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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19850619 000147 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION JUNE 19, 1985 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a budget work session on June 19, 1985, at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Don Willhoit and Commissioner Shirley Marshall, Moses Carey, Ben Lloyd and Norman Walker. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County Manager Albert Kittrell, Director of Personnel Beverly M. Whitehead, Director of Finance Gordon Baker, Director of Social Services Tom Ward, Director of the Department on Aging Jerry Passmore, Director of Health Jerry Robinson, Financial Analyst Donna Clayton, County Librarian Kathy Peiffer and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe. Chair Willhoit announced the purpose of this budget session is to hear and discuss the budget presentations from seven agencies. LIBRARY Nancy 0. Massey, Library Director, stated the total library request was for $203,359. Included in this amount is $23,845 for a branch at Cedar Grove and $27,927 for the upgrade of personnel to include a 5% cost of living increase and merit raises. Commissioner Marshall pointed out that the Library employees should receive the same increase as other County employees. She suggested that Beverly Whitehead do a comparison salary study for library employees. Massey indicated the fund balance is expected to be $5,000 for 84-85 and zero for 85-86. The state funds received are not earmarked but left to the discretion of the local library board. Commissioner Lloyd asked if a salary comparison had been made with other like agencies in surrounding counties and Massey indicated that a comparison was made with other salaries of Orange County employees. The book circulation for Orange County totals about 80,000 for this year which is an increase of about 18%. Kenneth Thompson pointed out that the Manager's recommendation for the library included a 5% increase over last years ' amount. Chair Willhoit noted that the expenditure reports need to be reviewed so the same rationale can be applied to the library budget as for the other County departments. He noted that the proposed increase for salaries was $9,000 more than that allocated for other County departments and $17,000 more for non- personnel program improvements. Chair Willhoit noted that the same non-personnel increases should be given to the library as is provided for other County departments. The same salary increase of 5% plus 2/3 merit should also be provided. The question of salary improvements will need to be discussed further. Also the fund balance needs to be considered. To insure consistency, Chair Willhoit suggested that the Personnel Director do a study for reclassification and upgrade of positions. Kathy Peiffer spoke in support of the salary requests. DEPARTMENT ON AGING Ruth West, Chair of the County Senior Citizens Board, distributed information about the growth in population in Orange county. She endorsed the 000148 request for the two new positions, the computer equipment, the transportation supervisor, extra space at the Carrboro Center, etc. These items are not included in the Manager's recommended budget. Jerry Passmore explained that the Information and Referral position would require $7,055 in County funds. The cost for the clerk's position would be $15,603. Passmore explained the present situation of hiring senior citizens on a half-time basis and the lack of typing skills. He explained the growth in the demand for transportation. Kenneth Thompson explained that the federal funds can be matched. It is just a matter of adjusting the costs and the correct assigning. He explained that the I&R position was not recommended for inclusion in the budget because there are several positions in other departments devoted to I & R. The County needs to look at consolidating the seven (7) positions which have the same function spread over four (4) departments. The clerk position is needed. It was not included in the recommended budget because of other priority positions. Commissioner Marshall noted she favors consolidation but that so much of the Department on Aging's program is depended on the federal program in the way it is put together and I & R is a high priority in the federal act that provides funds and it would not be possible to merge this position into a County consolidation unless it would be locally funded. OPC MENTAL HEALTH Bill Baxter, Director, presented a flip chart which showed the total funds requested for 1985-86. He explained that $133,638 of the fund balance will be added to the budget leaving a $180,000 fund balance. The salary increase for staff includes a one step increase of approximately 5% and an additional 1.5% merit increase. This will cost approximately $188,000 for raises. The projected increase from the three counties is $83,499. The total county request of $603,000 represents a 16% increase. He compared the expenditures of each County. The program increase is 20%, but the request increase is only 10%. Baxter outlined the other sources of funds . $30,000 has been requested from Orange county which represents 11.2% increase for which the County receives 89% return on the money in services. He explained that the local funds are discretionary while most other funds are categorical. Commissioner Carey asked if there are any new positions or new programs in the budget and Baxter indicated there are no new positions or