HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19870724 . 1
APPROVED FEBRUARY 1. 1988
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSIONS
JUNE 24, 1987
4 :00 P.M.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a budget work session
on June 24,1987 at 4: 00 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners' Room, New
County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Shirley E. Marshall and Commissioners
Moses Carey, Jr. , Stephen Halkiotis, and John Hartwell.
BOARD MEMBER ABSENT: Don Willhoit.
STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County
Managers William T. Laws and Albert Kittrell, Finance Director Gordon
Baker, Recreation Director Mary Anne Black, Clerk to the Board Beverly A.
Blythe, Deputy Finance Officer Ken Chavious, Planning Director Marvin
Collins, Director of Purchasing Pam Jones, Department on Aging Staff Kathy
Kearns, Louise Baker, and Kathy Lewis, Orange County Librarian Kathy
Peiffer, Major Don Truelove, Budget/Management Analyst Donna Wagner and
Personnel Director Beverly Whitehead.
LIBRARY
Ken Thompson stated that the current years budget is being funded at
$161, 123 ; the requested amount is $187, 660; the recommended amount is
$178, 183 . This includes merit increases for the staff and Sunday library
service.
Nancy Massey stated that the item cut from the budget was $9, 000 to
be used as a supplement to the book budget. The fund balance is used to
pay the July payroll which takes about $10, 000. She gave circulation
figures which were included in a handout to the Board.
The Board decided to add to the markup list $9,527 for books for the
Hyconeechee Library.
RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY COUNCIL
As Chair of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council Lorraine Parker
stated the Council ' s support for the department's budget. She distributed
a list of proposed markups.
Recreation and Parks Director Mary Anne Black stated that the
Schools' share of the money for repair of the tennis courts at Orange High
is in their budget but not in the County' s budget. These courts are used
during school hours and by the community during nonschool hours.
Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that a fee be charged for lights by those
using the courts. The cost for resurfacing the courts would be $15, 000 to
be shared equally by the County and the Schools.
Ken Thompson stated that an agreement has not been reached on the use
of the courts by the schools and the county. Commissioner Halkiotis indi-
cated he would look into this matter. The Board agreed to put $7, 500 on
the markup list.
Mary Anne Black noted that although the County has two new
facilities, no money was included in the budget for personnel. The Board
agreed that the money for additional personnel should be added back in the
budget.
Speaking for the Arts Commission, Mary Anne Black requested that
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$3100 be placed in the budget to provide for temporary personnel for that
commission.
Chair Marshall asked for some statistics on Lake Michael to include
how many Orange County citizens are using the park and if the County is
being included in the programming for the Lake.
DEPARTMENT ON AGING
Reverend Richard Hildebrandt spoke on behalf of the Senior Citizens
Board. He referred to a letter that was distributed to the Board. A
full-time receptionist position was requested to provide the necessary
coverage in the transportation department.
Ken Thompson noted that money had been placed in the budget for a co-
op student who will work four hours a day.
The Board agreed to put $8, 652 on the mark-up list for this
additional position.
Reverend Hildebrandt explained the problem the Department was having
in transporting non-emergency elderly persons outside the County. Chair
Marshall asked that the situation be reviewed and a report be brought back
to the Board.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Planning Board Chair Barry Jacobs spoke in support of the Planning
Department's budget. He pointed out that the budget is sufficient for
only the work that has been outlined. However, the budget is insufficient
if additional items are added to the workplan.
Chair Marshall expressed concern that the budget allows for no
flexibility to cover additional items that may be delegated to the
Planning Department.
Discussion ensued on the computer system and the changeover to the
personal computers. Collins indicated that the computer system will be
used in an overall information system approach for the Planning Dept. He
made the point that the Board will either need to lower their expectations
in terms of what is expected to be accomplished or provide money for
additional staff. An alternative to this would be to spread the work over
a longer period of time or to use outside consultants. After extended
discussion it was decided by the Board to add to the markup list an
additional amount of $5, 000 to the already $25, 000 budgeted for con-
sultants.
PERSONNEL - CAFETERIA BENEFIT PLAN
Personnel Director Beverly Whitehead made the presentation. She
distributed information on the cafeteria plan and explained that the
Manager's recommended budget provides money for' an innovative plan which
increases employees benefits, provides some choices in the benefits they
receive, reduces the employees income tax withholdings and also reduces
employer payroll taxes. There are two components to the plan: (1)
flexible compensation and (2) choices. The program will be administered
by Tucker Administrators from Charlotte. The costs will include (1) an
installation fee of $50. 00 and (2) $2 . 00 per employee per pay period for
administrative charges. These funds are budgeted in the Personnel budget.
It is estimated that there will be a savings in payroll taxes of $40, 000
to offset the total cost.
With reference to implementation of the new pay plan, Commissioner
Carey asked that figures be provided for (1) a 4 .2% increase, (2) a 4 .6%
increase, (3) the cost of reclassification and (4) the cost of merit.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further items to discuss, Chair Marshall adjourned the
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meeting.
Shirley E. Marshall, Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk