners
Valerie P. Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Steve Halkiotis, and Barry Jacobs
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Jahn M. Link, Jr., Assistant County
Managers Rod Visser and Gwen Harvey and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker {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
7:37:12 PM
1. Chair Review of Schedule and Topics
Chair Carey asked the Board's permission to add three items to the closed session.
The Board agreed.
Commissioner Gordan arrived at 7:38 p.m.
John Link reviewed the new material. The first attachment is the motion for budget
adoption. The second is the historical budget comparison asked for by the County
Commissioners, which indicates what is requested by the County departments and the school
systems, what he recommended, and what the County Commissioners actually acted upon in
the year beginning 2000-2001. The third is an elaboration on the suggested approach to initiate
the fire and rescue service study. His idea is to start with $25,000. EMS Director Jack Ball
knows about something similar from Montgomery, VA and the recommendation is to find
$25,000 for this study.
Attachment 4 responds to the question of whether or not the Orange-Alamance Water
System had been contacted and was aware of the discussions on the Efland/Mebane transition
area in terms of the potential need for water.
Attachment 5 is regarding the Town of Hillsborough. John Link talked with Town
Manager Eric Peterson today and they have an amount budgeted for a strategic growth plan in
general. Hillsborough could match up to $25,000 to pursue the strategic growth plan.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to
substitute the $25,000 for the Orange-Alamance water study and use it to work with
Hillsborough.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Commissioner Jacobs said that he would still like to write a letter and pursue a
discussion with Orange-Alamance.
Attachment 6 is an explanation of the cuts made by Solid Waste.
Attachment 7 is the recommendation to go from time-limited to permanent positions for
the Solid Waste Convenience Center aperatars.
Attachment 8 indicates the compilation of changes in positions. There are no new
positions, but there are some increases in hours.
Attachment 9 gives further information on the Community in Schools programs and the
OCIM increase in Meals on Wheels.
Attachment 10 responds to the question on the Shearron Harris Nuclear Power Plant
contributions by the other jurisdictions. The other jurisdictions have made their contributions as
promised.
Attachment 11 is the compilation of non-profit agencies providing services to schools.
Attachment 12 is a response from OCS Superintendent Shirley Carraway about the
living wage and the cost of the middle college program.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the costs of middle college and the cost determined
was $461,000, and the OCS 25°!° share would be $115,220. The estimated transportation costs
were $62,500. He asked if the transportation costs were included in the $115,220. Rod Visser
said that it is his understanding that transportation is included.
Chair Carey asked about attachment 7 and if no additional costs would be incurred by
the conversion and Donna Dean said that is correct.
Commissioner Foushee asked about long-term temporary positions. Personnel Director
Elaine Holmes said that she has begun compiling that information and will have it shortly.
Commissioner Jacobs asked if these were distinct time-limited positions. Elaine Holmes
said that time-limited positions are permanent positions, but they are set up for a specific period
of time. Temporary positions do not receive employee benefits.
2. Continuation of Discussion of 2005-06 Budget Issues
a. Continuation of Deliberations on Budget Decision Points
(e.g. per pupil allocation, employee pay and benefits, fire and school district tax
rates, etc}
Chair Carey said that each Board member should have a proposal from him,
Commissioner Jacobs, and Commissioner Foushee about the budget.
Commissioner Jacobs explained his proposal along with Commissioner Foushee, which
is to reduce the tax increase to 6.5 cents. This proposal is shown below:
PROPOSED CHANGES TO 2005-06 ORANGE COUNTY BUDGET
6.5-cent total property tax increase, one cent equals approximately $1,188,000
ADD:
$1,188,000 Per-pupil funding {raising total per-pupil to $162)
$50,000 Library operating budget
$25,000 Fire and rescue strategic plan
$18,000 Partnership to End Homelessness
$10,000 Orange Community Housing and Land Trust {from affordable
housing trust fund)
$5,000 Helping Hand
$4,000 Burwell School {all but $1300 from reimbursement for school
collaboration)
Total added: $112,000 not already budgeted (excluding per pupil conversion of third cent
of recurring capital} AND
CHCCS District tax increase of one cent to be appropriated to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
to address operating and/or capital needs, at the discretion of the CHCCS
SUBTRACT:
$1,188,000 Third cent of school recurring capital {cancelled by added per-pupil)
$1,188,000 Second cent of county long-range capital
$500,000 Reduce total county operating budget, manager to return with
proposed reductions on August 16
$826,000 Give employees 3.5 percent in-range increase ($537,000); raise 401 K
contribution to $25 per month {$86,300); eliminate grade 7 {$51,000)
$300,000 Reduce $1 million set aside for Medicaid ($425,000), projected
health insurance increase, projected increase in fuel and utilities
$215,000 Reduce $1 million set aside for reserve fund, allocating money far
mental health transition {$285,000), Tier III school projects ($200,000),
child care subsidies ($50,000), leaving $250,000 in reserve to
address social safety net concerns
$52,000 Delay for one year transfer of convenience centers to Solid Waste
$33,000 Reduction in commissioners' contingency ($50,000}, manager's
contingency ($25,000), and manager's temporary {$8,000); remainder
to be reallocated $35,000 BOCC and $15,000 manager
Valerie Foushee and Barry Jacobs
June 20, 2005
Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board is committed to further discussion of equity
and part of that discussion of equity was advancing the notion of the OCS voters determining
whether they want to have their own district tax.
Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the reduction of the County's operating
budget of $500,000 and asked if he thought of $750,000. Commissioner Foushee said that they
started at $1 million. Commissioner Halkiotis asked if they considered $750,000 and
Commissioner Foushee said that as she looked at line detail, she did not see $750,000 that
could be cut.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he heard OCS Board Chair Libbie Hough clearly state
that she did not want the tier options, but that they just wanted the money. He asked why they
were holding onto the Tier III option. Commissioner Jacobs said that it is in keeping with what
the Manager was trying to recommend as another step to address equity. If the OCS does not
want to do it, it could be added to per pupil or just taken out of the budget. He wants to make as
many gestures toward addressing equity as possible.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that in Wake County the Board of County Commissioners
are trying to set aside $3.5 million for a dental plan for teachers and the school board may use
this money some other way. He asked if this proposal by Commissioners Jacobs and Foushee
was more of a symbolism for a step towards equity and it was answered yes.
Chair Carey asked about the two $1 million reserves. Commissioner Jacobs said that,
based on the Manager's PowerPoint presentation of March 31St, the Major Elements Driving the
Budget, it is two separate $1 million funds - $1 million to establish a reserve fund to address
priority funding needs such as education, health, and court related services; and $1 million to
address the County's share of Medicaid, fuel, and utility costs.
Donna Dean said that the second $1 million for Medicaid, fuel, and utility is not really a
reserve but in the departmental budgets.
John Link said that the staff anticipated the proposal to reduce the County operating
budget and then come back in August. He thinks they can cut $250,000. Whatever cannot be
cut would have to come out of fund balance since the budget would have already been adopted
before August. He said that they appreciate the 3.5°~ in-range increase. Some of the
employees will get the increase in July and some will get it next June because individual
WPPRs. Another option is to have the increase the same as the Town of Chapel Hill's of
3.78%.
Commissioner Jacobs said that he would have no problem with going to 4% for the in-
range. He had Elaine Holmes run some numbers, and starting July 1St with 3.5°~, it would cost
$960,000.
Cammissioner Jacobs said that there will be $250,000 out of the Social Safety Net, and
he thinks that $500,000 could be cut out of the budget without touching the fund balance.