programs. Kenneth Thompson pointed out that an actual expenditure statement had not been received from OPC. While OPC has requested an increase of $30,000 from Orange County, the Manager's recommended budget includes only a $14,000 increase. Baxter indicated that what is not received from the Counties will need to be taken out of fund balance. Kenneth Thompson noted that further refinement of the information received from OPC needs to be completed. Baxter indicated that 85 of the total staff of 125 is Orange County staff and that a 5% increase totals more than the increase he is requesting in the budget. PUBLIC HEALTH Jerry Robinson, Director of Health, presented background information about the School Health Program. The program is working well and there is a good relationship between the schools and the administration. What is now being provided is 3-8 hours per school per week which is not adequate. The request 00049 which was not included in the County Manager's recommended budget is for one additional public health nurse and one half-time school health aid who would assume a lot of the paperwork that is now being done by the professional nurse. The total cost would be $25,203. He outlined the services which the public health nurse provides. RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT Ron Hyatt, member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council, stressed the importance of serving the people of Orange County in a manner that is cost effective and at the same time trying to improve the quality of life of the people in the county. The growth in the County is going to mean more needs that will have to be met. He talked about the past accomplishments of the Recreation and Parks Department. He listed the items that were requested by the Advisory Board and the staff that were not in the Manager's recommended budget. These are needs that will best serve the people in the County and include: (1) $2900 for mileage, (2) $1500 for filling in the pool on the Homestead Road Property and $9500 for reroofing. (3) $357 for a credenza (4) $10,000 to resurface the tennis courts, (5) $6,000 to build two restroom facilities, (6) $26,000 for a fitness trail at Efland Cheeks, and (7) $2,500 for a basketball scoreboard at Cedar Grove. Hyatt talked about the master park plan and noted that the Advisory Board and the Director of Parks and Recreation plan to review the plan and bring forth some recommendations for next year. Chair Willhoit referred to the municipal support and suggested allocating the same level of funds as last year to the municipalities and to charge the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to review the situation and programs and to choose specific activities or programs to support. Ron Hyatt stated the Council would welcome the opportunity to examine municipal support funds and work with Chapel Hill and Carrboro in any way to reach a fair and equitable solution. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Tom Ward, Director of Social Services, indicated there is a difference of $73,000 between the budget request and the Manager's recommended budget. The largest portion of this represents personnel which includes: (1) Adult Service Supervisor 1 - $22,600, (2) General Intake Eligibility Specialist - Hillsborough Office - $15,685, and (3) Eligibility Specialist for Medicaid - $15,685 (half of this would be paid for by the State) Also included were other items such as an increase in foster care clothing, word processor, travel and Cone Mill Employees Assistance Fund. Ward reviewed the personnel situation and gave justification for the request of additional personnel. He outlined the services that would be provided or enhanced by each new position. He indicated that the programs and services have increased but personnel have not increased for eight (8) years. He outlined some of the services that have been added to the department and new ones that may be added in the near future. 000 .50 Chair Willhoit asked for a report on what the Social Services Department is doing to keep an accounting of the legislation which may have an impact on funds. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Verla Insko, Coordinator, introduced to the Board the incoming Chair, Judy Eastman. Insko explained that two items were presented for consideration by the Board: (1) Increase from half-time coordinator to full-time coordinator. She explained that a half-time coordinator position is inadequate for the work load. She outlined the work the Commission does. (2) Upgrade the pay grade to 68. She indicated that the low pay grade does not compensate for the amount of overtime or for the required skills for the job. The request in the budget was to upgrade the position to fulltime at pay grade 68. Commissioner Walker raised the question of whether or not the Commission for Women was considered as a County Department Head. Beverly Whitehead explained that the coordinator's position was compared with like positions when the reclassification study was done by the Institute of Government. Insko outlined the requirements in her job description and emphasized the required skills for the position which warrant a higher pay grade. ADJOURNMENT Chair Willhoit adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be a budget work session on June 24, 1985, at 7:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the old Post Office in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Don Willhoit, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk