HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-03-2015 - 6a 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 3, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-a
SUBJECT: MINUTES
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Baker, 245-2130
Draft Minutes
PURPOSE: To correct and/or approve the minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board as
listed below:
May 29, 2014 BOCC Budget Work Session
June 5, 2014 BOCC Budget Work Session
June 12, 2014 BOCC Budget Work Session
January 22, 2015 BOCC Regular Meeting
January 27, 2015 BOCC Work Session
January 30, 2015 BOCC Retreat
BACKGROUND: In accordance with 153A-42 of the General Statutes, the Governing Board
has the legal duty to approve all minutes that are entered into the official journal of the Board's
proceedings.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: NONE
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve minutes as
presented or as amended.
1
I Attachment 1
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
6 May 29, 2014
7 7:00 p.m.
8
9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Public Hearing on
10 Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill,
11 N.C.
12
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs and Commissioners Alice M.
14 Gordon, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price, and Penny Rich
15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Mark Dorosin
16 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT:
17 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Interim County Manager Michael Talbert and Assistant County
18 Managers Clarence Grier, Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff
19 members will be identified appropriately below)
20
21 NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT
22 AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
23
24 1. Opening Remarks
25
26 Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
27
28 Chair Jacobs noted that there is a need to add a closed session at the end of the meeting
29 for the purpose of:
30
31 To discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the
32 area served by the public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic
33 development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations. The action
34 approving the signing of an economic development contract or commitment, or the action
35 authorizing the payment of economic development expenditures, shall be taken in an open
36 session per NCGS § 143-318.11(a)(4).
37
38 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
39 add this closed session to the end of the meeting.
40
41 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
42
43 Chair Jacobs said Commissioner Dorosin will be unable to attend tonight because he is
44 out of town on business.
45
46 2. Presentation of County Manager's Recommended FY 2013-14 Budget (PowerPoint
47 Presentation)
48 A copy of the County Manager' Recommended FY 2014-15 Budget can be found at the
49 following website: http://www.orangecountync.gov/finance/index.asp
50 Michael Talbert gave a brief overview of the recommended budget of$195, 638,505. He
51 said this is an increase of 4.21 percent, and it attempts to address many of the Boards goals.
52 He said there are several things happening in the future that need to be taken into
2
1 account, including: a future $100 million bond referendum; a revaluation of real property in
2 2017; and $300 million in school needs.
3 Michael Talbert said the budget does address core services and keeps them intact. He
4 said County employees are also supported with a cost of living increase and a 401-k match
5 increase.
6 Clarence Grier reviewed the following PowerPoint slides:
7 County Manager's Recommended FY 2014-15 Annual Operating Budget and Capital
8 Investment Plan
9 Presentation
10 Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill
11 Orange County, NC
12 May 20, 2014
13
14 Guiding Principles
15 Balances County's operating budget without a property tax rate increase—6th
16 Consecutive Year
17 Provides funding for County services at current levels
18 Funds local school districts enrollment growth, operational funding and debt service.
19
20 Recommended General Fund Budget
21 Totals $195.6 million
22 Represents an increase of$7.9 million from original current year budget of
23 $187.7 million, which is a 4.21 percent increase from previous year original
24 budget
25 Represents a $2.1 million decrease in the current year's amended budget
26 Components of General Fund Budget
27
28 Tax Savings Generated By the Use of Fund Balance
29 Orange County Projected Cash flows for FY2014-15
30 Orange County Budget
31 Past 6 Fiscal Years
32
33 Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Rate Effective July 1, 2014
34 Proposed tax rate of 85.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation
35 This rate produces $140.6 million in property tax revenues for FY 2014 - 15
36 Overall Real Property Valuation increased 1.9%
37 One cent on property tax estimated to generate $1,638,241
38
39 Orange County Property Tax Revenues Past 6 Fiscal Years
40
41 Sales Tax Revenues
42 Recommended Sales Tax Revenues of$19.0 million is $1.8 million higher than the
43 $17.2 million budgeted in FY 2013-2014 due to increased in consumer spending , and
44 current year projections
45 Actual sales tax revenues are down over 16% since the peak of$22.5 million in fiscal
46 year 2007-2008
47
48 Orange County General Fund
49 FY 2014-15 Revenues
50
51 Proposed Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District Tax Rate Effective July 1, 2014
52 Recommended tax rate of 20.84 cents per $100 of assessed valuation
3
1 Represents no increase in the property tax rate for the District
2 Recommended tax rate will generate $21.8 million for the Chapel Hill —Carrboro
3 City School District
4 This represents an additional $1,764 per pupil above the County's allocation
5 One cent on district tax is estimated to generate $1,044,521
6
7 Recommended Funding for Chapel Hill - Carrboro City and Orange County Schools
8 Total General Fund appropriation totals $92.3 million
9 Funds day-to-day operations, repayment of school related debt, and capital
10 Equals an appropriation of 49.3 percent of total General Fund Revenues
11 Reflects $2.9 million increase from current year General Fund appropriation
12 Equates to a current expense allocation of$3,364, a $95 increase, per student
13 for each of the 20,202 students in both districts for day-to-day operating funds
14 and projected enrollment growth.
15
16 Components of the Education Funding
17 County Education Funding
18
19 Additional Funding for Local Schools
20 In addition to the $92.3 million for operations, debt and capital, recommended budget
21 allocates $1.25 million to fund non-mandated safety net initiatives for both school
22 districts Some of these initiatives are:
23 School Health Nurses - $697,380
24 School Resource Officers - $556,424
25 School Social Workers - $0, due to the of loss State revenue
26 With these additional non-mandated funding initiatives, the total funding for the local
27 school districts total 49.9% of the General Fund Revenues
28
29 Major Funded County Initiatives
30 Maintains all County services at current levels
31 Funds the increase in medical insurance and fully funds the 401(k)/457 plans for non-
32 sworn employees
33 A cost of living and merit increase equating up to 2% in compensation for employees
34 Provides for an increased funding for Emergency Services to address the
35 recommendations of the Emergency Services Study and Work Group
36 Provides funding to the Town of Chapel Hill Library totaling $568,139
37 Allocations provided to non-profit organizations total $1,074,100 for FY 14-15.
38 Long range/pay-as-you go County capital is $464,800.
39 Debt service for the General Fund will be $26.5 million.
40
41 Orange County General Fund
42 FY 2014-15 Expenditures
43
44 Solid Waste Initiatives
45 Provides for an increase in the Landfill Fees due to both an increase in tonnage and a
46 $2 increase (from $42.50 to $44.50) in the City of Durham's tipping fees.
47 The closure of the landfill with public education and other related planning efforts.
48 We expect to incur $3.7 million in closure cost in FY 2013-14.
49 Provides for $1.36 million in Urban Curbside/Multi-Family Fees to fund the cost of
50 recycling programs and operations for urban curbside collections. This is a new contract
51 for urban curbside recycling, with a fee with a rate of$59/unit. The program will transition
52 from 18 gallon bins to 95 gallon roll carts.
4
1 Provides for $840,106 in Capital Outlay for the Recycling Division; $462,106 of those
2 funds are in the Vehicles account and are for the replacement of vehicles based on the
3 replacement schedule, the remaining $378,000 is in the Equipment account and will be
4 used to purchase 7,000 roll carts for the rural roadside recycling program.
5 The General Fund contribution to Sanitation in the FY14-15 Manager Recommended
6 Budget is $1.8 million; this equates to 1.13 cents on the current property tax rate.
7 Provides for construction for the Eubanks Solid Waste Convenience Center
8 improvement
9
10 Additional Funding Options
11 Appropriate Fund Balance, if necessary; The Board may use up to $650,000 without a
12 negative impact on fund balance
13 Property tax rate increase
14 Increase in CHCCS Special District Tax
15
16 Revenues Generated By Property Tax Increase
17 *1 cent increase generates $1,638,241 — Per pupil equivalency is $81.09
18
19 Revenues Generated By Increase in CHCCS Special District Tax
20 *1 cent increase generates $1,044,521 — Per pupil equivalency is $84.50
21
22 County Capital Investment Plan
23 Concerns and Issues for FY 2015-2016
24 Federal State Budget Issues
25 Debt Service
26 County Capital Projects
27 School Capital Projects
28 Health Insurance
29 Post-employment Insurance benefit for retirees
30 Economic Development
31 Economy
32 Revaluation
33 General Fund Revenues
34
35 FY 2015—2016 Budget
36
37 Public Hearings and Work Sessions
38 (All Meetings Begin at 7:00 p.m.)
39
40 Document Availability
41 Clerk to Board of Commissioners
42 County Finance &Administrative Services Office
43 Orange County Library
44 Chapel Hill Public Library
45 Carrboro/McDougle Branch Library
46 Cybrary, Carrboro
47 Orange County Website
48
49 Commissioner Price arrived at 7:06 p.m.
50
51 Clarence Grier said fund balance is important because the cash flow is negative during
52 several months of the year.
5
1 He noted the change in the state collection of motor vehicle taxes and the corresponding
2 increase in revenue. He said it is anticipated that the collection rate will increase from 89
3 percent to 99 percent in the next couple of fiscal years.
4 Clarence Grier noted that the largest source of general fund revenues is property tax, at
5 72.8 percent, followed by sales tax at 9.7 percent.
6 Clarence Grier said the largest component of expenditures is education, at 48.7 percent,
7 with the next highest being Human Services at 16.8 percent.
8 Clarence Grier noted that current property valuations are assessed 5.5 percent higher
9 than sales. He said if a revaluation were to happen now, a property tax increase of 4.2 percent
10 would be needed to generate the same revenues for the general fund.
11 He said fund balance revenues have been used over the past 5 fiscal years to balance
12 the budget, but this is unsustainable moving forward. He said additional revenues or cuts in
13 expenses are needed.
14 Clarence Grier reviewed the projections for 2015-16 and said the expected fund balance
15 for this year is $4.5 million. He said the projection shows the budget at $3.9 million short, which
16 equals 2.5 cents on the current property tax.
17 Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification on the unassigned fund balance. She
18 asked if the $36.7 million is after the $8.5 million has been removed.
19 Clarence Grier said after the $8.5 million is removed, this will generate some fund
20 balance, and it will be a little higher than $36.7 million. He said it will not be less than this
21 amount.
22 Commissioner Gordon asked about the goal of maintaining 17 percent. She asked what
23 percentage these projections will be and what amount would equal the 17 percent.
24 Clarence Grier said 17 percent would be $31.5 million, and the goal is to maintain this 17
25 percent. He said the early projections show the percentage to be 20.17 percent. He said this
26 includes any increases, less the $8.5 million and the $3 million for OPEB.
27
28 3. Public Comment
29 Todd Lofriese said he is here to speak on behalf of CHCCS. He said the Senate
30 approved their budget, and it will have drastic effects if enacted. He said there is a long
31 overdue need for teacher raises, and this proposal provides a raise, but it has strings attached.
32 He said this proposal places a large increase in exchange for giving up tenure. He said the
33 district proposal was 3 percent, and the state proposed average increase is 11 percent. He said
34 the financial impact of this proposed raise would be $3.1 million, which is $1.7 million above the
35 budget estimate. He said the senate proposal pays for this by cutting state funding for teacher
36 assistants in half. He said this would cause a district funding loss of$1.8 million. He said a
37 reduction of 22 assistant positions has already been considered, but the state reduction would
38 result in the loss of an additional 57 assistant positions. He said central office and
39 transportation cuts from the state would result in the loss of an additional $100,000. He said the
40 total impact of the Senate proposal to the district could be as high as $3.6 million. He said this
41 current scenario would mean a reduction of over $6 million would be needed to balance the
42 budget, and the district feels it is important for the Commissioners to know this. He said both
43 school districts are under a tremendous amount of pressure, and they need the Board's
44 continued support.
45 Jeff Hall is President of the CHCCS PTA Council, and up until a few hours ago he had
46 planned to read an official statement from the council, asking for full funding of the budget. He
47 said it was a great statement, but he has changed it up. He said he was recently asked where
48 he would cut the budget to fund the schools. He said this body has historically shown their
49 support for schools, but this year is different because things are different in Raleigh and in the
50 district. He said there is no more fund balance, and grant monies have been spent. He said
51 failure to fully fund schools means a loss of teaching jobs and a loss of educational
6
1 opportunities for kids. He asked the County to fully fund the schools by whatever means
2 necessary.
3 Linda Foxworth read from the following written comments:
4 My name is Linda Foxworth. I am the Director of the KidSCope Program. I want to start by
5 thanking the Commissioners for supporting KidSCope since its beginning. KidSCope is a
6 program that provides early intervention and family support to children and families where
7 concerns about child development, both physical and mental health are present. As you know,
8 KidSCope was originally funded for one year, received an increase, and was then reduced to
9 $75,000. We have not requested an increase since 2009.
10
11 I am speaking to you tonight to ask that KidSCope receive the full amount of funding requested
12 for 2014-15. The increase requested is $23,562. With this increase, KidSCope will be able to
13 achieve the best outcomes for children and families by offering the evidence-based mental
14 health therapies that have been implemented since 2007. Most of our clients are Medicaid
15 funded, and currently Medicaid rates have changed, dropping too low and allowing too little time
16 to complete the therapy session in the manner recommended. Additional funding will allow
17 longer sessions and travel time to and from homes. Some of the advantages to implementing
18 these types of therapies are:
19
20 - They are good foster care prevention strategies
21 - They have both immediate and longer benefits to children and their families, including
22 enhanced child cognitive and social emotional development, academic success, and
23 strengthened child-parent interactions
24 - They reduce barriers that office visits create such as transportation, fuel costs, and no shows.
25
26 KidSCope is the only program in Orange County singularly focused on children birth to five, their
27 families, and caregivers. We all want families to succeed and children to have happy, healthy
28 childhood experiences that lead to a lifetime of productivity and responsible citizenship. Over
29 the years, KidSCope has been able to help families tackle problems that interfere with children's
30 healthy development. This past year, 210 Orange County children and family members were
31 served just through our Outreach therapy program. Over 1000 Orange County citizens were
32 served in other projects under KidSCope. With your partnership over the years we have been
33 able to find the resources to use innovative ideas to promote child mental health and head off
34 problems sooner rather than later. But times change and increased needs become reality. The
35 increased funding that we are asking for will be a proactive approach to insuring Orange
36 County's young children a successful life and affecting our community's well being. Thank you
37 for your time.
38
39 Kathy Eden read from the following written comments:
40 Hello, my name is Kathy Eden. Thank you for supporting KidSCope and our work providing
41 therapy with very young children. Doing therapy with the very young is a specialized type of
42 work that is very focused on the family and is best delivered in the home. When therapy takes
43 place in the home, the barriers can be understood and the rest of the family can be drawn in to
44 supporting the child.