Chair Carey explained his proposal as shown below:
PROPOSAL FOR ADJUSTMENTS
TO MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FOR 2005106
By: Moses Carey, Jr., Chairman
REDUCE THE MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET BY 2 CENTS CONSISTENT
WITH THE CUTS HE RECOMMENDED ON PINK SHEETS {column #2) WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:
1. Do not cut 401 {k} Plan improvements {col. 2, line 4-b}
2. Reduce the COLA to 2°~ {move from col. 3, line 4-e to col. 2)
Net of + $86,934.00
Net of $86,934.00 + $2,357,900 =Reduction of $2,444,534.00 or 2.05 cents
REDUCE CRITICAL NEEDS RESERVE FROM $1,000,000 TO $500,000
Create line items in the Reserve for the following:
1. $285,000 for OPC Mental Health
2. $25,000 for Orange Alamance Water System Consultant
3. $15,000 for Fire and Rescue Strategic Plan Consultant
4. $50,000 for Child Care subsidies
Total allocation if needed $ 375,000 leaving $125,000 unallocated
Net Reduction of $75.00.00 or .06 cents since $425,000 reduction is already in managers
recommended cuts
TOTAL REDUCTION OF 2.11 CENTS OR $2,519,534
• INCREASE THE PER PUPIL ALLOCATION FUNDING FOR BOTH SCHOOL SYSTEMS
BY THE EG2UIVILENT OF 1 CENT OR $1,187,000. 00 or $67.00 per student for a total
increase of $162.000
This money would be allocated between the school systems as follows:
Chapel Hill Carrboro ----$727,821.00 (net gain of $336,821}
Orange County------------$469,871.00
Increase of 1 cent
NON-DEPARTMENTAL INCREASES AND DECREASES:
1. +$5,000 for A Helping Hand
2. +$18,000 for Partnership to End Homelessness
3. -$25,000 for Orange Alamance Water System Consultant
4. -$20,000 in Commissioners Reserve
5. -$15,000 in Managers Reserve
Net of $37,000 decrease in spending or .03 cent
• REDUCE THE RECOMMENDED TAX RATE BY ONE-THIRD CENT ($396,000) AND
INSTRUCT THE MANAGER TO RETURN IN AUGUST WITH AN ITEMIZED LIST OF
PROPOSED CUTS
NET REDUCTION IN MANAGERS RECOMMENDATION OF 1.47 CENTS FROM 86.8 TO
85.33 CENTS
• REDUCE THE CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO DISTRICT TAX FROM 17.5 CENTS TO 17.0
CENTS
THIS WOULD REDUCE REVENUE FROM DISTRICT TAX BY $381,000. THIS REDUCTION
WOULD BE MADE UP BY THE INCREASE IN THE PER PUPIL ALLOCATION AND
PRODUCE A NET GA1N throtaph per pupr! OF $336,829.00 FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS
EXPENSES.
Commissioner Gordon clarified that Chair Corey's plan would cut 1.5 cents from the
Manager's recommended budget and Commissioner Jacobs' and Commissioner Foushee's
would cut 2.5 cents.
Commissioner Halkiatis said that the CHCCS district tax generates $762,000 per penny.
Under Commissioner Jacobs'/Foushee's proposal, the CHCCS would gain $762,000 and then
an additional $727,821 from the per pupil for a total of $1.489 million.
Commissioner Gordon said that her understanding of the Commissioner
Jacobs/Commissioner Foushee proposal is that the per pupil funding is raised, but it is offset by
the decrease in the capital funding.
Commissioner Jacobs said that it is directly being allocated for operating expenses.
Unlike the scenario from the Manager's proposals, they thought they had reached a place to
keep the recurring capital for the County.
Commissioner Gordon made reference to the chart she handed out a few weeks ago
that showed the comparison of capital appropriations increase this year over last year. The
increase over last year in capital is $99,000 far the CHCCS, $1.8 million for the OCS and $3.3
million for the County government. Her point was that transferring money out of capital would
cause the CHCCS to be in a negative situation. Her handout is shown below:
COMPARISON OF CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS -JUNE 12, 2005
The Manager's Presentation for the Budget Public Hearing included a chart entitled
"Comparison of Capital Appropriations" which made comparisons between the Original 2004-
2005 Budget and the Recommended 2005-2006 Budget. The chart assumed
3 cents for school recurring capital and 1 cent for county recurring capital. The last column of
the chart showed the increase of the current year over the previous year.
(You can view this chart on the county website by clicking on Departments and Services and
selecting the Budget Office, and then the 2005-2006 Public Hearing Presentation. The chart is
on page 28 of the 34 pages in the presentation.)
INCREASE IN CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2005-2006
The chart below takes the numbers in the last column in the Public Hearing Presentation chart
and simply separates the Schools part of the chart into CHCCS and OCS. The County part of
the chart remains the same.
CHCCS
Recurring Capital
PAYG Long Range Capital
TOTAL CHCCS
Amount of Increase (Decrease)
$ 902,302
(802,955)
Recurring and Long Range Capital $ 99.347
OCS
Recurring Capital
PAYG Long Range Capital
$ 569,994
1,301, 415
TOTAL OCS
Recurring and Long Range Capital $ 1,871,409
COUNTY
Recurring Capital $ 1,162,650
PAYG Long Range Capital 2,212,714
TOTAL COUNTY
Recurring and Long Range Capital $ 3,375,364
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REDUCING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS
Discussions about reducing either the recurring capital or long-range capital should consider
whether the reductions would hold CHCCS harmless in 2005-2006 as compared with 2004-
2005. That is because the recommendation for the current year for CHCCS is only $99,347
over the previous year. Since 1 cent on the tax rate equals $1,162,650 in this chart, significant
reductions would push CHCCS into negative numbers.
Note: Projected number of students for CHCCS is 10,863 and for OCS is 7,013.
Commissioner Gordon said that she has not had time to review either budget proposal
made by the Commissioners. However, she does prefer to consider whether the $200,000 for
Tier III projects should be allocated on a per pupil basis. In terms of reducing the tax rate 2.5 or
1.5 cents, she thinks they should attempt to increase the per pupil more. She suggested going
to a 7-cent increase and allocating the money to the schools. She thinks the Board has to
decide what it wants to do in terms of the tax increase.
Commissioner Foushee agreed with Commissioner Gordon in that the Board must
determine how much of a reduction in the tax rate there should be. She would support raising
the proposed 6.5 tax increase to 7, if the half-cent would ga to schools. If that were the case,
she would withdraw the addition to the district tax. Commissioner Jacobs said that he is not
ready to go to 7 cents.
Chair Carey said that he would not support an increase in the district tax. He wants to
reduce the district tax and narrow the gap so when they start talking about equity, the ground to
cover will be less. He thinks that anything less than that, if it involves an increase in the district
tax, is not a step in the direction of equity.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he does not agree with the comments from some
people that are trying to demonize the CHCCS district tax. He was not talking about Chair
Carey. If people in the OCS had been allowed to vote on a district tax, this would be in the past.
He said that, had it not been far all of the progressive minded people in Orange County, there
would not be a lot of the new schools that exist in the County. He does not believe there will
ever be a good budget year. He suggested setting up a committee in August to take over the
budget process from the beginning and tell the staff what the Board wants. He does not have a
problem with 6.5 or 7 cents if the schools get the additional money. He is ready to move ahead.
Commissioner Jacobs said that if they were to add a half cent and add it to the per pupil
allocation, OCS would get an additional $232,000 and the CHCCS would get an additional
$362,000.
Commissioner Gordon said that if you do it that way, then it is not holding the CHCCS
harmless on capital funding. She thinks they should hold them harmless on capital. She said
that it appears that the only way to hold them harmless in the Foushee/Jacobs proposal is to
raise the district tax. She does not understand why there is na other alternative.
Discussion ensued about the proposal of the tax increase and the district tax.
John Link said that there seemed to be some gravitation toward pursuing a cut from 9
cents to 7 cents, with keeping the CHCCS district tax revenue neutral and that the additional
money would go toward per pupil funding. His observation is that you cannot keep the tax
increase at 7 cents and hold the CHCCS harmless and increase the per pupil. He said that this
would only be a decrease in the increase far the CHCCS and not a decrease in the overall
capital.
