HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-03-1996 - IX-D 1
Orange County
Board of County Commissioners
Action Agenda
Item No V---D
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: September 3, 1996
Subject: Proposed Policy for Funding Requests Outside of the Budget Process
Department Public Hearing Yes No_x-
County Manager Budget Amendment
Needed Yes No_x_
Attachment(s) Information Contact
John Link, ext. 2300
Sally Kost, ext. 2151
Telephone and Extension Number
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose
To consider a proposed policy for funding requests outside of the budget process.
Background
As part of Orange County's annual budget process, each Spring the County receives
and reviews numerous requests for funding from community organizations. These
requests are reviewed by the Manager's Office, by Budget staff, by the Department
Heads responsible for associated services, and by the Human Services Advisory
Committee. The County Manager considers information from all of these sources in
developing a funding recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
Occasionally at other times throughout the year, the Board of Commissioners receives
requests from community organizations for County funding. While most of these
requests address real community concerns and needs, because of limited available
funds, it is important that these requests be considered at a time when the Board of
Commissioners are weighing all funding requests and making priority decisions. The
proposed source of funding is often the Board of Commissioners' contingency fund,
which is the funding source for not only new items not anticipated during budget
deliberations, but true emergencies as they may occur.
2
Proposed Procedure - Effective immediately, the Board of Commissioners will
consider only requests for emergency funding outside of the normal budget process. An
emergency exists when:
1. The physical well-being of citizens is at immediate risk;
2. Unanticipated events severely jeopardize the continued existence of a
community agency/organization;
Requests determined by the Board of Commissioners not to be an emergency will be
referred to the County Manager and considered during the County's normal budget
process. The Manager presents his recommended budget in late May each year. If the
request is not funded in the Manager's Recommended Budget, an agency/organization
can appeal to the Board of Commissioners during the budget public hearings or budget
work sessions. Funding requests can be considered as part of the Manager's
Recommended Budget, if received by May 1.
Recommendation
The Manager recommends that the Board of Commissioners adopt a policy to consider
funding requests outside of the budget process for emergency situations only.