HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-23-2014 - 6f 1
ORD-2014-004
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 23, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-f
SUBJECT: FY 2013-14 Budget Amendment#4-A—Approval of a 0.50 FTE Increase and a
General Fund Intrafund Transfer to Establish a 1.0 FTE Agricultural Economic
Development Coordinator
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Cooperative Extension
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Brantley, 245-2330
Carl Matyac, 245-2050
PURPOSE: To increase the full-time equivalent (FTE) for a reclassified Agricultural Economic
Development Coordinator from 0.50 FTE to 1.0 FTE and transfer budgeted, contract personnel
funds from Cooperative Extension to Economic Development to cover the FTE increase.
BACKGROUND: During summer 2013, Economic Development, Cooperative Extension and
Human Resources discussed the restructuring of two, part-time vacant positions into one full-
time position. The departments agreed to combine a 20-hour-per-week Agricultural Extension
Agent in Cooperative Extension with an existing 0.50 FTE Agricultural Economic Development
Coordinator in Economic Development to create a full-time Agricultural Economic Development
Coordinator position.
The Coordinator would solicit agricultural-related businesses to Orange County; assist
agricultural professionals with business plan development and marketing fundamentals;
workshop coordination; and event planning (e.g. the County Fair, Piedmont Farm Tour). The
Coordinator would also assist Cooperative Extension with projects, such as the PLANT @
Breeze training, Agricultural Summit and the Farm-to-Fork program, and lead fundraising efforts
for the Breeze Family Farm Incubator Program. The Coordinator's expenses would be
budgeted in the Economic Development Department, with office space in Cooperative
Extension's building, and the position would report to the Economic Development Director.
Cooperative Extension and Economic Development request the Board increase the reclassified
position's FTE, by 0.50, to create a full-time Coordinator position (1.0 FTE). Currently,
Cooperative Extension's Agricultural Extension Agent has permanent position status and
budgeted funds, but no County FTE designation. Cooperative Extension employees are
considered State personnel, partially subsidized in Cooperative Extension's budget. The
employees are not Orange County employees and do not have County FTE designations. For
that reason, the reclassified Coordinator position would need an additional 0.50 FTE to become
a 1.0 FTE position.
2
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding the 0.50 FTE increase would not require additional County
funds. Personnel funds for the existing Agricultural Extension Agent total $26,125 and are
budgeted within Cooperative Extension's FY 2013-14 Operating Budget.
This action requires Board approval because a General Fund transfer of $26,125 will occur
between departments and across government functions (from the Cooperative Extension
Department within the Human Services Function, into the Economic Development Department
within the Community and Environment Function), to move the expenditure budgets to
Economic Development.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Approve the 0.50 FTE increase for the Agriculture Economic Development Coordinator
position; and
2) Approve a General Fund Intrafund Transfer of $26,125 from Cooperative Extension to
Economic Development for the full-time Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator
position.