Commissioner Gordon asked under what circumstances one school system could
request that same of their capital funds could be switched to operating funds, and vice versa, if
the other school system and the County Commissioners agreed. John Link said that there had
to be an agreement by all three, and then it could be done.
Commissioner Gordon said that it is important to her to hold the CHCCS harmless on
capital.
Chair Carey said that he could not support an increase in the district tax because of the
issue of equity. He is not trying to demonize the district tax.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he heard that CHCCS is not going to have the money
to do the job, and he looks at this increase as a temporary one-year fix to help them with the
decreased number of students from DPI. He said that he heard from CHCCS that they wanted
help with day-to-day operating issues and not capital.
Commissioner Jacobs asked a representative from the OCS if they have changed their
views an the Tier 3. The representative said that they have not discussed this since the Chair
expressed her views.
Commissioner Jacobs said that this Board has made it clear that it is committed to
addressing equity and not equalization. These budget proposals are an attempt to move in that
direction. He would be willing to take the $200,000 designated for Tier 3 and put it into per pupil
and reduce the district tax by the increase that the CHCCS would get from that, which is
$122,000. He agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis that this is an extraordinary circumstance.
Commissioner Gordon said that she wants to try to address funding equity. She
believes that steps were made towards equity because the Commissioners increased the OCS
capital budget by about $1.4 million and the CHCCS capital budget by less than $100,000, if
CHCCS uses the increase in the district tax for capital needs. Otherwise, if they use the district
tax increase for operational needs, CHCCS capital funding will decrease by several hundred
thousand dollars.
Both school systems are hurting on the operational side.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to
limit the property tax increase to 6.5 cents.
VOTE: Ayes, 4; No, 1 (Chair Carey)
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to
accept the proposed changes by him and Commissioner Foushee, with the change that the Tier
3 monies be converted to per pupil monies and that the district tax increase for the CHCCS
reflect a reduction of the $122,000 that it would gain through the reallocation of the Tier 3 fund
{1 cent minus $122,000), and that the employees get a 4% in-range increase.
VOTE: Ayes, 4; No, 1 (Chair Carey -because he cannot support an increase in the district tax}
b. BOCC adopts "Resolution of Intent" with major decision points {e.g. tax rates,
school current expense, employee pay and benefits, organization initiatives, fire
district tax rates, outside agency funding)
The Resolution of Intent was on the bright yellow sheet.
A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to
adopt the fire district tax rates as stated on the Resolution of Intent.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Commissioner Jacobs said that since they have appropriated to the firelrescue strategic
plan funds, he would hope that the fire districts would participate, but he would like to do the
strategic plan regardless of whether they participate or nat. Commissioner Halkiotis said that if
they do not participate, it does not make sense to do it.
Commissioner Jacobs made reference to electrical inspections and asked about
miscellaneous inspections and how each extra trip works. Planning Director Craig Benedict
said that an extra trip is if the inspector went back to the office and had to come back out. It
would be generated from a call by the contractor that was not scheduled. Commissioner
Jacobs suggested calling it an "unscheduled trip" rather than an "extra trip."
Commissioner Jacobs asked about the recreation fees on page 3. He asked if there was
any way to subsidize the participants based on their ability to pay. Recreation and Parks
Director Lari Taft said that they have some special applications from the DSS that reduces the
rates. Commissioner Jacobs asked how many take advantage of that and Lori Taft said that
they do not advertise it, but they do let people know that if they cannot pay, they can still
participate. In the current summer camp, there is about 20-30 that are paying less than 50°~ of
the regular rate out of 100.
Commissioner Jacobs would like to see comparable rates for comparable counties far
recreation and parks fees. Lori Taft said that they have completed a study, which showed that
the fees were comparable to counties around them.
A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to
approve the recommendation of the fee schedule as proposed in the agenda packet.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
The formal Resolution of Intent will be brought back on June 23rd for adoption
c. Discussionldeliberationldecisions regarding School and County CIP
John Link said that because of actions taken tonight, they will bring back the much needed
project ordinances on June 23rd, but the cuts tonight will necessitate that both the school
systems and the County adjust the CIP numbers through the summer. The adjusted numbers
will be brought back in August.
