HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-05-2008-5bImpact Statements Regarding Possible FY 2008-09 Program Eliminations
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The Recommended FY 2008-09 fiscal year budget proposed a tax rate of 103.8 cents per $100 valuation, reflecting
an increase of 8.8 cents over the FY 2007-08 approved rate of 95 cents. During the FY 2008-09 budget
presentation on May 20, 2008, the Board expressed desire to reduce the recommended ad valorem tax rate of
$1.038 per $100 valuation to a lower rate. The Board is scheduled to discuss possible modifications to the budget,
during its June 5, 2008 budget work session. The attached list is in priority order.
The first three sections of the modification list include reductions in expenses, deferral of new programs, efficiency
measures and possible fee increases that would have minimal impacts on County services. Section 4 of the
spreadsheet proposes elimination of certain County programs and appropriations. Below are impact statements
related to items included in Section 4.
4-a. Parks & Recreation -Eliminate County Support to Community Theater ($5,000)
Orange Community Players is a community organization that has worked with Orange County Parks and
Recreation to put on productions. Elimination of $5,000, the equivalent of 50% of the county's support,
for Community Theater would require Orange Community Players to conduct fund raising efforts. This
group is in the process of establishing themselves as a 501 c3 organization. County support
would continue to assist in the rental of an area school facility, which in the past has cost about $5,000. It
is estimated that as many as 40-50 community members have participated in each summer production {on
stage and behind stage} with as many as 1,500 spectators attending the four shows each year.
4-b. Parks & Recreation -Eliminate Gospel Festival ($2,000)
Elimination of funding for Gospel Festival would impact local groups that perform at the festival, and
about 400 spectators who attend the event each year. If no support is provided, the event would most
likely be discontinued.
4-c. Health Department -Eliminate Help 4 Kids Program ($11,286)
This program has been either fully or partially funded by Smart Start since the early 1990s and has
provided a single portal of entry to services for children age 0-5 who are at risk for development delays.
Historically, Smart Start has funded the cost of a full-time nurse who coordinates the program. However,
over the years Smart Start funding has not kept pace with the changing salaries of the position, and the
County has assumed a larger portion of the position cost. In addition, the reporting requirements, both for
evaluation and for financial accounting have increased substantially. Two years ago, the state created
regional service providers {Child Development Service Agencies} that were intended to provide triage and
referral services for the 0-3 population within the region. The Health Department worked with the regional
agency {CDSA} to avoid overlapping services and continued to provide birth certificate review and referral
services for the 3-5 age population. This year through the allocation process at Smart Start, a
recommendation was made by the Allocation Committee and approved by the Smart Start Board to reduce
funding for this project to $35,000 from the previous funding level of $56,760. However, program
requirements remained the same. The Health Director with the Board of Health's concurrence will
discontinue this program as of June 30, 2008.
4-d. Cooperative Extension -Eliminate Breast-Feeding Program ($42,070)
In December 2003, Commissioners agreed to fund the Breast Feeding Program after the State eliminated
funding for the initiative. The Gounty, in conjunction with Piedmont Health Services, offers education and
support services to new mothers regarding the benefits of breastfeeding. Approximately 220 Spanish
speaking mothers are expected to receive services this year. The County currently funds one full-time
equivalent position for this program. The position is currently filled.
4-e. Cooperative Extension -Eliminate Expanded Faod and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP}
($45,502)
The Expanded Foods and Nutrition program has been a part of the Cooperative Extension program since
1971. In 2003, Gommissioners agreed to participate in a cost share arrangement with the State after
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federal funds were eliminated. Approximately 240 English and Spanish speaking limited resource families
with children are reached through a series of educational classes or one-on-one teaching visits on nutrition,
food selection and buying, food preparation, and food safety in the EFNEP program. The County currently
funds one full-time equivalent position far this program. The position is currently filled. NC State University
provides funding for one position.
4-f. Parks & Recreation -Eliminate Special Populations programs ($2,100)
The elimination of Special Populations program funding would save the County about $2,100 next year.
The impact would be felt by approximately 100 individuals each month who are cognitively impaired.
grange County partners with the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill in sponsoring a monthly dance for
these young adults. A youth talent show would be eliminated that has served approximately 25 people in
the past. A few other smaller programs that run at no cost could continue to operate.
