HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-10-2014 - 3 14
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 10, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 3
SUBJECT: Budget Goals for Fiscal 2014/2015
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
A. Orange County Board of County Michael Talbert, 245-2308
Commissioners Budget Goals Fiscal
2014/2015
PURPOSE: To review and discuss Board of Commissioners Budget Goals for Fiscal
2014/2015.
BACKGROUND: On January 31, 2014 the Board held a Retreat and discussed Budget Goals
for Fiscal 2014/2015. Attachment 1 list the Board Goals in the priority order established at the
retreat. The Board requested that the Manager provide an update on the Goals and provide the
Board the opportunity to discuss the Budget Goal, for Fiscal 2014/2015.
Budget Goals for Fiscal 2014/2015
1. Defending the quality of public education
The Board of County Commissioners has always ranked Education as the County's #1 priority,
with an established target of 48.1 percent of the County General Fund Revenues for total
education funding. This includes Current Expense, Recurring Capital, Long-Range Capital,
School Debt Service and Fair Funding. The Fiscal 2013/2014 Budget included a total of
$89,424,651 for Local School Systems Expenses or 48.99 % of the County's General Fund
Revenues.
2. Insure our safety net services
The Fiscal 2013/2014 Budget included $250,000 for a Social Justice Reserve Fund that can be
used to offset State cuts to critical human services and other related programs. On December
2, 2014 the Board approved a transfer of $100,000 to the Social Services Department to cover
the cost of crisis services for families served by the Department. A budget of$150,000 remains
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in the Social Justice Reserve Fund and the Reserve Fund is being evaluated as part of the
annual budget process.
3. Funding for sewer and hook ups in Rogers Road area(construction)
Funding is included in the Manager Recommended FY 2014-19 Capital Investment Plan.
4. Targeted funding to address child poverty i.e., increase childcare subsidies
7. Address hunger issues with children (additional subsidies)
Poverty and child poverty will be discussed in May, 2014 work sessions and recommended
funding levels have not yet been determined.
5. Support broad range of economic development— new and existing businesses
(make sure to support infrastructure)
Economic initiatives approved by the Board continue to move forward including the '/4 cent sales
tax to support infrastructure.
6. Consider limit to viability of tax increase
This goal will be reviewed and evaluated as part of the annual budget process.
8. Continue improvement in Public Safety
Recommendations from the Emergency Services Workgroup are continuing to be executed.
9. Consider jail alternatives, maintain funding for drug treatment court
The Jail Alternatives Work Group is currently meeting and will present recommendations to the
Board by June 30, 2014.
10. Give priority to funding core county services (before discretionary services)
This goal will be reviewed and evaluated as part of the annual budget process.
11. Reducing inequities in funding between two school districts, even if it means
raising the general property tax (since one school has a school district tax)
Fair Funding, $988,000 is the only public revenue source that is distributed equally, with
$494,000 going to each system. This local revenue source is the only revenue distribution not
based on student population.
There is also a Special District Tax of 20.84 cents for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools with
one penny equal to $1,029,085 for a total of $21,446,131 and is not incorporated into the 48.1
percent target. One penny on the County's property tax is equal to $1,606,869. For each one
penny increase in County's property tax rate, $1,606,869 of new revenues could be generated
for education. With 38.5% ($618,645) going to the Orange County Schools and 61.5%
($988,224) going to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. In return the County could reduce
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the Special District Tax for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools resulting in a reduction of
$1,029,085.
Net impact:
Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools Decrease of$40,861, (988,224 — 1,029,085)
Orange County Schools Increase of $618,645
New funding going to Education $577,784
The 48.1 % target would move toward 50%
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact for the Board to review and discuss Budget
Goals for Fiscal 2014/2015.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review and discuss Board
Budget Goals for Fiscal 2014/2015 and provide direction to staff.
Attachment A 17
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Budget Goals Fiscal 2014/2015
1. Defending the quality of public education
2. Insure our safety net services
3. Funding for sewer and hook ups in Rogers Road area( construction)
4. , Targeted funding to address child poverty i.e., increase childcare subsidies
5. Support broad range of economic development— new and existing businesses
( make sure to support infrastructure)
6. Consider limit to viability of tax increase
7. Address hunger issues with children ( additional subsidies)
8. Continue improvement in Public Safety
9. Consider jail alternatives, maintain funding for drug treatment court
10. Give priority to funding core county services ( before discretionary services)
11. Reducing inequities in funding between two school districts, even if it means
raising the general property tax ( since once school has a school district tax)
Other Goals discussed at the Retreat
• Resources to download agenda items individually rather than en masse
• Ensure Information Technology approach is state of the art for Board of County
Commissioners, citizens, transparency
• Address inequities through long term plan
• Sound land use planning
• Re-visit school funding equity as means of challenging their assumptions
• Consider jail alternatives, maintain funding for drug treatment court
• Address school to prison pipeline