Commissioner Jacobs said if they are going to put an emphasis on energy efficiency and
conservation, then they might want to put more of an emphasis on HVAC systems ar water
fixtures so that they are addressing these kinds of issues on a higher priority basis. John Link
said that they would add this emphasis.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that if they had implemented the water saving devices years
ago they would be ahead of the game.
Commissioner Gordon asked some clarifying questions about the debt issuance schedule
and Donna Dean answered. She asked where the $5 million was coming from for animal
services. Donna Dean said that this is a proposal based on the 2005 Space Study Update. It
would be alternative financing.
Commissioner Gordon thought the County was up against its debt capacity limit until 2007-
08. Rod Visser said that there is a need to revisit the debt capacity charts because things have
changed since the charts were done last year. He suggested updating this information and
folding it into an item an June 23rd
Commissioner Gordon suggested scheduling a capital work session after the summer break
and so as not to put so much information and items like this in on June 23rd. She does not want
to program any new debt besides the 213 net debt reduction.
Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to encourage the Manager to keep the
conservation easements up to par. He would like to see it at $250,000 a year. It is currently
proposed for $150,000, and there is also $50,000 in pay-as-you-go funds. Commissioner
Halkiotis endorses this. John Link agreed to look into this. Commissioner Gordon wants to
know the source of the funds before the Commissioners make a decision on this matter.
Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the tennis court resurfacing of OHS for $15,000.
He wondered how this got on the budget, because he does not remember the Board ever
discussing it. Commissioner Halkiotis said that this has been along-standing agreement
between the OCS and the Orange County Recreation and Parks department. The courts are to
be updated and the costs are to be split equally between the two entities. Chair Carey said that
this agreement should be cleaned up and brought back as well as any future agreements with
the courts at Cedar Ridge High School.
Chair Carey suggested pulling all of these types of agreements with the school systems and
organizing them.
John Link encouraged the Board to let the County proceed with its half of the resurfacing for
citizen usage. It has been an understanding in the past and it can be solidified far the future.
He will bring all of the agreements back.
Lori Taft said that they did have an agreement and it expired in December, but they are still
operating under the terms, which includes that the Recreation and Parks department pays for
the lights, assists with some of the supplies, and pay 50% of the capital repairs.
Commissioner Jacobs asked Lari Taft to bring this contract back on June 23'd
1. Space Needs Report
2. Facility Needs Report
3. Debt Issuance Schedule
4. Debt Capacity
d. Closed Session
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to go
into closed session at 9:45:PM for the purpose of:
a. 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," NCGS ; 143-318.11(a}(5}. (SportsPlex}
b. 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 properly, a portion of Annie Freeland's property surrounding and including
Orange County's Solid Waste Convenience Center, for solid waste purposes.
c. "to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, or fitness of
an individual, public officer or employee." NCGS § 143-318.11(a)(6}.
The Board reconvened into regular session at 10:55 PM.
Donna Dean outlined the updated numbers for the Resolution of Intent:
The total current expense appropriation for schools is $49,981,296. The appropriation to
the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is $30,373,385 and the appropriations to the Orange
County Schools is $19,607,911. The per pupil allocation is approved at $2,796, which reflects a
$173 increase.
The property tax rate is set at 84.3 cents.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District Tax is 18.34 cents.
Commissioner Gordan asked what the pay and benefits plan includes. Donna Dean
said that this includes 4% in-range salary increases for proficient or higher work effective far
fiscal year 2005-2006; a $5.00 increase in the County 401 k contribution; increase the County's
living wage from $9.11 per hour to $9.34 per hour; and elimination of grade 7 in the salary
schedule.
Commissioner Jacobs asked for a calculation of the 6.5-cent increase and what
percentage of that is going to school funding, including the debt service. Commissioner Gordon
would like to see the overall percentage of the County budget going to schools.
A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
adjourn the meeting at 11:00 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Donna 5. Baker
Clerk to the Board