4-g. Arts Commission -Eliminate Local Arts Grants to artists ($23,000)
This proposal would eliminate the local arts grants for artists. The State arts grants program would
continue.
4-h. Department of Social Services -Eliminate County Veterans Services Office {$62,000)
It is projected that approximately 190 Orange County veterans or their families will receive assistance in
completing compensation applications, education applications or burial applications in the upcoming fiscal
year. In addition, the program coordinator participates in a number of outreach efforts targeted at
veterans. Elimination of county funding would mean that veterans would be required to seek services
through the regional office located in Winston-Salem and Veterans Administration {VA) hospital in Durham.
The County currently funds one full-time equivalent position for this program. The position is currently
filled.
4-i. Department of Social Services -Eliminate County Aid to Blind Program ($12,000}
The Services for the Blind contract pays for a social worker to provide counseling and adjustment services
to about 50 persons with visual impairments and provides to services in their homes two days per week. If
the County does not contribute to the State for contract services, County social workers would need to
serve these persons, mostly older adults, through the existing social work program.
4-j. Department of Social Services -Eliminate County Contribution to Child Care Subsidy {$70,000)
These funds provide for day care subsidy sponsorship and payback programs. $50,000 is allocated to the
sponsor program wherein a business, community group or individual can pay a portion of child care costs
to remove a child from the subsidy wait list and begin services, and $20,000 is for the county "payback." (~f
employee subsidies. These funds are only used if state and federal funds are not available and can be
used to match any reallocations.
4-k. Health Department -Eliminate Families in Focus Program ($20,365)
This is a child abuse prevention program that serves young, first-time parents and disadvantaged families.
These individuals lack basic parenting knowledge and skills and they are a high risk for child abuse and
neglect based an a set of predetermined risk factors. Children with learning disabilities and behavioral
problems are also served. The current social worker is bilingual and provides services to a caseload of 25
to 30 Hispanic/Latino families. The present nurse is funded by Smart Start grant funds and provides
services to 25-30 families.
If the County eliminates the Families in Focus program, the Health Department would be required to serve
63 currently enrolled families in the Child Service Coordination program. This caseload for CSC would
mean that the Department would need at least one worker to carry the increased caseload.
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4-I. Health Department -Eliminate Community Nutrition Program ($32,989)
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Major services provided through this program include educational sessions in nutrition for Senior Centers,
diabetes education, supports the County's Employee Wellness Program, and technical assistance and
consultation for the Orange County Jail.
4-m. Health Department -Eliminate Medical Reserve Corps/CERT Program ($41,131)
Program provides structure and organization for volunteers to assist in the event of an emergency in the
county. Currently there are 207 volunteers in Medical Reserve Corps in 28 different categories
4-n. Health Department -Eliminate Primary Care Program ($20,365)
Program provides well and sick care to adults and children that are currently enrolled in one of the health
department prevention programs. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale with a minimum fee of $15.
Services in Hillsborough began in January of 2005 and services in Chapel Hill began in January of 2006.
Between July 1, 2007 and May 29, 2008 there were 370 unduplicated patients served in 663 visits. 39%
(106) of the Hillsborough patients were self-pay and 96% of those are in the 0-20% pay category while
62% {63) of the Ghapel Hill patients were self-pay with 85% of those in the 0-20% pay category.
4-0. Library and Recreation Municipal Support -Eliminate County Contribution ($375,141)
This would eliminate the County's voluntary contribution to Ghapel Hill, Carrboro and Mebane for recreation
services and Chapel Hill and Mebane for library services.
4-p. Contributions to C?utside Agencies -Maintain current year funding level ($246,629)
Impacts on Education Funding
Education Share of the County's
General Fund 48.90%
enerate y 1 ent on ax ate $1,271,729
rer rupu tquivaieni or rseaucuon
If Education funding was reduced by $621,875 resulting in a per pupil allocation
reduction, the per pupil amount would reduce from the current recommended
amount of $3,256 to $3,221.
If Education funding was reduced by $1,243,751 resulting in a per pupil allocation
reduction, the per pupil amount would reduce from the current recommended
amount of $3,256 to $3,187.
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