45
46 Many of the families I work with are referred through involvement with CPS child protective
47 services and have difficult lives. Many of the families I work with are grandparents raising their
48 grandchildren or children in foster care, and the issue of how to raise children who have been
49 exposed to toxic stress is our focus, and seeing those children in their homes is more helpful for
50 seeing what their triggers might be and helping them feel secure. It simply helps to see the
51 child within their context.
52
7
1 There are many parents I work with who have transportation problems or problems paying for
2 gas and the financial barriers are there even though they don't have to pay a co-pay. Working
3 with families in their homes makes sense from a logistical point of view for the families, and it
4 gives me an opportunity to see many more family members who would not attend a child's
5 therapy appointment. Working from a multi-generational point of view and having the child's
6 various caregivers all understand what the child needs are, helps changes need to be made.
7 Many of the families I work with have been fractured and traumatized and meeting them in their
8 home presents the opportunity to understand the barriers as well as the opportunities they have
9 for supporting their children.
10
11 Many of the parents I work with have their own mental health issues and organizational
12 problems. Having therapy take place in their home can help them practice the interventions in a
13 more genuine way rather than through discussion in an office setting.
14
15 1 have worked with families who do not really want to help initially but are referred through Child
16 Protective Services. I worked with the mother of a very young child who had nearly died
17 because of her lack of experience and failure to recognize her infant's needs, who, the entire
18 time we met, denied any need for my help, but because I came to the house she would open
19 the door. Came to find out through her CPS worker that she was telling him the very things I had
20 been talking to her about for helping her child. It wasn't until much later that she was willing to
21 accept the fact that she benefitted from therapy.
22
23 Therapy with young children cannot be done on the child alone but must involve the family, and
24 in order to have access to the family, one needs to have access to the home. The current pay
25 structure benefits office-based therapy, which has been the tradition and what most people think
26 of as therapy. There is mounting evidence that early intervention can prevent the need for
27 those in office visits down the road. But in order to do that the economics have to be
28 understood and adjustments need to be made. Your support has been crucial in making this
29 kind of outreach possible. I thank you and hope you will support us through this difficult period.
30
31 Susan Pritchard Moore said six and half years ago a judge gave she and her husband
32 custody of their five grandchildren. She said these children were out of control, and a
33 pediatrician referred them to KidSCope. She said KidSCope saved these children and their
34 family. She said the mother had set the home on fire, and the children were rescued from
35 inside. She said the children were once kidnapped by their parents after the grandparents had
36 custody, and the police found them in Ohio. She recounted other instances where the mother
37 was abusive to her children, and she discussed the resulting behavior. She said it was helpful
38 that the therapist was able to come to their home and work with all of the family. She said the
39 older child is doing well in high school, and is a life scout. She said the child that did not speak
40 is now completing 5th grade with above average grades, and all of the children are adjusted and
41 doing well in school. She said this program turned her from being overwhelmed to being able to
42 raise these children with faith and not fear.
43
44 Myra-twin Summers read from the following written comments:
45 My name is Myra Gwin-Summers. First I want to thank the Orange County Board of
46 Commissioners for supporting KidSCope services from the very beginning. It's been clear over
47 the years that the Commissioners realize the positive impact of KidSCope services on children
48 and families. Preparing children for success in schools saves our school systems dollars off the
49 bottom line when children are successful.
50
8
1 1 am here tonight to advocate for KidSCope's evidence-base therapy program. This is the
2 program that provides mental health services for children prior to their entry into the school
3 system.
4
5 1 have had a personal relationship with children who received KidSCope's therapy services. 1
6 have seen firsthand how their lives were changed for the better. I have seen children who were
7 traumatized, as well as children who had significant difficulties with common life events such as
8 death in the family, divorce, or birth of a sibling.
9
10 These mental health/therapy services have a positive impact and life-changing effect on the
11 child and their families. When the child enters school, this positive effect spreads like a ripple
12 impacting their teachers and classrooms. This saves a tremendous amount of money in our
13 school budgets, in addition to putting the child on a mainstream track.
14
15 The extra funds that KidSCope is requesting help support these evidence-based practices that
16 produce positive outcomes for children, their families and our school systems.
17
18 As you assess this request for mental health funds, I ask you to remember that:
19
20 KidSCope is the only mental health provider in Orange County that is specially trained and
21 singularly focused to provide these mental health services to young children, birth to age five,
22 their families, and care givers. Thank you for your consideration.
23
24 Kathleen Ponder is a member of the advisory council of KidSCope. She said the recent
25 tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary, Virginia Tech, and UCLA were all perpetrated by mentally
26 ill young men, and she wonders what might have been different if these young men had access
27 to services like those provided by KidSCope. She asked the Commissioners to fully fund
28 KidSCope and the schools systems.
29
30 Steven Jones is part of the Ephesus Elementary School improvement team. He thanked
31 the Commissioners for their service. He said one of the great values of this community is its
32 schools, and failing to fund the school budget requests will have a major impact on the
33 education of their children. He said everyone wants to maintain their schools as the best in the
34 state, and fully funding these requests will send a message to their parents that they matter. He
35 said strong stewardship from school management has gotten rid of the "fat", and lack of full
36 funding will mean cuts that impact students. He asked the Board of County Commissioners to
37 fund their schools.
38 Jill Simon is a parent at Frank Porter Graham, and she thanked the Board for their
39 support of education. She listed the successes and accomplishments that have been made
40 through past funding. She asked the Board to be creative with their budget in order to fully fund
41 the schools this year.
42 Adrian Vrouwenveldor thanked the Board for their service. He said everyone owes it to
43 themselves to make good public education available. He said good education makes for strong
44 contributing citizens, and good schools help attract good, high paying employers, which leads to
45 a better community. He said it is our responsibility and duty to support our schools and our
46 teachers. He said good public education must be the community's highest priority, and he is
47 willing to pay higher taxes to insure this.
48 Angie Shatas said she recognizes that the Board's job is not easy. She is a parent of a
49 middle school child at Phillips and two who have already graduated, and she is here to ask for
50 full funding of the schools. She said education drives growth, and the County's economic
51 strength is dependent on high quality schools. She said State funding is inadequate, and she
52 asked the Board to be creative in order to pick up the slack. She encouraged the Board to
9
1 increase taxes if this is needed. She said this is a price that she and other citizens are ready to
2 pay.
3
4 Eileen Regan read from the following written comments:
5 From: Carrboro Elementary School Improvement Team
6 Presented at tonight's meeting by: Eileen Regan, teacher/member of CES SIT
7
8 The Carrboro Elementary School Improvement Team is in favor of full funding for city and
9 county education budgets. It is critical that our schools maintain all of our current educational
10 programs and services.
11
12 The CES SIT understands that other county services are experiencing funding cuts. Educational
13 and social program cuts have a direct impact on all families and, in particular, our most fragile
14 families. We know that finding ways to raise revenues are difficult because it can
15 disproportionately affect these same communities.
16
17 Our story at CES demonstrates for you the changing demographic and community issues. We
18 recognize the struggle for the smaller number of revenues, and your difficult role in allocating
19 shrinking funds for essential programs that are facing increased demands. However, we need
20 commissioners to understand that these same families are increasingly relying on our school's
21 support to maintain quality of life for their children as well as provide educational excellence.
22 Each year that funding is cut to community programs, schools have increased their efforts and
23 outreach to help meet these essential needs. This has been done through new community
24 parent-education initiatives, expanded responsibilities for the social worker and counseling staff,
25 and increased workloads for our EC specialists, literacy coaches, interventionists and teacher
26 assistants.
27
28 1 am a reading specialist at Carrboro Elementary as well as a member of the Carrboro SIT. As a
29 reading specialist, I teach children daily who must work very hard to develop academic literacy
30 when their families are struggling. All of my students have the potential to become successful
31 students and productive citizens. If we want to continue to have a strong, vibrant and
32 economically robust community, it is vital that these children, and all our children, receive the
33 support and resources they need to thrive.
34
35 On behalf of all of the children in our care, please fully fund the school budgets for both the
36 county and city school systems.
37 Thank you.
38
39 Kim Talikoff thanked the Board for their support. She is a 4th grade teacher in the
40 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) and she asked the Board to fully fund their schools
41 to include a teaching assistant (TA) in every class in their elementary schools. She said these
42 TA's are co-teachers and are part of their essential services. She said it takes a team to
43 provide basic services, and the schools are far away from meeting their goals in Orange
44 County. She said she had the great privilege of working with the most wonderful TA this year,
45 and if the state budget goes through there will be no TA's in grades 3-5 next year. She said
46 TA's are invaluable, and she would not be able to compensate for that loss. She asked the
47 Board to provide full funding and put TA's in every classroom.
48 Jen Weinberg-Wolf is a parent and a representative of the school improvement team at
49 Northside Elementary school. She said this school is a community of over 500 young scholars
50 who are excited to learn and master teachers who are working on curriculum planning across
51 grade levels. She implored the Board to fully fund CHCCS to support students and teachers.
10
1 Kat Wilson is a parent of two children in CHCCS. She requested that the Board support
2 students and staff by fully funding school systems.
3 Benjamin Landman thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their continued
4 support of the schools. He requested full funding for the CHCCS. He and his wife are acutely
5 aware of the struggles the schools face, and they have supported them through the provision of
6 supplies. He expressed support for a tax increase or creative allocation to fund the schools.
7
8 Gayane Chambless read from the following written comments:
9 My name is Gayane Chambless, and you probably expect me to talk to you about substance
10 abuse. Today I wish to express my concern for those with mental health issues. As Kathleen
11 pointed out, mental health issues are a mounting concern across the nation. It is an issue we in
12 Orange County cannot ignore.
13
14 I serve on the KidSCope Advisory Board, and as you've heard, their services save lives and
15 save costs for our schools. Without early diagnosis and interventions, children can develop
16 problems at home, in schools and into adulthood.
17
18 According to the CDC, 1 in 5 children experience some mental disorder in a given year. How
19 many children do we have in Orange County? What types of interventions are available to
20 them? How are they receiving access?
21
22 As you've heard, KidSCope is the only mental health provider in our County that is specially
23 trained and focused on serving young children to help them and their families be successful.
24
25 KidSCope offers one of the most cost-effective mental health measures in our community.
26 Their programs are offered in both English and Spanish, providing cultural diversity. They can
27 provide services, as you've heard, in the home, office, or child care center.
28
29 I humbly ask you to fully fund the amount requested for KidSCope for 2014-15.
30
31 Jennie Bell is speaking on behalf of Farmers Food Chair who requested fully funding for
32 their proposal this year. She said Orange County has a rich agricultural history, yet one in five
33 residents is food insecure. She said over 20,000 people in the County are at risk for hunger and
34 malnutrition. She said her non-profit partners with social service agencies and food pantries to
35 get fresh produce to kids, seniors, and everyone in between. She noted their partnership with
36 Club Nova.
37 Anna Richards is a new resident, a parent of a freshman at Carrboro high school, and a
38 volunteer at that school. She requested full funding for the CHCCS. She said the impact goes
39 beyond the schools and impacts the community as well.
40 Faith Nager is a parent and graduate of East Chapel Hill High school. She said her son
41 has high functioning autism; however, because of the care and diligence of the teachers in this
42 school district, he is a contributing member of society. She asked the Board to fully fund the
43 schools.
44 Laura Hayes Morgan is a parent of CHCCS students. She said this problem is laid at
45 the Board's feet because of the state budget decisions. She said full funding is needed for their
46 staff, and this cannot be done with box tops and bake sales. She asked the Board to do what it
47 takes to fully fund the schools.
48
49 Mary Jean Seyda is the Chair of the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness.
50 She said their top priority this year was affordable rental housing. She read from the following
51 letter, which was sent to all of the municipalities:
11
1 We, the Leadership Team of the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH),
2 support a dedicated funding source for affordable housing in our community. We believe that
3 access to a wide range of housing opportunities, spanning all income levels, strengthens the
4 fabric of our neighborhoods and makes our community stronger. Experience shows that when
5 affordable housing is attained, people put down roots and become connected to their
6 community.
7
8 We also support funding for affordable rental housing for persons who are homeless and those
9 who have disabilities. We have observed directly the impact that access to safe, adequate
10 housing can have for our homeless and /or disabled neighbors: health and well-being can be
11 enhanced significantly by something as simple as having a kitchen in which to cook food, a
12 refrigerator for medications, and a safe place to sleep. Additionally, the access to schools, a
13 strong healthcare systems, faith-based communities, and employment opportunities, helps to
14 move the focus from crisis intervention to a focus on recovery and participation in community
15 life.
16
17 We urge Orange County to consider all options that could provide more affordable housing to
18 our most vulnerable citizens.
19
20 Signed,
21 Mary Jean Seyda, CASA, OCPEH Chair
22
23 Tim Copeland said no one wants to pay more taxes but everyone is willing to pay more
24 taxes if that has to be done. He said the ripple effect of not fully funding the schools will cost far
25 more. He asked the Board to be bold and to fully fund the schools.
26 Tina Smith is the mother two students in the CHCCS. She noted that this room is full;
27 the hallway is full of about 250 people; and the parking lot is also full. She said she spent about
28 five hours calling parents in the community yesterday about this public hearing. She said one
29 call stuck with her. She said that caller said they were leaving the district next year because
30 they felt the public education was no longer worth the value of living here. She said the Board
31 cannot let this be true, and there is nothing more important than exceptional education in
32 Orange County. She said funding schools must be the highest priority. She said the property
33 taxes exist because of the exceptional schools. She asked the Board to be creative to fully fund
34 schools and make a statement about the priority of education in Orange County.
35 Rachel Danner is a student at Chapel Hill High School. She asked the Board to fully
36 fund both school districts.
37 Courtney Limerick's daughter attends the CHCCS. She said funding the budget is a way
38 to show support for their teachers, and she asked the Board to fully fund schools.
39
40 Joyce Kuhn handed out letters regarding support for Pre-Trial Relief Services.
41 Jim Woodall said Pre-Trial Services is a small budget item for the County, but it is
42 essential. He said this program is important everyday in the court system. He said this program
43 allows them to get people out of jail that should not be there, and it saves the County money.
44 He asked the County to look at the letters from the judges and to fund Pre-Trial Services.
45
46 Sarah Black is the Director of the Exchange Club Family Center, who provides child
47 abuse prevention and treatment services in Orange County. She asked the Board to re-
48 consider them for funding through the outside agency funding. She said her organization is
49 addressing issues related to juvenile crime, homelessness, and mental health services in the
50 home.
51
12
1 Sherri Carmichael said she is speaking on behalf of Smith Middle School, which has 800
2 students. She said the families here are doing their best to advocate on a state and local level
3 for full funding of their school system. She said cuts have been made in existing resources,
4 staff has been lost, and raises have been given up. She urged the Board to take bold action
5 and do whatever needs to be done to fully fund the schools.
6 Elizabeth Welsby has been a resident of Orange County since 1987, and she has three
7 children in the school systems. She said this has become personal, and Texas is having job
8 fairs to lure teachers away with higher salaries. She advocated for full funding of education and
9 an increase to teachers' salaries.
10 Bonnie Hauser said she is here to support fully funding the schools. She suggested
11 using the County's well funded reserves. She said she would also like to suggest several
12 savings ideas, including waiting on the Eubanks convenience center and the roll carts for
13 recycling. She said there is no plan, and the costs are not sustainable. She said the
14 convenience centers are funded mostly out of the general fund, which also funds the schools.
15 She questioned why the convenience center and recycling services cost more than in other
16 counties. She suggested simplification of services and a hold on the Eubanks facility and roll
17 carts in order to avoid committing millions to services before a plan is in place. She asked the
18 Board to take the time to get this right, and to fully fund the schools in the meantime.
19 Gillian Schmidler has three children who hope to be using the CHCC schools for the
20 next 18 years. She volunteers in the kindergarten classroom, and she understands the value of
21 the teaching assistants. She is concerned with anything that would affect this, and she and her
22 husband fully support full funding of the school system.
23 Melinda Abrams has lived in Chapel Hill since 1980 and she has students in CHCCS.
24 She said a group of Carrboro High School students went to the legislature with a sign that said
25 "Don't let our teachers move to Texas." She said these students love their schools and asked
26 about attending this meeting as well. She told them that the Orange County Board of
27 Commissioners love the school system and will probably fund it.
28 Patrick McDonough said he is a parent of two students in the CHCCS and the son of two
29 public school teachers. He said this County has built two of the best school systems in the
30 southeast over the years. He said the state has reduced their investment in education, and they
31 intend to tear down what the Board and this community have built. He said no one wants to
32 raise property taxes, but it may be time to do this. He said every child deserves an education,
33 and every teacher deserves a fair wage.
34 Deborah Gerhardt is a law school teacher at UNC, and she has three children in the
35 public school system. She said research has shown that the most important thing in a child's
36 education is a quality teacher, and her biggest fear is that the County will lose their best
37 teachers this year if the school's budget requests are not funded. She said three of five of the
38 most impactful teachers at Carrboro High School are leaving. She said the Board needs to
39 send a strong message this year, and she asked for full funding for the schools.
40 Matt Bailey is a parent of a child in the CHCCS and he asked the Board to fully fund both
41 schools' budget requests. He said he is a cheapskate, but he is willing to have higher taxes for
42 the schools. He said the school system is the direct reason for the stable property values in this
43 area.
44 Jane Kerwin thanked the Board for their support and their time. She said all of the
45 people here are Orange County residents, and the two school districts are one community. She
46 asked the Board to fully fund the schools' budget requests.
47 Jim Siplon said he came there to thank the Board as they find themselves in the midst of
48 this maelstrom. He said fortune does not pick its time, but the Board has a responsibility to
49 lead, and it is hard. He thanked the Board in advance for the courage it takes to make the long
50 term investments.
51 James Barrett delivered to the Board the names of 223 citizens who are out in the
52 hallway. He said everyone is here because they value education.
13
1 Steve Marshall thanked the Board for their past support and their current help. He said
2 the art wing at Carrboro High School has become a home for many kids, including his son. He
3 said his son will go to the School of the Arts next year to begin his education in theater arts as a
4 result of the education he has received in the public schools.
5 Michele Smith is a parent of a child in the CHCCS. She said she does not make a lot of
6 money, but she stays here because of the schools. She is afraid the schools will lose teachers,
7 and this will affect her child. The teachers are being asked to do more with less, and this is not
8 fair. She asked the Board to fully fund the schools.
9 David Schwartz is a resident of Chapel Hill, a product of the CHCCS, and parent of a
10 child there. He asked the Board to fully fund the schools' requested budget. He said he wished
11 the schools would be more ambitious in asking for money, so that there would not be a need for
12 so many fundraisers. He said he hoped the Board would prioritize any tax increments received
13 back from the re-development of Ephesus Fordham area to be dedicated first to the schools.
14 Elizabeth Losos said she is a parent of two students, and she supports fully funding the
15 schools. She works internationally, and she sees many other countries that are putting more
16 money into education. She said this is an opportunity to stay at the top in funding education.
17
18 PUBLIC COMMENTS SENT IN VIA EMAIL
19
20 From: Ken and Charlotte Pearce
21 Phone Number: 919-969-8119
22 Message:
23 Dear Orange County Commissioners,
24
25 We are writing to express concern over the proposed funding to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City
26 Schools system for the upcoming year. When we moved here 16 years ago, we picked the
27 Chapel Hill/Carrboro area because of the excellent reputation of its schools. Having excellent
28 schools drives the economy and makes people want to live and work in the area. It is
29 heartbreaking to see the hits to education that have occurred recently in our state. We would
30 gladly support an increase in taxes and efficient use of the funds to support our schools
31 adequately. We strongly recommend funding CHCCS at the full amount proposed by the
32 superintendent and school board. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to the
33 discussion this week on the budget.
34
35 Sincerely,
36 Ken and Charlotte Pearce
37
38
39 Dear Orange County Commissioners:
40
41 I am writing to ask that you fully fund the requested per-pupil allocation for the Chapel Hill
42 Carrboro Schools in the 2014-15 Orange County budget. I understand that this involves a
43 significant increase over the County Manager's recommended $95 per pupil allocation.
44
45 I live in the Chapel Hill Carrboro School district and have a seven-year old who attends Morris
46 Grove Elementary. Last year I was disheartened that our Governor and state legislature opted
47 to permanently cut so much funding for our public schools. Now, I have learned that the
48 Governor's recent proposal for a teacher raise is to be funded by further cuts to education in
49 other areas (like the UNC system and teacher assistant support), and by shifting certain other
50 costs from state responsibility to local schools.
51
14
1 Those same budget cuts resulted in a reduced tax bill for me and other Orange county
2 taxpayers. I would gladly return the difference if doing so would help fully fund our local public
3 schools. Please, use whatever creative means you have at your disposal to fully fund the
4 requested per-pupil allocation for the Chapel Hill Carrboro School System.
5 Finally, thank you for your public service. I appreciate your selfless (and at times thankless)
6 work to make our county a better place to work and to live.
7
8 Sincerely,
9 Wayne Hodges
10 1315 Tallyho Trail
11 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
12
13
14 1 am writing in honor of the hardworking Chapel Hill and Carrboro School teachers and staff. 1
15 promised my children, I would send a note.
16
17 Today as most state professionals are celebrating Memorial Day with their family and friends,
18 our district teachers are working toward building a stronger and brighter future. They are in class
19 teaching our children and future voters.
20
21 The hardest part of sending my children to school today was knowing that teachers are being
22 forced to make very tough decisions. They are being forced to leave our state or their profession
23 to find better opportunities. With a 15.7% drop in average pay for our teachers and forced
24 increase of attention placed on testing, accountability and restrictions is a direct attack on the
25 teaching profession.
26
27 We appreciate and recognize the dedication of our public school teachers everyday, especially
28 today. We hope you will do the same by committing to maintaining school funding and district
29 required levels and by working to bring the North Carolina pay levels up to the national
30 average.
31
32 1 hope you enjoy your day off with your family and friends.
33 Sincerely,
34 Alicia Altmueller
35 Chapel Hill, NC
36
37
38 From: Carol Brooke
39 Phone Number: 919-933-6041
40 1 am writing to ask that you fully fund the requests of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and
41 Orange County Schools. There is no more important investment that you can make.
42
43 As the parent of a first grader with special needs, I can attest to the critical role of teacher
44 assistants in ensuring her academic and social success.
45
46 Our quality school systems in Orange County build property values, economic growth, and most
47 importantly, engaged and informed citizens. Your vote this week can lead to real, concrete
48 losses for students and teachers, or it can continue to provide the support our schools need to
49 be great. Thank you for your serious consideration to this request.
50
51
52
15
1 From: Chris van Hasselt
2 Phone Number: 9193605375
3 Message:
4 As a parent with a daughter in the CHCCS school system, I have been very impressed with the
5 quality of education my little girl has received from teachers at Carrboro Elementary. As a child,
6 1 attended a private Catholic elementary school. Our schools easily rival if not surpass the
7 educational quality I received as a child.
8
9 But that quality depends on funding, as you know. A vote to reduce funding will seriously
10 undermine the reputation for school excellence that all of us - educators, parents, politicians,
11 and school staff and administrators - have worked for over the years. I hope that you will work
12 to find a way, even if it involves tax or fee increases, to fully fund the budget requests of our
13 school districts. And I hope you will take a unanimous, principled stand by encouraging your
14 fellow elected officials in Raleigh to fully support public education that is inclusive of our whole
15 community.
16
17 Sincerely, Chris G. van Hasselt
18 Resident and taxpayer, living in Carrboro for over 20 years.
19
20
21 From: Julie Primost Farkas
22 Phone Number: 9199047039
23 Message:
24 Dear Orange County Commissioners,
25 As a former publicly educated student, a parent of two children in the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro City
26 Schools, and a public school teacher (in Durham), a citizen, a neighbor and a voter, 1
27 enthusiastically support full funding for public education with my tax dollars and my votes. I vote
28 in every local, state and national election. A quality, well-funded public educational system is
29 the foundation of a strong democratic society and I urge you to use your authority as elected
30 representatives to support our public schools with the financial resources needed and
31 requested.
32
33 A healthy, well-funded school system supports the economic development of a community, and
34 to short-change the schools at this critical time in our nation's economic recovery would be
35 penny-wise and pound-foolish. The dividends of an educated and skilled workforce for the future
36 of our region are well worth the investment of financial resources in the present. I firmly believe
37 that all citizens benefit from a quality public school system in maintaining property values, in
38 providing skilled workers for the economic system, and in promoting the critical thinking skills of
39 future voters and citizens. Even if I did not have children in the school system, even if I were
40 not myself a public school teacher, I would nonetheless support our public schools as a member
41 of this community.
42
43 At this critical juncture, when the whole nation is looking at North Carolina (with incredulity, 1
44 might add - and some cities, Houston TX, for example, are actively recruiting NC teachers) it is
45 more important than ever to reaffirm our support for public education. There is never enough
46 money for all the projects one would like to fund, but budgeting is about choices and priorities.
47 When I budget for my household, I prioritize my children and my family's future. Our community
48 should similarly prioritize our children and our collective future.
49
50 Sincerely,
51 Julie Farkas
52 Chapel Hill
16
1
2 You must fund the budget shortfall. Being 46th in the nation is just humiliating! As a scientist, it is
3 already hard to recruit experts to NC. This will get worse and worse as poor schools will lead to
4 a brain drain. Highly educated people will certainly not move here and will leave NC if this trend
5 in lack of support for public education does not reverse.
6
7 Best,
8 Liza Makowski Hayes
9
10
11 From: Ranee Montgomery
12 Phone Number: 9198697911
13 Message:
14 Dear Orange County Commissioners,
15 1 am writing and pleading to you to not cut the budget for the education of our children. The
16 schools need to be full funded. The teachers need to be paid well in order to be able to continue
17 with their jobs and to have some sense of self-worth as they seek to shape and nurture the
18 generation that will be leading our country in the not-so-distant future.
19
20 Many of us chose this area for the school systems and already have seen the negative
21 consequences of conservative legislation. Orange County needs to show that we take education
22 very seriously while those in the legislature and Governor's mansion may not. Orange County
23 needs to set an example for the state to show other counties that they can take a stand and
24 fight for what is right.
25
26 1 am confident that you know the issues and are behind full funding of our teachers and schools.
27 As county citizens, my family and most of the other families I know are willing to pay more taxes
28 in order to cover the budget deficit. Please give us the chance to do this.
29
30 Thank you for all of your hard work and thank you for representing and fighting for our teachers
31 and children!
32 Sincerely,
33 Ranee Montgomery
34
35
36 From: Dena Papazoglou
37 Phone Number: 919-968-7964
38 Message:
39 Dear County Commissioners,
40
41 1 thank you for your strong support for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) in the
42 past. I am so gratified to live in this community, with leaders like you who truly understand the
43 value of investing in the future. I am writing because I am deeply concerned about the 2014-
44 2015 CHCCS District budget. I am the mother of two daughters who are currently finishing
45 Kindergarten and 3rd grade at McDougle Elementary School (MES) in Chapel Hill. My
46 daughters are thriving in school because they have had the benefit of high quality resources,
47 instruction, and teachers.
48
49 1 am well aware that the past several years have been very difficult financially, and this year
50 those challenges are even tougher. I have been active with the MES PTA for the past four
51 years. The PTA does everything we can to provide some financial support for classroom needs
52 and to sponsor activities that complement the school's curriculum and build a sense of
17
1 community. Our District has been very frugal and efficient, dipping into the rainy day fund; and
2 cutting everything possible to manage with a lean budget while still providing a rich, effective
3 academic experience for students. But now, the rainy day fund is depleted and there is simply
4 nothing else to cut without adversely affecting our kids' education. I urge you to fully fund the
5 CHCCS budget that was requested by the School Board.
6
7 1 know that you are facing similar impossible budgetary decisions about worthy projects and
8 services throughout the county. I understand that the money must come from somewhere. 1
9 would be very much in favor of a property tax increase that would allow you to fully fund the
10 CHCCS budget request and keep Orange County moving in the right direction. You are in a
11 very difficult decision, and I want you to know that I have your back.
12
13 Sincerely,
14 Dena Papazoglou
15 216 Cobblestone Drive
16 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
17
18
19 From: Laura Weaver
20 Phone Number: 9199673684
21 Message:
22 Please do not cut the theatre techs at the high school. No performance could go on without
23 them. These school events, plays, music concerts and more are part of educating our whole
24 child. Jeff Alguire at East Chapel Hill is a valuable leader, teacher and mentor to many, many
25 students at East. My child has developed a very genuine passion for the arts, and real problem
26 solving skills through her involvement in theatre with his direction.
27
28
29 From: Rania Combs
30 Phone Number: 8325453955
31 Message:
32 Dear Commissioners,
33
34 1 am a parent of three children who attend Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. I am writing to
35 urge you to fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools budgets.
36
37 1 attended a town hall meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina recently. The focus of the meeting
38 was to discuss the financial straits many of our state's teachers find themselves in as a result of
39 low teacher pay.
40
41 We heard about teachers who have to rely on food stamps to feed their families and who have
42 to borrow money to pay for gas so they can drive to and from their jobs. Teachers spoke about
43 needing to supplement their income with other jobs to make ends meet and how unappreciated
44 and disrespected they feel because of the lack of fair compensation. One experienced teacher
45 shared the reasons why she and her husband, also a teacher, will be teaching in another state
46 next year, where they will be paid significantly more to do their jobs.
47
48 My daughter's outstanding middle school math teacher was one of the many who resigned this
49 year. Although he was well-qualified for jobs outside of education, his passion was teaching
50 children. However, when he and his wife, also a teacher, found out they were expecting a baby,
51 he quit. He did the math and realized he could not support a family on his income.
52
18
1 The average public school teacher's salary dropped 15.7% from 2001-2012. This means that
2 North Carolina was 51 st in the country in terms of growth in teacher pay during that decade. At
3 the same time, the state is requiring more and more student testing and other expectations of
4 teachers. Teachers are now getting paid less for more work. No one goes into teaching to get
5 rich, but anyone would be demoralized under those conditions.
6
7 Much of the CHCCS budget request would provide funding to support a raise for locally paid
8 teachers and staff; funding to cover mandated medical and retirement matching increases; and
9 funding to support positions that had been previously supported by fund balance. Not fully
10 funding the budget would require cutting more than $3 million and would result in significant
11 position losses and services in our school.
12
13 I'm sure you have been trying your best to do so despite increasing pressures from state
14 reductions, but please increase the amount of funding for public education. Our students are
15 worth it.
16
17 Sincerely,
18
19 Rania Combs
20 110 Garden Gate Drive
21 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
22 (919) 537-8079
23
24
25 From: Daniel Bernard
26 Phone Number: 9199045541
27 Message:
28 County commissioners: I know the problem is not of your creation, but you are our last resort.
29 Public schools in this state are slipping to an unacceptably low level of quality. I am saddened to
30 hear the commissioners only funded $95 per pupil when the CHCCS school district asked for
31 $314. You need to do more to keep the schools from slipping into disaster. Please tell me how
32 we can find more local funds for the school district.
33
34
35 From: Sara Skinner
36 Phone Number: 9199292565
37 Message:
38 Dear County Commissioners,
39
40 1 am writing to ask you to please fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
41 Schools budgets. Here's why:
42
43 1. Education drives economic growth; and my husband's business needs good schools.
44
45 We chose Carrboro because of the great schools. After moving here, my husband founded a
46 medical device start-up in Chapel Hill. His company needs good public schools in order to
47 thrive: so that he can hire well-educated employees from here, and so that he can recruit talent
48 from out of state. (One of the first questions people ask a head-hunter is: How are the public
49 schools?) This is just one example of how good schools drive economic development.
50
51 2. Our kids are worth it.
52
19
1 1 have two children, ages five and nine. Their future, and the future of all our children in Orange
2 County, depends on getting a good education. The rainy day fund is gone. There is no more to
3 trim from the budget. If you do not fully fund the schools' budgets, my children will be in
4 overcrowded, poorly maintained schools, with fewer teachers. Those teachers will have more
5 responsibilities with less support from TAs, gifted specialists, and other staff.
6
7 3. Our property values, and thus our tax revenue, depend on it.
8
9 As I said before, we moved here for the schools; and we were willing to pay the higher cost of
10 housing to live here. Most of our neighbors did the same. Strong schools keep our property
11 values high; thus we support funding the county's budget and services.
12
13 We are counting on you to fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
14 budget.
15
16 Sincerely,
17
18 Sara Skinner, MPH
19 2407 Pathway Dr.
20 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
21 919 929-2565
22
23
24 Hello Commissioner Jacobs!
25
26 How are you?
27
28 Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend either of the Public Hearings on the county budgets so
29 am writing to submit questions and give input.
30
31 Overall, I am not in favor of a tax increase this year for many reasons, including the impact on
32 affordability for low income/workforce residents and county/town ability to retain and attract
33 businesses.
34
35 In general, I do not mind paying more in taxes than other areas of the state but believe that the
36 quality and level of service should reflect the extra monies spent. At this point, data suggests
37 that we pay some of the highest costs in the state for many of our services - school, solid waste
38 and emergency response services to name a few. This information, suggests the need for re-
39 assessment and revised planning instead of an increase in taxes to continue on.
40
41 Below are my initial questions and comments:
42 School Funding:
43
44 Question: What projects or repairs make up the $40,000,000 in the capital budget for schools
45 over the next five years? Does that cover repairs that are needed immediately?
46
47 Request 1: Establish a policy which mandates on-going repair and maintenance of school
48 facilities as a top-priority each year, making sure that monies are earmarked for those costs.
49 Request 2: Fund necessary school repairs immediately either by postponing non-essential
50 capital items or using existing debt capacity (or both).
51 Request 3: Ensure, each year, that our teachers are being well-paid, as a priority, by
52 earmarking monies for those costs.
20
1 1 was pleased to see that staff has indicated concern about the squeeze that increasing
2 maintenance for aging buildings puts on the school budget. Aging buildings and teacher exodus
3 are two symptoms which underscore the need for the county to make changes to the way that
4 school funding is handled — both at the county and district level.
5
6 In targeting a minimum of 48% of county property taxes to the schools, the county has assured
7 its residents that schools are a top priority however, as county staff points out, the impacts of
8 changing conditions such as increased maintenance needs for aging buildings or decreases in
9 state funding for teacher pay, put squeezes on those monies.
10
11 Adherence to the 48% target combined with the yearly "dance" between the school boards and
12 commissioners over funding clouds the picture — making it hard for parents, in particular, to
13 advocate for anything other than a tax increase.
14
15 It is understandable that county commissioners are reluctant to have a say in how school
16 monies are spent; however, as the ones who hold the purse strings, I believe you have a
17 responsibility to ensure that the monies we entrust you with covers two basics:
18- - Adequate, well-maintained school facilities
19- - Well-paid, experienced teachers (salary policy not specific teacher salaries)
20
21 Neither building maintenance/repair nor teacher salaries should be at the mercy of changing
22 conditions, the desire for new programs etc... I look to you to make that clear in the budgeting
23 and funding process.
24
25 Not only will this ensure that our children have adequate facilities and good teachers, but it will
26 also facilitate a more transparent discussion between parents and school leaders about how
27 remaining monies are being spent and what school needs are.
28
29 Capital Expenditures
30 Question: What is included in the $150,000,000 in capital expenditures for schools in years 6—
31 10?
32 Question: Is there a section in the budget which projects increased operating and maintenance
33 costs associated with new facilities over the next five to ten years?
34 Request: Create a facilities plan and timeline which combines school and other community
35 needs so that
36- - Decisions related to the county's debt capacity are transparent
37- - Spending reflects priorities and needs first
38- -Taxpayers are not blindsided with tax increases to operate and maintain these facilities
39
40 Until our county begins to see the benefits of economic development, costs of new facilities
41 (schools, community centers, improvements to the Southern Human Services center, a new jail,
42 libraries, parks) will have to come from taxpayers. It is important that the community understand
43 these decisions in terms of priorities and trade-offs. It's also important, particularly in the case
44 of the schools, that we begin to understand the cost to all of us when we use "equity" rather
45 than "need" as a reason for capital spending.
46
47 Solid Waste:
48 Pending creation of a cohesive plan for recycling, please do not approve purchase of roll carts
49 or additional trucks for unincorporated residential service.
50
51 Thank you for your consideration.
52
21
1 Sincerely,
2 Jeanne Brown
3 Chapel Hill
4 919-475-1535
5
6
7 From: Alexis Rudolph
8 Phone Number: 919-428-3160
9 Message:
10 To All of the County Commissioners,
11
12 Thank you for your service to our communities. As a lifetime resident of Orange County, I have
13 always appreciated the fact that our community makes great effort to support each other
14 regardless of stature, race, sex, economic standing, etc. One of the pillars of that ethos is the
15 longstanding, well recorded, exemplary school systems.
16
17 As a resident and product of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system myself, as well as a parent
18 of 5th graders currently at Glenwood Elementary school, I can say with great confidence that
19 the schools are a backbone to the greatness and success flowing here. The schools support
20 the residents of today and tomorrow, not only families and students, but the faculty and staff and
21 the greater community. As a real estate broker for the last eight years, I can tell you with the
22 same great certainty that when speaking with potential new residences and business' every
23 week, the quality of the schools are a priority when making relocation decisions. People and
24 business' weigh the school systems very heavily when deciding whether to relocate to an area, 1
25 am told this very regularly. Communities with high education standards are more attractive to
26 employees relocating, and to business' looking to have a deep pool of local talent and
27 camaraderie. This all starts at the basic education level, for which we are so well known.
28
29 Without proper funding, we have already seen many of our programs being cut, phenomenal
30 teachers and staff leaving for greener grasses, children less prepared for higher education and
31 their future, and a huge drop in our young adults willing to go into education - we are losing
32 talent at an exponential rate already. PLEASE FUND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH
33 EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY NEED. We cannot loose anymore funding than we already
34 have. The results are clear; and we need our local commissioners to stand up for us, to support
35 our local communities.
36
37 $1.2 million is not enough for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools to be efficient in their already
38 emaciated capacity. The district needs $3.9 million from the county to continue what it offers
39 today. The county has every opportunity to make this happen. I urge you to support the
40 schools, the community, the citizens, the staff and our collaborative future. It is for the
41 individuals, the communities and the greater state and world communities' health and well
42 being. We cannot produce the amazing thinkers and doers that we are known, respected and
43 desired for without financial support. Education funding needs to be a priority.
44
45 Thank you again for your service, and your attention to this very serious issue. Please use your
46 power to make a difference. We are depending on you.
47
48 Sincerely,
49 Alexis Rudolph
50 alexislvnnha�es.corrr
51
52
22
1 From: Stephanie Palmer
2 Phone Number: 919-740-5243
3 Message:
4 May 27, 2014
5
6 Dear County Commissioners,
7 1 am writing to ask you to please fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
8 Schools budgets. Here's why:
9
10 1. Education drives economic growth
11 My husband works for Rambus, Inc. on E. Franklin Street. His California-based business chose
12 to open an office in Chapel Hill because of the strong school system and the amount of highly
13 educated applicants from local schools and universities. Keep our schools funded so that more
14 large businesses choose to locate here and Rambus is able to keep its office open in NC!
15
16 2. Our kids are worth it.
17 1 have two children, ages four and eight. Their future, and the future of all our children in Orange
18 County, depends on getting a good education. The rainy day fund is gone. There is no more to
19 trim from the budget. If you do not fully fund the schools' budgets, my children will be in
20 overcrowded, poorly maintained schools, with fewer teachers. Those teachers will have more
21 responsibilities with less support from TAs, gifted specialists, and other staff.
22
23 3. Our property values and thus our tax revenues depend on it.
24 We bought a home in Chapel Hill for the schools and we were willing to pay the higher cost of
25 housing to live here. Most of our neighbors did the same. Strong schools keep our property
26 values high. We are counting on you to fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro
27 City Schools budget.
28
29 Sincerely,
30 Stephanie Palmer
31 305 Autumn Drive
32 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
33
34
35 From: D. Neil Hayes
36 Phone Number: 919-357-3387
37 Message:
38 Dear Orange County Commissioners,
39 We are parents of 2 children in Glenwood Elementary School in Chapel Hill and a daughter who
40 will be there soon. We share the interest of millions of parents in the state of North Carolina in
41 the quality education of our children, the future citizens of our democracy.
42 In our lifetime, my wife and I have never seen such tangible and direct negative consequences
43 of human decisions as we have in the public schools as a direct result of our political leaders in
44 North Carolina State Government. Morale is palpably low. Infrastructure and resources are
45 lacking even to the casual observer. These changes have happened quickly and as a visible
46 result of decisions made by our lawmakers.
47 Let's be clear, this is not business as usual; fiscal discipline resulting from responsible
48 leadership balancing competing interests or programs. To my knowledge, there are few arguing
49 any benefits for education. Data driven outcomes and changes in metrics (teacher losses, pay
50 statistics, etc) have generally been described as extreme, even compared to fiscally
51 conservative national trends. In most cases, the timing of declines leaves little uncertainty as to
52 cause being decisions in Raleigh.
23
1 Let's also be clear that these outcomes are not primarily the result of the economic downturn.
2 The resources that historically supported our kids and which in other states are supporting kids
3 did not primarily evaporate in the recession. These resources were returned to citizens in the
4 form of tax cuts which artificially and dramatically exacerbated any shortfalls created by
5 economic factors. As recipients of an NC State Tax refund this year, we have a check in our
6 bank account which cannot be argued is the result of an economic downturn. It is the result of
7 decisions by the state legislature to withdraw support for our children's school specifically at a
8 time when they arguably needed it more than in generation.
9 In all of this we recognize the phenomenal support, both historic and current, of the Orange
10 County Board of Commissioners for Orange County schools. You are being asked again to
11 support our children. But what other choice is there but for us to ask? Unlike our teachers, the
12 children cannot pack up and go to a state with better support for education. Please stand firm
13 for education. You are truly a last line of defense for the education of our future citizens of the
14 state.
15 Thanks for your service on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina.
16 Neil and Liza Hayes
17
18
19 From: Brandy Pickrell
20 Phone Number: 919-869-7924
21 Message:
22 Dear County Commissioners,
23
24 I am writing to request that you please fully fund the School Board's proposed budget this year.
25 I am a parent of a rising third grader in the Orange County school system and am very
26 concerned about the changes our schools will have to enact if they do not receive the necessary
27 funding. So many children (and parents!) are counting on this. I will be attending the budget
28 meeting on the May 29th and I do hope to hear positive news!
29
30 Thank you so much for your time and consideration,
31
32 Brandy Pickrell
33 203 Hanford Rd.
34 Chapel Hill, NC
35 27516
36
37
38 From: Sherri Williams
39 Phone Number: 919-537-8252
40 Message:
41 Dear Orange County Commissioners:
42
43 As a parent of two children in the Chapel Hill Carrboro School System I humbly request that you
44 consider full funding of the CHCCS budget for the upcoming school year. Currently, the school
45 system needs $3.9 million but only $1.2 million is being requested. I can't bear to imagine the
46 long-term impact this type of budget shortfall will have on such an amazing school system.
47
48 We relocated to Chapel Hill, NC from the depths of south Georgia and I can personally testify
49 that this school system has made such an incredible impact on my two children. Their thirst for
50 knowledge has blossomed. They both have thrived in all areas of basic academics as well as
51 cultural arts (switching from learning Spanish to learning French, for example).
52
24
1 In addition, with the influence of the higher-than-normal Asian populations in the area and in the
2 public school system it is EVIDENT that these children (whether they are in the Mandarin Dual
3 Language program OR traditional classroom) far surpass their peers in academics. There is no
4 way our children can compete with this level of academic competition in the long run without the
5 support of public figures like you.
6
7 Please do not allow our educational system to suffer by not supporting full funding of the
8 2014/2015 School Budget. I know this type of decision carries a heavy weight for you but I urge
9 you to support the full budget and show the community your commitment to investing in the
10 children of this area and as a result investing in the future of this nation.
11
12 Thank you for your time and for your consideration. Sherri Williams
13
14
15 Dear Commissioners,
16 1 am urging you to do anything you can to fully fund the CHCC schools in the coming years even
17 if this requires a tax increase, I would be willing to do my part. My son starts Kindergarten in
18 September and is looking forward to another 13 years here in the public school system so I am
19 very invested in getting funding for these schools.
20 Sincerely
21 Anne W. Beaven
22 109 Braswell Rd.
23 Chapel Hill
24
25
26 From: Michael Kappelman
27 Message:
28 1 live at 212 Turtleback Crossing Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516. My children go to Morris Grove
29 Elementary. I am writing to urge the board to fund the FULL budget request of CHCCS. The
30 education of our children is our highest priority. I sincerely ask that the board think creatively
31 about how to preserve the high educational caliber of our district, even if this means cutting
32 other programs and/or raising taxes. I strongly support whatever it takes to keep the full school
33 budget intact.
34
35 Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.
36 Sincerely,
37 Michael Kappelman
38
39
40 From: Anna Ouchchy
41 Phone Number: 919-928-3727
42 Message:
43 As a community member, parent and teacher in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, I urge
44 you to find creative means to fully fund our school budget. In the past we have been able to
45 make up for budget shortfalls by using a rainy day fund. That fund balance is now gone. As a
46 result, failure to fully fund our schools will have serious consequences, including larger class
47 sizes, school overcrowding, cutting support staff and driving out quality teachers.
48
49 Our property values are high in Orange County because we have great schools. Our property
50 taxes drive the county's budget and services. Keeping school's great is in the financial interest
51 of the community.
52
25
1
2 Dear Orange County Commissioners:
3
4 My name is David Nason. I am writing to ask you to please fully fund the Orange County
5 and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools budgets. Here's why:
6
7 1. Education drives economic growth.
8 Our family moved to North Carolina last year. We love our new home state.
9 Unfortunately, we moved here during the height of the legislative agenda that severely
10 cut education. My wife and I have two children in public high school. We chose to live in
11 Chapel Hill / Carrboro because of the reputation of the schools in the district. Education
12 should be a priority in our state over corporate interests. We must keep our students
13 competitive in today's globalized economy.
14
15 2. Our kids are worth it.
16 We have two children in public high school. Their future, and the future of all our children
17 in Orange County, depends on getting a good education. The rainy day fund is gone.
18 There is no more "fat" to trim from the budget. If you do not fully fund the schools'
19 budgets, our children will be in overcrowded, poorly maintained schools, with fewer
20 teachers. Those teachers will have more responsibilities with less support from TAs,
21 gifted specialists, and other staff.
22
23 3. Our property values — and thus our tax revenue— depend on it.
24 As I said before, we moved here for the schools —and we were willing to pay the higher
25 cost of housing to live here. Most of our neighbors did the same. Strong schools keep
26 our property values high —thus funding the county's budget and services.
27
28 We hear a lot about "family values" from our elected representatives. We believe that if
29 you really value our families you will fund a strong education system for our children.
30 Education is the great equalizer; both my wife and I came from working class
31 backgrounds and attended public school. We were able to achieve our goals and obtain
32 advanced degrees. We would like our children to have the very best education possible
33 to prepare them for the challenges they will meet in this complex world.
34
35 We are counting on you to fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
36 Schools' budget.
37
38 Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
39
40 Sincerely,
41 David Nason
42 COO & CTO, RDI Labs, Inc.
43 2404 Pathway Dr.
44 Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
45 919-903-8149
46
47
48 From: Juilanna Brinson
49 Message:
50 Please fund the CHCCS district more fully. Maintaining the high quality education provided by
51 CHCCS should be a TOP priority for our community.
52
26
1
2 From: Jean Cook
3 Phone Number: 919-968-3739
4 Dear Board members,
5 1 am a long-time resident and the parent of two Carrboro high school students. I am writing to
6 urge you to support full funding for the county and city schools. There's no question that money
7 is tight again this year with the changing state leadership, but our local culture of investing
8 significant resources in our students, teachers, and programs should endure even in lean times.
9 If a tax increase is needed, so be it. Thank you for your willingness to listen and to tackle such
10 challenges thoughtfully and responsively. Your service is appreciated.
11
12
13 From: Abraham Palmer
14 Phone Number: 9193576034
15 Message:
16 1 support paying more in property taxes if needed to fully fund all our schools in Orange County.
17 Perhaps we need to find a way to make the property taxes more progressive so that this isn't a
18 constant struggle, but our kids need more help than ever to be prepared in this difficult job
19 market.
20
21
22 From: Melanie Reynolds
23 Phone Number: 919-260-8119
24 Message:
25 Hello Commissioners,
26 Please fully fund the education budget for both school districts in Orange County. Our children
27 are our future. They deserve a first class education. Please do not deny our children a high
28 quality education. Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
29 Make it a great day!
30 Melanie Reynolds
31
32
33 From: Deborah McCormick
34 Phone Number: 919.270.2937
35 Message:
36 As the parent of two children who attend CHCCS schools, as a tax payer in the county and city
37 with the highest tax rate in the state and as a local realtor I beg you to fully fund the CHCCS
38 budget. Our schools are our future. Our children deserve a quality education. Our teachers
39 are being poached by other states that pay more. We are running out of time to fix the
40 problems. We have nothing left to cut and shouldn't have to. The budget must be fully funded.
41 There is no other option. I work with clients moving into the area often and am proud to talk
42 about the quality of our district schools. This quality and reputation is what has sustained
43 property values in the district. The economy is fully dependent on the schools and the desire for
44 highly educated adults to continue to stay and move into Chapel Hill. Such educated adults
45 expect top quality and are willing to pay higher taxes for the right causes- education! Again 1
46 beg you, along with all of the other parents!
47 1 know who have kids in the CHCCS schools. PLEASE do NOT ask our schools to make more
48 cuts. PLEASE show that education is a PRIORITY. And PLEASE fully fund the budget. Thank
49 you.
50
51
52 From: Layna Mosley
27
1 Phone Number: 9196235097
2 Message:
3 Dear Orange County Commissioners:
4
5 1 am unable to attend the May 29 meeting, but I would like to urge you, in the strongest possible
6 way, to fully fund all schools in Orange County.
7 1 have lived in Orange County since 2004. I'm a parent of three young children, and strong
8 public schools are key not only to my children's and family's success, but to the success --
9 economically and socially -- of Orange County and the surrounding area.
10 As a professor who routinely teaches introductory courses at UNC, I have seen firsthand the
11 difference that quality education makes in preparing students for adulthood, for higher
12 education, and for participation in an increasingly knowledge-based and globalized economy.
13 And, more immediately, I have observed our public school teachers and administrators
14 attempting to do their best in the context of shrinking resources. Please, please allow them to
15 continue their work by funding our schools completely.
16
17 Thank you for your attention to my concerns.
18 Sincerely,
19 Layna
20
21
22 From: Susan Bickford
23 Phone Number:
24 Message:
25 Dear Commissioners,
26 1 write to urge you with all respect to please fully fund Orange County Schools. Please raise my
27 taxes if that is what it takes! We owe it to the children -- all children -- to make these courageous
28 decisions. I fully support you in doing what is required to fully fund our public schools.
29 Sincerely,
30 Susan Bickford
31
32
33 From: Christina Hinkle
34 Phone Number: 919-270-3121
35 Message:
36 Dear County Commissioners,
37
38 Thank you so much for all your work on behalf of our county. I am writing to ask you to fully
39 fund the local schools and to raise our property taxes to do so. I wholeheartedly support a tax
40 increase if it will prevent further cuts to our schools. School officials have cut every bit of fluff
41 from the budget. There is nothing left to cut except items that will result in a real and significant
42 decrease in the quality of our schools.
43
44 Thanks for your attention and efforts,
45 Christina Hinkle
46 Mother of 3 public school children
47
48
49 From: Laura Morgan
50 Phone Number: 9196244946
51 Message:
52 Dear Commissioners,
28
1 1 write to you to please ask your kind consideration of funding our schools at their full level of
2 request. I am a Chapel Hill taxpayer and I respectfully ask you to consider a tax increase that
3 will go directly to our school funding.
4
5 Unfortunately the state has left us high and dry - there is no one left to help education and save
6 our schools other than ourselves. As our county officials, we will rely on you to make this right
7 for the children of Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.
8 Thank you so much for your consideration.
9 Laura Morgan
10
11
12 From: David Laudicina
13 Phone Number: 919-942-4444
14 Message:
15 May 29, 2014
16 Dear Commissioners:
17 1 am writing to request that you implement as the manager has proposed, a 2014 budget that
18 does not increase the Orange County property tax rate.
19 A recent Chapel Hill news article states that a state analysis shows the county's (Orange)
20 assessed (2009) property values are 5.5 percent higher than the market value of those
21 properties; Of course this is an average but in reality many Orange County properties suffer a
22 much higher discrepancy. In my neighborhood I am seeing a discrepancy of actual sales being
23 15%-19% lower than the 2009 valuations. This means that since 2009 many Orange County
24 property owners have been paying way more than their fair share of property taxes. Until the
25 next revaluation and the system are fairly balanced, I don't think any increases on the property
26 tax rate are warranted or prudent.
27 Also I am asking to consider ability to pay in your decision. Many retirees see as much as a
28 50% drop in their monthly income after they retire and collect Social Security. After a lifetime of
29 investing in their homes and building equity suddenly retirees experience a huge drop in their
30 ability to pay.
31 1 understand that given the state's position on funding education that these are really tough
32 times. I have also read many times that you all believe that Orange County relies too heavily on
33 residential property taxes to fund the budget.
34 You have done a marvelous job in holding the line on the property tax rate in the past few years
35 and am asking you to hold the line for 1 more year or even better until the next revaluation. You
36 are proposing a bond issue in the future. This will give the opportunity for voters to choose
37 whether they want to pay more property taxes.
38 Thank You
39 David Laudicina (laud9876bellsouth.net) Bingham Township
40
41
42 From: Matt Bailey
43 Phone Number: (678) 517-5317
44 Message:
45 1 am writing to comment during the Budget Public Hearing period to request that the board
46 reconsider the budget request of the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and, specifically, to
47 request the board add $2.7 million to the amount tentatively budgeted to the district for the
48 upcoming fiscal year.
49
50 Our community enjoys a long tradition of valuing exceptional public education and consistently
51 expresses overwhelming support for making the financial investment necessary to maintain that
52 excellence. However, fully funding our schools is also a solid investment in the stability of our
29
1 county's property tax base, as the well-deserved reputation of our schools is a fundamental
2 reason our community's homes enjoy higher sales prices than neighboring communities
3 homes.
4
5 The board could fund the additional $2.7 by increasing the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
6 special district tax by approximately $93.40 per household.
7
8 1 appreciate the increased funding the board has already included in the proposed budget and 1
9 truly applaud the board for striving to avoid a tax increase this year. I also recognize that
10 increasing taxes would exacerbate the barriers to our community's affordability. However,
11 $93.40 per household is well within the means of most households in the district and a bargain
12 to ensure our schools have the financial resources they need.
13
14 Finally, while I don't want to speak on behalf of residents within the Orange County Public
15 Schools district, I would fully support raising property taxes throughout the county in order to
16 fully fund the budget requests of both our county's school districts.
17
18 Sincerely,
19 Matt Bailey
20 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
21 radiomatt1(a7yahoo.com
22
23
24 From: Melissa Segal
25 Phone Number: 9199600409
26 Message:
27 Please fully fund our schools. I support whatever measures necessary to ensure that our
28 schools are fully funded. Thank you for your consideration.
29
30 From: Hannah White
31 Phone Number: 919-360-6868
32 Dear County Commissioners,
33
34 1 am a resident of Chapel Hill and a parent to 3 young children, one of whom attends Morris
35 Grove Elem. We love our daughter's school and believe that the public education provided in
36 the district is vital to our family and for the community. Please support our schools by funding
37 the county budget to provide the teachers, facilities, and supplies that our children need to
38 continue their education.
39 Thank you,
40 Hannah White
41
42
43 From: Steve Marshall
44 Phone Number: 919-923-5905
45 Message:
46 In 2009 and 2010, the Orange County Commissioners were instrumental in providing the funds
47 that built the Arts Wing at Carrboro High School. I want you to know that your support of the
48 Arts Wing at Carrboro High School has had a very positive impact on my son, Aidan Marshall.
49 Aidan was always fascinated by the production side of theater, but the day the Carrboro High
50 School Arts Wing opened, his life was immeasurably changed for the better.
51
30
1 Access to high-quality theater environment allowed him to develop his creative talents in lighting
2 design and set design in ways that we never dreamed were possible. This isn't just access to
3 the facility and its equipment, but also learning to use the software products that control the
4 lights and sound equipment. Theater production is a very high-tech industry, and one that
5 brings revenue into the Triangle area. Aidan has been a key participants in EVERY production
6 staged in the Carrboro High School Arts Wing. He has grown enormously in his professional
7 skills in theater production as a result of your decision, five years ago, to fund the Arts Wing at
8 Carrboro High School.
9
10 Aidan is a senior at Carrboro High School. In the fall, he will go to the UNC School of Arts in
11 Winston-Salem to pursue his Bachelors in Fine Arts degree, with a concentration in Lighting
12 Design. He choose UNC School of Arts over very competitive funding packages from arts
13 conservatories at Shenandoah University and Ithaca College, in part because another theater
14 production major from Carrboro High School is thriving at UNC School of Arts.
15
16 My son's goal is a professional career in on Broadway in NY. When he gets there, he (and
17 others like him) will be well-prepared and ahead of the competition, thanks in no small part to
18 your decision. So THANK YOU for building the Carrboro High School Arts Wing.
19
20 I also have a request. When we parents asked you to fund the Arts Wing, we had no idea how
21 important it was to have a fulltime theater manager on staff. It is not clear to everyone that the
22 theater manager position is absolutely critical. This staff position ensures that the facility is well-
23 maintained, that all student production work is conducted in a safe manner (students work at
24 heights and using power tools in theater production), and that the Arts Wing is in good condition
25 for the many rentals that use it.
26
27 To my surprise, between rentals and school use, the Arts Wing is fully booked throughout the
28 school year. Rentals are helpful not only because they bring revenue into the county, but
29 because they provide mentored training experiences for students like my son. Although the
30 theater managers are not teachers, they do serve as supervisors for students who have
31 internships in theater production. Basically, this spring my son learned first-hand how to be a
32 production manager in a professional theater. He could not do this if there was no theater
33 manager to teach him these skills in a revenue-generating Arts Wing.
34
35 The theater managers are one of the things we will lose if the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools are
36 not fully funded. For this reason, as well as many others, I am asking you to fully fund the
37 requested budget for the Chapel Hill / Carrboro and Orange County schools.
38
39 Thank you for your time and your service to our community. And thank you for the Carrboro
40 High School Arts Wing, which changed the course of my son's life, in an enormously beneficial
41 way.
42
43 -- Steve Marshall
44
45
46 From: David Denuo
47 Phone Number: 919-265-3305
48 Message:
49
50 Two minutes of your time, please:
51
31
1 My name is David Denuo. I am 53 yrs old with a 1 st grader at FPG and a 3rd grader at
2 Scroggs. I won't be able to be at tonight's budget meeting; I'm choosing to be with my 3rd
3 grader before her first EOG in the morning.
4
5 Before I tell you more about them, I want to tell you about me.
6
7 As a child my family lived in a government subsidized house and needed food stamps to
8 survive. Looking around me I thought my future was pretty much set for me; go to school,
9 maybe graduate, then either (1) get on welfare; (2) go to work in retail; (3) go to work in a
10 factory/warehouse; or (4)join the armed forces.
11
12 My only access to education was the local public school. I didn't like school; it kept me from the
13 things that I wanted to do - play with friends, play sports, explore; and after all, what was the
14 point. But, as I moved up through grade school and even more so in high school, I came in
15 contact with several caring teachers who didn't just teach me the material, but challenged me,
16 inspired me, believed in me. I was the first in my family to graduate from a college for higher
17 education [as opposed to a trade school]. I lifted myself out of that socioeconomic circle into a
18 contributing member of society; not only that, I started my own company and created jobs for
19 others.
20
21 I'd like you to reflect on the teacher, or teachers, that had the greatest impact on your life.
22 Perhaps they are the reason you are sitting in that seat. What if that teacher hadn't been there,
23 had switched jobs, moved school districts, moved to another state because they were frustrated
24 with the lack of funding for public education.
25
26 When looking at the budget request, please, I urge you to consider:
27 - those types of teachers,
28 - other children like me,
29 - other children like you.
30
31 Be creative. Find a way to fully fund the budget request that's in front of you. My children and
32 their friends need your leadership.
33
34 Thank you for your time, your consideration, your service to Orange County, and your
35 commitment to making a difference.
36
37 OC Board of Commissioners' Public Hearing, May 29, 2014
38 Written Testimony, Miriam Thompson
39
40 1 submit my written testimony as the world grieves over the passing of Maya Angelou, teacher,
41 activist, artist, towering figure that demands we work harder, a phenomenon whose message
42 informs the effort you lead and that we pursue together: creating a sustainable, just and loving
43 community— in which all our children and grand children, families and neighbors can thrive.
44
45 We know that your labors tonight are set against a disturbing State legislative agenda that
46 includes: tax cuts directed primarily to the wealthiest corporations and individuals;** the denial of
47 health care to our neediest residents; denies extended unemployment benefits for so many of
48 our neighbors; creates and boasts an economy based on low wage jobs; defunds the public's
49 education system; offers the lowest paid teachers in the nation a token raise torn from the
50 coffers of our public university system and health and human services.
51
32
1 The burden to redress these cuts falls on Counties and Municipalities and School Districts.
2 Budgets, after all, are social and moral documents. Along with other faith and civil rights
3 activists, I have and will continue to join many of you at Moral Monday and other State lobby
4 events to expose and reverse these immoral practices. Tonight, Moral Monday comes to
5 Orange County through the budget lens. You are challenged as our elected leaders to
6 overcome the actions of the General Assembly and make your constituents whole.
7
8 Central to the public hearing tonight will be district school voices that plead for support for the
9 education environments upon which our children and their families depend. School
10 demographics are changing; economic hardships for many of our residents increase; schools
11 and their staff are called upon to provide not only education excellence and equity, but also
12 deeper engagement in securing the protection and well-being of our increasingly vulnerable
13 children and their families.
14
15 Orange County has a history of devoting close to half of its budget to the Orange and
16 Chapel/Carrboro School Districts, and at the same time assures a budget that supports the
17 community infrastructure and social services upon which our children, families, neighbors and
18 schools depend. Our elected Commissioners and county leaders are once again called upon to
19 find revenues to fulfill these mighty tasks with a budget that protects our children and the
20 community of adults who are mandated to protect their future and mediate the challenges and
21 struggles they endure.
22
23 1 volunteer and help my children raise my grandchildren in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools,
24 and know the major efforts the School District is undertaking to focus on the classroom and
25 reduce non-essential services. As a social worker and retired teacher, I watch my underpaid
26 colleagues perform and honor their mission.
27
28 Tonight, we turn to you and urge your consideration of creative and fair methods the County can
29 employ to generate the revenues to help our schools meet their mission and mandate. I urge
30 your decisions continue and amplify: revenues from heightened economic development; taxes
31 that are just and do not burden the least among us; and, like the message we direct to our
32 school districts and town governments, carefully and determinedly look to how we can
33 streamline our County Government, and how we can evaluate and assure the delivery of more
34 efficient and improved services, and review current and projected capital plans.
35
36 We are all aware that the struggles we face in the current budget season will not be the last.
37 With school and community partners, I look forward to working with all of you and the new
38 County Manager.
39
40
41 Miriam Thompson
42 Grandparent, Carrboro Elementary School*** and McDougal Middle School Students
43 CH/C Branch NAACP Education Committee
44 American Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter Co-Convene
45 ** I urge you review the excellent research provided by the NC Justice Center's Budget and
46 Tax Policy Center (www.nciustice.org)
47 *** See letter and testimony from Carrboro Elementary School's School Improvement Team
48
49
50 From: Erika Lipkin
51 Phone Number: 919-584-5518
52 Message:
33
1 1 am sending this message since I cannot make it to the BOCC meeting tonight. I wanted to
2 voice my support for the funding of the CHCCS budget. Quality schools enhance the area and
3 make people want to live in Chapel Hill, increasing property values, and thus increasing tax
4 revenue. If the budget is not approved, the schools will suffer since they could be affected in
5 attracting teaching talent, and they may have to cut programs that students benefit from. These
6 valuable funds also support the growth that the area is experiencing by enabling new facilities to
7 be built and current facilities to be expanded, so the schools are not overcrowded. Please vote
8 to fund the budget!
9
10
11 From: Katie Weber
12 Phone Number: 9199420890
13 Message:
14 Please fully fund all schools in Orange County. We truly value them and our children's
15 education. Thank you!
16
17
18 From: Diana Woodhouse
19 Phone Number: (919) 260-8853
20 Message:
21 Hello,
22
23 1 am favor of the proposed school budget as is and strongly advocate for passing the budget.
24 This is extremely important for our kids and for their futures.
25
26 Thank you for the work you do.
27 Diana
28
29
30 From: Jen Bishop
31 Phone Number: 9199333748
32 Message:
33 Dear Orange County Commissioners,
34
35 First, thank you for your service during such a critical time for the county. We appreciate all
36 your hard work.
37
38 Second, I want to urge you to fully fund the budget request of CHCCCS and OCS. The schools
39 need the funding to hold the line and keep the current level of service. As a volunteer in the
40 schools, I see how tightly things are stretched, and how hard everyone is working.
41
42 1 know this may mean a tax increase. This is always a hard decision. 1, for one, would happily
43 pay more knowing we are investing in the future of our children in Orange County.
44
45 Commissioners,
46
47 1 will be unable to speak tonight due to my graduating daughter's last orchestra concert and was
48 unable last week due to another commitment.
49
50 1 know that the BOCC did not create this mess that we are in with the retreating state funding of
51 K-12, but I would like to ask you to shore up funding until the state comes around (hopefully via
52 some election loss turnover in other parts of the state).
34
1
2 1 am willing to pay increased taxes for an increase in the ad valorem or district tax as necessary
3 to meet the CHCCS BOE budget request.
4
5 Thanks,
6 Mark Peters
7
8
9 From: Laura Kline
10 Phone Number: 919-933-9145
11 Message:
12 Please fully fund all school districts in Orange County this year. As a tax payer, I would
13 welcome raising taxes in order to fund the school districts. Many of us are actively advocating
14 for public education at the state level, but the battle to increase state funding may take several
15 years/election cycles. Please do not let our schools languish while we work to restore funding
16 from the state for public education. All citizens of Orange County--both current voters and tax
17 payers as well as future ones--thank you!
18
19
20 My name is Erin Dangler and I attended the budget hearing last night to support fully funding
21 education. I actually had planned to speak, but did not get on the list and at the end when it
22 was offered for people to speak up, I feared I would have been the dorky kid who had one more
23 question when the entire class was ready to go out to recess. However, I still want to share my
24 thoughts if you will so indulge me.
25
26 My husband, Brian, and I have two children who have attended the Chapel Hill Carrboro City
27 Schools since elementary school. Both students will be attending Carrboro High School next
28 year.
29
30 And, yet, oddly, I am not writing to you as a parent.
31
32 1 am also an Arts Educator and a Teaching Artist in both the Orange County and CHCCS
33 School districts. Additionally, I have held a small, co-curricular position at Carrboro High School
34 as the choreographer of the musical productions for the past three years.
35
36 And, yet, oddly, I am not writing to you as an Educator.
37
38 1 am actually speaking to you tonight as one who owns and operates a small business in
39 Orange County. I run a program called Broadway Bound that teaches the art of musical theatre
40 to elementary and middle school children. It has been my great joy to live in an area where the
41 schools have abundant arts programs and I have found that I have become an accidental
42 partner to the school systems.
43
44 The 450 students in grades 1 and 8 whom I teach every year in the private sector become
45 better prepared for the middle and high school theatre and music programs for which they are
46 entering. The district arts teachers and I become collaborators, as I talk to them about students
47 that may be entering their classrooms and allowing their programs to flourish. The current
48 students in the school theatre programs also become interns for me as they help run the shows
49 we put on and manage the children backstage.
50
51 However, if the school budgets are cut, I will not be able to continue to thrive in this wonderful
52 county and town as a small business owner.
35
1
2 Part of my job is to put on full productions with these children, as many as 13 productions a
3 year. The CHCCS schools provide a valuable resource to me in that I rent auditorium space for
4 my productions from several of the schools Since the start of my business in March of 2011
5 until now, I have invested over $25,000 in rent at the CHCCS and donated over $6000 from
6 ticket sales to various school arts programs.
7
8 One of the first positions to be cut if the budgets are not fully funded are the theatre manager
9 positions at the High Schools. If the budget is not fully funded, there are no more managers.
10 And it is the managers who assist me, a community member and business owner, when I rent
11 those spaces. My expertise is in staging and choreography and creating a show. I am not able
12 to run the lights, the sound, move heavy pieces of scenery, adjust the temperature in the room,
13 lock and unlock the building and maintain the upkeep of these beautiful theatres.
14
15 And then the money that I invest in those schools would be gone as well.
16
17 While I completely understand the BOCC has no control over what positions or programs get
18 cut if the budget is not fully funded, it is important to see how a budget cut would affect not just
19 the students, not just the teachers, but members of the community who benefit from living in an
20 area where education is the highest priority.
21
22 It is impossible to look at the school as separate from the community in which they reside. There
23 is an interdependency between my business and the schools continuing to provide quality arts
24 instruction and I am sure the same can be said for many other business owners and families in
25 the community whether they have children in the school system or not.
26
27 1 thank you so much for your continued leadership and service to the community. I ask you,
28 passionately, to fully fund the school budgets so that we, our students, our parents, our
29 educators, our business owners and all members of the community can thrive.
30
31 With gratitude,
32
33 Erin Dangler
34 bdanaler nc.rr.com
35
36 4. Adjournment of Public Hearing
37
38 Adjourn Perdita Holtz Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Rich
39
40 Capital Investment Plan Budget Work Session — No Public Comment
41 1. Continuation of review and discussion of the Manager's Recommended FY 2014-
42 19 Capital Investment Plan (CIP)
43 Paul Laughton said prior to discussing the CIP he would like to note the memo and
44 additional information in the folders at their desk. He reviewed the list of these items, and he
45 said there is a separate packet to prepare for the upcoming June 5th budget work session.
46
47 He said the last meeting was on May 15th, and this meeting was added to the public
48 hearing to allow more time to discuss the CIP. He said an abstract has been prepared with
49 sections of bold print on revised green pages based on feedback and direction from the Board.
50 He said these should serve as replacement pages for their CIP Notebook.
51
52 County Projects
36
1 Paul Laughton referenced the bold note on the top of page 2 of the abstract, and he
2 said, on County projects, the replacement page is consistent with the scenario given to the
3 Board on May 15th. He reviewed the notes in the abstract regarding the Environment and
4 Agricultural Center(EAC) (CIP page 34), and the Proposed Jail(CIP page 32), which are based
5 on the discussion on May 15th
6 Paul Laughton said the Life Safety ADA (CIP page 37) has been updated to reflect
7 moving projects from years 6 -10 into years 1-5. He said the list of projects and the amounts
8 have been kept the same.
9 Commissioner Price asked about year 4 of the Life Safety/ADA page, and the fact that
10 there is nothing in year 4.
11 Paul Laughton said there are a lot of other projects already in year 4.
12 Commissioner Price said she is concerned with the fact that there are life safety issues
13 that are spread out. She asked for a rationale on delaying these issues.
14 Paul Laughton said staff attempted to prioritize by need, but these are small projects that
15 can be moved if necessary.
16 Jeff Thompson said the access priorities are in year 1 and will be completed by the end
17 of the fiscal year.
18
19 Sportsplex Projects
20 Paul Laughton said the Sportsplex (CIP pages 84-85) information has been updated, per
21 Commissioner Gordon's request, to show the debt service impact.
22
23 Paul Laughton said page 3 of the abstract contains two items that have been revised
24 based on Board action at the May 8th meeting.
25
26 County Projects
27 Paul Laughton said one of these is the Cedar Grove Community Center(CIP page 21),
28 which looks at approving the alternate plan to add $822,000 to that center. He said the $2.8
29 million is in year 1, and the impact will be in year 2.
30
31 Water and Sewer Projects
32 Paul Laughton said the Buckhorn EDD Phase 2—Efland Sewer to Mebane (CIP page
33 72), with the revised design costs, reflect an additional $121,400.
34 Commissioner Gordon referred to 2 lines on page 72 of the CIP, regarding a shift of
35 projects to the general fund, and she said she thought the Board had asked that no more money
36 be switched to the general fund.
37 Paul Laughton said this is for the Efland to Mebane project and this is not solid waste.
38 He said this would be paid mostly with article 46, but it was started with general fund money
39 from the Efland sewer situation.
40 Commissioner Gordon said she would like to watch this item and be mindful of
41 protecting the general fund.
42
43 Paul Laughton reviewed the following information from page 3 of the abstract:
44
45 The following projects have been revised(changes highlighted in yellow) based
46 on the Manager's Recommended Budget for FY 2014-15 reducing the Pay-As-
47 You-Go (PAYG)funding and increasing Debt Financing a total of$770,110:
48
49 County Projects
50 • Roofing Projects (CIP Page 28) - reflects a change of$179,010 from PAYG funding to
51 Debt Financing in Year 1.
37
1 • Information Technology (CIP Page 29) — reflects a change of$450,000 in PAYG
2 funding to Debt Financing in Year 1.
3 • Eurosport Soccer Center, Phase II (CIP Page 50) — reflects a change of$125,000
4 from PAYG funding to Debt Financing in Year 1.
5
6 NOTE:All County Debt Service and Debt Capacity— General Fund Only(CIP
7 Pages 108-109) has been revised to reflect all the changes listed in this abstract.
8
9 The following project has been revised(changes highlighted in yellow) based on
10 a pending action item by the Board of County Commissioners at their upcoming
11 June 3,2014 regular meeting:
12
13 Solid Waste Projects
14 • Sanitation (CIP Page 80) - reflects a reduction in the cost of the replacement Hook-Lift
15 truck in FY 2013-14 from $197,282 to $190,548, and moves the other replacement
16 Hook-Lift truck from FY 2014-15 to FY 2013-14 and reflects a reduction in the cost from
17 $206,944 to $193,225.
18
19 Commissioner Gordon asked where the money will come from to move the truck from
20 2014-15 to 2013-14.
21 Paul Laughton said Gayle Wilson has monies available this year to purchase this, and it
22 will not be paid with general fund monies.
23 Commissioner Gordon said at one point the fund balance for solid waste was $18.1
24 million, but there was a recommendation to use some of this to fund the convenience centers.
25 She questioned whether this fund balance is available.
26 Michael Talbert said the total fund balance is $18.1 as of June 30, 2013. He said, of that
27 money, almost $12.5 million was reserved for closure and post closure. He said there are also
28 reserves for debt service for the outstanding debt on the facility and for post employee benefits.
29 He said this leaves about $3 million.
30 Michael Talbert said if things move forward with the recycling options, this amount will be
31 depleted by $750,000, and one of the options would deplete it down to $1 million.
32 Clarence Grier said the post closure costs will go down by $3.7 million in the next six
33 months. He said this will leave about $8 million, which will be amortized over the next 15 to 20
34 years. He said this is why the funds are available now, as the funds from the methane and
35 other sales will offset the landfill closure cost and allow for the rebuilding of the fund balance.
36 Michael Talbert said the Board just approved a contract to close the landfill for about $3
37 million.
38 Commissioner Gordon said her point is that there are general fund dollars being
39 transferred into this fund. She said $190,000 is a lot of money.
40 Chair Jacobs said the Board had also looked at moving some of the general fund
41 expenditures on Solid Waste into the fee structure, and this is on the agenda for June 3,d
42 Paul Laughton reviewed the follow up items listed on page 4 of the abstract.
43
44 Fairview Park— Parking Options
45 Dave Stancil referred to attachment B for Fairview Park—Parking Options. He said
46 there are several ways to address this issue, and there is no way to know how often the
47 overflow in parking actually happens at Fairview.
48 Chair Jacobs said the County paid for half of the community center and then gave that
49 half to the town. He said it would not be an unreasonable request to ask the town to help with
50 the parking.
51 Chair Jacobs asked who would monitor the parking problems.
38
1 Dave Stancil said the current arrangement with the town is that they open and close the
2 gate for the existing parking lot. He said this lot is located at the police substation, and it does
3 not have a gate, so many of the police officers are leaving their vehicles there. He said this
4 would mean a change of approach might be needed.
5 Chair Jacobs asked how many times there has been overflow.
6 Dave Stancil said he has not heard about this, but the expectation is that this only
7 happens with a large family reunion or weekend event using the picnic shelter. He said this
8 makes it hard to know how far to address this issue.
9 Commissioner Price said she has been over there on occasion, and it has been difficult
10 to find a space. She said people may use this facility more often if there was more parking
11 available. She suggested use of the upper corner of the field.
12 Dave Stancil said Rainey Street may be an option for adding parking on the right side of
13 the street only. He said this would require coordination with the town. He said there is an
14 existing playground that is scheduled for replacement or removal beside the existing substation
15 parking lot. He said this might be a possible area for expansion.
16 Commissioner Price asked about the objection to putting gravel down in the upper
17 northeastern corner field.
18 Dave Stancil said the master plan does show this parking area and a driveway. He said
19 the only issue is the necessary funding of$500,000. He said it might be possible to build the
20 driveway, but it will not be cheap even if the parking area is gravel. He said gravel parking
21 could be done near the end of the existing public works driveway, but this would require a path
22 to be cut to the walking trails.
23 Commissioner Price said many of the residents want this to be finished, and she feels
24 the park would be used more if there was more parking.
25 Commissioner McKee said he would suggest finding out how often crowds actually limit
26 the parking, and he suspects it is fairly often. He said this is a major issue for those who live
27 across the street.
28 Commissioner Rich asked how many more spaces would be needed.
29 Dave Stancil said this need may be something the Town of Hillsborough would want to
30 weigh in on.
31 Commissioner Gordon suggested, since the extent of the need is not known, that the
32 free options should be explored first.
33 Dave Stancil agreed and said the simplest solution might be to see if the police
34 substation lot can be freed up.
35 Chair Jacobs said there has been discussion about the fact that building that driveway
36 and parking lot would make it more of a County park instead of a neighborhood park, as it would
37 give more access. He said there is a very active neighborhood association that may be able to
38 keep an eye on the parking and report on the times when the parking lot is full. He said, as a
39 short term solution, signage could be posted to note the overflow parking area at the police
40 substation.
41 Chair Jacobs said he is hearing that more data is needed.
42
43 Efland-Cheeks Community Center
44 Paul Laughton said information on this item is found in attachment C. He said there is a
45 question of whether or not this center is sufficient for the community's needs. He noted the
46 attachment of a brochure outlining the summer and fall programming.
47 Chair Jacobs asked if there will be a placeholder in the CIP for any improvements.
48 Paul Laughton said there are no placeholders at this point, but that could be done at the
49 discretion of the Board.
50 Chair Jacobs said the Board just approved two other community center upgrades. He
51 said this Efland Community has been very involved in using the center, and he likes the idea of
52 finding out what is needed. He would like to have some placeholder funding in years 6 - 10.
39
1 Chair Jacobs said part of the problem is that people in the community want to have
2 senior activities in that center, but the Department on Aging does not want to provide activities
3 there and wants them instead to come to Hillsborough. He said this should be dealt with at the
4 manager level.
5 Michael Talbert asked how often the center is used now.
6 Dave Stancil said it is used quite a bit, and it is reserved about one-third of the time. He
7 said he can pull the usage data to get the specific information.
8 Michael Talbert said upcoming transportation improvements would put a regional route
9 that could tie into the senior center multiple times per day. He said this would make the senior
10 center more accessible. He said this does not address the community needs, but it may
11 provide a short term solution.
12 Chair Jacobs said multiple departments may need to come out there and have a
13 conversation with the community.
14 Commissioner Gordon said it is important to see the whole picture of the role and
15 function of the community center in order to have a principled answer.
16 Dave Stancil said staff has come to that conclusion with the parks and recreation master
17 plan. He said the goal is to define the purpose of these facilities.
18 Commissioner Price said people have told her that they want the center to be open more
19 often.
20 Dave Stancil said this is a challenge and the groups out in that area have different
21 opinions about when they would like the center to be open. He said a part time staff person can
22 be moved back out there after the summer camps are over.
23 Commissioner McKee said there is interest by one community organization in working
24 with the County to increase hours of the center.
25 Chair Jacobs said the Central Orange Senior Center is already talking about a needed
26 expansion. He said this makes it even more important to have some of these other facilities
27 available for more services. He suggested staff denote a commitment in the CIP to show that
28 there is a commitment to visit this issue.
29 Paul Laughton said this can be done prior to the June 10th work session, and this will
30 affect debt financing in years 6-10.
31 Commissioner Gordon said she would like to discuss it first.
32 Paul Laughton said there will be no commitment yet, but options will be presented.
33
34 Year 1 (FY 2014-15) Recommended Projects
35 County Capital Projects
36 Paul Laughton said this item is outlined in attachment D. He said the CIP is a five- year
37 plan, with the first year funding being approved. He said attachment D outlines the projects
38 being considered for funding approval in year one, and this includes revisions highlighted in
39 yellow. He said the largest change is the addition of the $822,000 to the Cedar Grove
40 Community Center under the County capital projects.
41
42 Special Revenue Fund(Article 46 Sales Tax)
43 He noted that there are no changes to the Article 46 sales tax.
44 Commissioner Rich asked about the Launch project. She said the lease on their
45 building is up in 2015, and the rent is being raised. She said this may change the amount for
46 2015-16.
47 Commissioner Gordon asked about the $750,000 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
48 (CHCCS) has requested for renovations for older schools to help delay the building of new
49 schools. She asked if this is a capital item or an operating item.
50 Michael Talbert said this is a capital item.
51 Commissioner Gordon said she would like to see this flagged.
40
1 Paul Laughton asked if she would like to see this proportionate to Orange County
2 Schools (OCS).
3 Commissioner Gordon said yes. She said CHCSS submitted a plan already, and she is
4 not sure about OCS.
5 Paul Laughton said he is not sure that OCS has approved a plan yet, but the goal was to
6 have this before the summer.
7
8 Proprietary Capital Projects
9 - Water and Sewer Utilities
10 Paul Laughton said the Efland Sewer Flow to Mebane accounts for the increase in the
11 design cost.
12
13 - Solid Waste
14 Paul Laughton said this includes changes reflecting the movement of the hook lift truck,
15 to the current year.
16 Commissioner Gordon asked about the Eubanks Road improvements and the possibility
17 of the town doing something at their town operations center and how this relates to economies
18 of scale.
19 Michael Talbert said the town board has talked about the possibility of a transfer station,
20 but this would be at least a two year process.
21 Michael Talbert noted that pages 108 and 109 show updates to the current debt amount
22 for this year, as well as the general fund budget.
23 Clarence Grier said the increase in the budget and the debt capacity adds almost $25
24 million in debt capacity.
25 Chair Jacobs said it may be necessary to be more aggressive in borrowing since the
26 capacity is there. He said if the County has the capacity, they should be discussing a bond
27 issue of at least$100 million. He said if the goal is to expedite it to the spring primary in 2016,
28 then the planning process needs to start soon after the Board reconvenes in the fall.
29 Commissioner Gordon said it is good news that there is $25 million more in debt
30 capacity.
31
32 CLOSED SESSION
33 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner McKee to
34 adjourn to a closed session at 10:11 p.m. for the purpose of:
35
36 To discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the
37 area served by the public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic
38 development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations. The action
39 approving the signing of an economic development contract or commitment, or the action
40 authorizing the payment of economic development expenditures, shall be taken in an open
41 session.
42 § 143-318.11(a)(4).
43
44 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
45 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
46 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
47 reconvene to regular session at 10:48PM.
48
49 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
50
51 ADJOURNMENT
41
1 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
2 adjourn the meeting at 10:48PM.
3
4
5 Barry Jacobs, Chair
6
7 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
8
1
I Attachment 2
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 BUDGET WORK SESSION
6 June 5, 2014
7 7:00 p.m.
8
9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on
10 Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill,
11 N.C.
12
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jacobs and Commissioners Mark Dorosin,
14 Alice M. Gordon, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
16 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
17 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Interim County Manager Michael Talbert, Assistant County
18 Managers Cheryl Young and Clarence Grier and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other
19 staff members will be identified appropriately below)
20
21 Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
22
23 Additions to the Agenda
24 Funding for Orange County's Curbside Recycling Program
25 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner McKee to
26 approve adding this item to the agenda.
27
28 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
29
30 Closed Session Addition
31 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to
32 approved adding the following to the agenda:
33 Closed Session:
34 "To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions
35 of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or
36 employee or prospective public officer or employee" NCGS § 143-318.11(a) (6).
37
38 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
39
40 Chair Jacobs said the Board has talked about having time at one of their meetings to
41 discuss County Commissioners' initiatives and interests prior to upcoming fund balance
42 discussions. He said this will be scheduled for the beginning of their next budget work session
43 on June 10tH
44
45 1. Funding for Orange County's Curbside Recycling Program
46 The Board discussed reconsideration of the June 3, 2014 decision regarding funding of
47 Rural Curbside, Urban Curbside and Multi-family Recycling programs.
48
49 BACKGROUND: On June 3, 2014 the Board approved a Manager recommendation that
50 funding ($728,260) for the Rural Curbside Program be provided from Solid Waste Unrestricted
2
1 Reserves for Fiscal 2014/15. The Board let stand the Manager Recommendation to fund the
2 Urban Curbside and Multi-family ($1,362,266) from an annual 3-R Fee of$59/unit and $19/unit
3 respectively. Subsequently, the Mayors of Carrboro and Chapel Hill requested that the BOCC
4 decision be reconsidered at tonight's budget work session.
5
6 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The budget to fund the Urban Curbside and Multi-family Recycling
7 programs from solid waste reserves would be an additional $1,362,266.
8
9 RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board reaffirm the June 3, 2014
10 decision to fund only the Rural Curbside Recycling program from solid waste reserves in the
11 amount of$728,260.
12
13 Michael Talbert said there has been a lot of discussion about this item, and the towns
14 have requested that the Board re-consider its position and look at the options again. He said
15 the items in front of the Commissioners include tonight's abstract, as well as the abstract from
16 June 3. He reviewed the following 4 options, which were previously discussed:
17
18 1. Fund Rural Curbside Recycling Program for Fiscal 2014/2015 with Landfill
19 Reserves.
20 To fund$728,260 from Solid Waste Unrestricted Reserves which were $3,082,630 as of
21 June 30, 2013.
22
23 2. Fund Rural and Urban Curbside Recycling Programs for Fiscal 2014/2015 with
24 Landfill Reserves.
25 To fund$2,090,526 from Solid Waste Unrestricted Reserves which were $3,082,630 as
26 of June 30, 2013.
27
28 3. Eliminate all Recycling and Convenience Center fees and raise the County's
29 property tax rate.
30 To replace all revenues from fees would equal$6,049,228 and require a property tax
31 increase of 3.77 cents.
32
33 4. Increase the Solid Waste Convenience Center fees to cover all or part of the
34 $1,856,543 transfer from the General Fund to Solid Waste to fund Convenience
35 Center Operations
36
37 Michael Talbert said the towns are asking the Board to consider option number 2, which
38 funds urban and rural curbside together.
39 Chair Jacobs noted that the Board discussed all of these items at some time in the past
40 but voted for option 1. He said the mayors of the town were disappointed that the Board did not
41 choose option 2, as a matter of fairness to those in the municipalities who had contributed to
42 the solid waste enterprise fund.
43 Commissioner Rich made a motion, seconded by Chair Jacobs to vote for option 2:
44 Fund Rural and Urban Curbside Recycling programs for Fiscal Year 2014/15 with Landfill
45 Reserves.
46 Commissioner McKee asked the manager to explain the technical aspects and problems
47 that may be encountered by imposing a fee on the current rural recycling customers.
48 Michael Talbert said the whole district covers about 13,000 households, and the
49 participation is about 57 to 60 percent. He asked if Commissioner McKee was talking about
50 billing only that 60 percent.
3
1 Commissioner McKee said yes, he is asking about imposing a fee only on the people
2 who are currently receiving the service.
3 Michael Talbert said it would be more than the fee was two years ago, but it is hard to
4 specify. He said those people would have the option of not paying the fee or having the
5 service. He said a broad guess would be $75.
6 Commissioner McKee said this would take them back to a subscription fee. He asked if
7 it would be possible to impose this fee and have it billed out in July before the tax bills go out.
8 Michael Talbert said no. He said that window has passed, and a supplemental bill would
9 have to be mailed out in September or October.
10 Commissioner McKee asked, if it was not on a volunteer basis so people could
11 withdraw, whether it would then have the same problems as the previous 3-R fee.
12 Michael Talbert said yes.
13 Commissioner Pelissier said she is not comfortable putting a decision item on a work
14 session. She asked about putting this item on the consent agenda on June 17tH
15 Chair Jacobs said that could be done, but there would still be a decision tonight that
16 shows intent by putting it as a consent agenda item.
17 Commissioner Pelissier said the Board would only be showing intent.
18 Commissioner McKee said he agreed with Commissioner Pelissier. He does not have a
19 problem with expressing intent tonight, but he would prefer to put this on the June 17th agenda.
20 Commissioner Price arrived at 7:18 p.m.
21 Commissioner Dorosin said he does not see a problem with voting for it now, although
22 he appreciates the concern. He does not think that a consent item provides any more
23 transparency.
24 Commissioner Gordon said she wishes the Board had adopted a formula for providing
25 rural curbside recycling in April. She said considering the fairness of the situation, they should
26 o fund both rural and urban services. She said the message that needs to be sent to the towns
27 is that the County wants to be their partners.
28 Commissioner Rich said she is in favor of voting for this tonight. She understands the
29 transparency issue, and the intent is nice. She said this discussion should have happened last
30 time, and she feels it is time to correct the Board's earlier decision. She said it is important to
31 be in better communication with the towns and to make an equitable decision.
32 Commissioner Price said she assumed at the last decision point that the Chair and Vice
33 Chair had already considered this. She said the Board needs to move forward, and she would
34 be ready tonight to vote.
35 Commissioner McKee said he believes the Chair had mentioned this issue previously,
36 and this is why that option was brought in.
37 Chair Jacobs said there is a gap in communication between the entities that is no one's
38 fault.
39 Commissioner Rich said it is important to understand that if the Board goes with option
40 2, the towns need to be included in the discussion about how to replenish the solid waste
41 reserves.
42 Commissioner Pelissier said it is clear that the Board will act tonight, and she will
43 probably vote in favor of this as a way to show her support for the towns; however she does
44 want to express her discomfort of doing this action at a work session as a precedent.
45
46 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
47
48 Chair Jacobs said he would like to note that this is an extraordinary action to further their
49 work with the towns.
50
4
1 2. Durham Technical Community College, Pg. 124
2 Orange County Schools, Pg. 124 & 204
3 Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools, Pg. 124 &133
4
5 Durham Technical Community College - Pg. 124
6 The recommended budget provides $1,008,123 to Durham Technical Community
7 College for FY2014-15, which includes appropriations of current expense of$557,280, recurring
8 capital of$155,000, and $295,843 for debt service. This includes $80,000 to update their
9 master plan for a proposed second building.
10 Dr. Bill Ingram thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak tonight. He said their
11 request is fairly straightforward and includes an increase of 3 percent in operating funds, mostly
12 as a result of increased utility costs. He said there is also a request for a modest salary
13 increase for those employees on the Orange County campus.
14 He said this is the time to anticipate future growth on the Orange County campus to
15 prepare for a second building and renovate existing buildings to create lab space. He said
16 there will be a new nursing assistant program offered this fall, as well as a practical nursing
17 program and an associate degree program in emergency medical sciences. He said enrollment
18 has increased by over 75 percent in the past two years.
19 Chair Jacobs asked what thought has been given to accommodating the Middle College
20 students at the campus in Hillsborough.
21 Dr. Bill Ingram said the campus is not there yet, but as it grows the possibility of a
22 second Middle College makes a lot of sense. He said the strength of the Middle College
23 program is that the students blend into the college population. He said if 100 high school
24 students are added to the Orange County campus current population, these students would
25 stand out. He said the prospect of a Middle College program in Orange County will make
26 sense once more programs and facilities are added. He said this is part of the next phase. He
27 said this program would require a negotiation with Orange County Schools (OCS) and Chapel
28 Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) in order for this program to work.
29 Commissioner McKee asked if there are on-going discussions to try and figure out a
30 solution to the transportation problem.
31 Dr. Bill Ingram said there have been discussions with Triangle Transit about
32 transportation in general. He said the college will be extending an offer to all students on both
33 campuses for free bus passes. He said DTCC is the landlord for the Middle College high
34 school, and he does not know if the Durham County Schools have been in conversation with
35 the other partners about transportation for their students. He said that would be their
36 responsibility.
37 Commissioner McKee said he would like more information and follow up on this.
38 Commissioner Price said this was one of the topics at the Durham Tech committee
39 meeting today.
40 Dr. Bill Ingram said his sense is that the issue for Triangle Transit is the logistical
41 challenge of getting from Chapel Hill to Durham.
42 Commissioner McKee said if this bottleneck is not solved, there is not much hope for
43 Middle College in Orange County.
44 Dr. Bill Ingram said when the program was first started, the topic of bus transportation
45 was discussed, but people found it was easier for parents to drive the children.
46 Commissioner Pelissier asked about the anticipated timeframe for additional buildings.
47 Dr. Bill Ingram said a new building is not needed now, but it will be needed within the
48 next 4 to 6 years. He said Orange County is not likely to take this as a bond issue separate
49 from the one proposed in 2016.
5
1 Commissioner Pelissier asked if a recent survey has been done with students to find out
2 hard facts on the transit needs.
3 Dr. Bill Ingram said this has not been done. He said this might be easier for Triangle
4 Transit to track this once the free transit passes are given to students.
5 Chair Jacobs said part of the bond process will be for Durham Tech to come up with a
6 figure. He said this can be incorporated into a bond committee.
7 Dr. Ingram said this past year the college has decided to update their strategic plan and
8 will be asking the Orange County community to help them think through this plan.
9
10 Orange County Schools - Pg. 124 & 204
11 Chair Donna Coffey expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share information on
12 the budget request. She said the task of balancing needs with available money is not an easy
13 one. She encouraged the Board to step outside of the 48.1 percent funding target to look at the
14 schools' true needs. She said the days of relying on the state legislature are gone.
15 Chair Donna Coffey said the most recent state senate budget cuts 7,400 teacher
16 assistants. She outlined some of the additional cuts in the senate budget.
17 She said there are also facility needs that go far beyond the current money available.
18 She said the number of students is projected to rise, and these students must be served. She
19 asked the Board to invest in these children.
20 Interim Superintendent Del Burns reviewed several PowerPoint slides outlining the
21 impact of state legislation on the Orange County Schools' budget. He said their budget request
22 was for an increase to $2.8 million. He said, as of last June 30th, the operating fund balance
23 was $5.8 million, and $3.3 million of this is assigned. He said this leaves only $2.5 million
24 unassigned fund balance, and if nothing changes this will be reduced by $950,000.
25 He reviewed additional information on the impact of the state senate budget. He said
26 the highest impact would be felt in the teaching assistant positions in Kindergarten through 3 d
27 grade. He noted that driver education is unfunded, and cuts to transportation will impact bus
28 maintenance.
29 Interim Superintendent Del Burns said the total impact is $2.1 million, and in order to
30 deal with these changes and account for student growth and other needs, $30 million would be
31 required for Orange County Schools for next year.
32 Commissioner Dorosin asked about the cuts to teacher assistants. He said he thought
33 the senate budget proposed only eliminating assistants in 2nd and 3 d grade.
34 Interim Superintendent Del Burns said Orange County uses teacher assistants in
35 Kindergarten through 3rd, and the allotment formula addresses what Commissioner Dorosin
36 shared.
37 Commissioner Price asked for an explanation of the $950,000 mentioned earlier.
38 Del Burns said when the budget was developed there were needs that were established
39 from DPI projections, and then there were expansion requests. He said this was put together,
40 and there was a number. He said staff looked at this and decided that based on the amount of
41 unassigned fund balance it would be prudent to use $950,000 in fund balance in order to
42 reduce their request to the Board of County Commissioners.
43 Commissioner McKee questioned whether there are any anticipated surprises, since the
44 student growth has not been anticipated by SAPFO,
45 Del Burns said he thinks the growth is projected to be 197 students.
46 Commissioner McKee said he does not think that SAPFO is picking up all of the
47 projected students.
48 Chair Coffey said she does not think that a lot of the numbers have been captured.
49 Commissioner Gordon asked how far the $95 per pupil in manager's budget would go.
50 Del Burns said this would basically cover growth.
6
1 Michael Talbert said the increase that was put in for both school systems covered their
2 projected student growth and the three percent teacher raise that was proposed at that time for
3 the County share. He said that is where the numbers come from.
4 Chair Jacobs said their legislators have said the legislature is expected to adjourn
5 before the schools are out. He said the Board of County Commissioners will not have adopted
6 a budget by then, so adjustments can still be made at the last minute.
7 Chair Jacobs asked Del Burns to go back one slide. He asked how the projections are
8 made for the number of teachers who would take the pay increase.
9 Del Burns said he does not believe this can be done. He said there are on-going
10 lawsuits, and there is no way to predict how many people will be eligible.
11 Chair Jacobs asked how the Board can anticipate what to budget.
12 Del Burns said this should be based on the original Department of Public Instruction
13 (DPI) projection of 3 percent and the proposed changes from the senate.
14 Commissioner Dorosin asked why the Orange County Schools (OCS) did not share in
15 these lawsuits.
16 Steve Halkiotis said OCS attempted to follow the leadership of the NC School Board
17 Association. He said the district did not want to take on more legal issues and costs, and the
18 board did not feel the same commitment that Guilford and Durham County felt.
19 Chair Jacobs asked if any of their state funded nurses are jeopardized.
20 Steve Halkiotis said probably one and a half positions are affected, and this is not
21 reflected in their budget.
22 Steve Halkiotis read a brief written commentary to the Board. He noted that OCS has
23 525 driver's education students
24 Commissioner McKee said he wanted to follow up on the comments regarding driver's
25 education. He said this will not only affect private schools and families who cannot afford it, but
26 it will also severely reduce new drivers' ability to drive competently and negotiate the roads
27 effectively.
28 Commissioner Price asked if the transportation cuts have been included in the budget.
29 Del Burns said yes.
30 Commissioner Pelissier asked for a clean sheet to be provided at the next work session,
31 to include the original budget with the updated changes that have been made due to state
32 actions.
33 Michael Talbert said they will plan to do that next week, but staff has been waiting to see
34 the house budget.
35
36 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Pg. 124 & 133
37 Mike Kelly and Michelle Brownstein
38 Michelle Brownstein said the Orange County staff did a good job of summarizing the
39 state budget cuts. She said Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) are facing over $6
40 million in cuts in the context of the proposed budget of$91 per pupil. She asked the Board to
41 continue to support the schools and to be creative and think out of the box for funding them.
42 She said the impact of the cuts to staff is going to be very great. She said CHCCS is grateful for
43 all that the Board does, and she understands that school funding affects all other aspects of
44 County government.
45 Michelle Brownstein said the decision not to participate in the lawsuit mentioned earlier
46 was purely a financial one. She said CHCCS agreed with the lawsuit, but did not have the
47 financial resources to invest in it.
48 Mike Kelly said the sky is not falling, but this is a major problem in the state. He said the
49 Board still has the power to make things happen. He said all teachers in the County who were
50 at career status were given the option of being considered for a four year contract. He said
7
1 many of the teachers were offended by the actions of the general assembly, and this is
2 something to be cognizant of. He encouraged the Board to consider a tax increase to support
3 the schools.
4 Chair Jacobs said the Board of County Commissioners can fill holes but not craters. He
5 said he will be surprised if the Board can address all of the cuts. He said there needs to be a
6 comprehensive discussion about tax policy in Orange County. He said he would be willing to
7 have another Board of County Commissioners session after the legislature takes its recess.
8 Michael Talbert said the County budget was presented before the proposed senate
9 budget, and the 48.1 percent goal was what was used in preparing the budget. He said the
10 state balanced its budgets by eliminating positions and by moving that money from positions to
11 teacher raises. He said if the Board is going to make up that difference it would be a
12 substantial tax increase. He said Orange County cannot pick up everything that the state cuts.
13 He said out of the $2.1 million from the County schools, $1.7 million was from salaries.
14 Michelle Brownstein said the senate proposal impacts the budget as much as $3.6
15 million, in addition to the $2.7 million shortfall from the County budget. She said that is where
16 the earlier mention of$6 million came from. She said the ripple effect will be catastrophic.
17 Mike Kelly said the total impact of the senate proposal is estimated to be $4.2 million,
18 and $1.7 million of that is from local supplements to offset the teacher salary increases.
19 Commissioner Gordon said it would help for CHCCS to re-send their budget
20 presentations electronically with a summary of the original budget request and the impacts of
21 the proposed senate cuts.
22 Commissioner Gordon said this year is different from other years. She said positions
23 are being cut, and jobs are being lost, and it is hard when experienced teachers are leaving for
24 other states with higher salaries.
25 She said raising teacher salaries at the expense of tenure and teacher assistants is not
26 good. She hopes the Board will do as much as possible in funding both school systems.
27 Commissioner Dorosin said the difference in the requested amount and the
28 recommended budget is $2.7 million. He asked what the priorities will be if full funding is not
29 possible.
30 Michelle Brownstein said the board has tried to prioritize positions based on cuts, but
31 they have not figured out the details yet.
32 Mike Kelly said some of the positions that were discussed in terms of cuts were: gifted
33 education specialists, teaching assistants, stage managers, and foreign language teachers in
34 elementary schools.
35 Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to see that list. He asked if there are priorities
36 within that total list.
37 Mike Kelly said it is not ranked in order, but it is ranked into first and second tiers.
38 Michelle Brownstein said this came from the superintendent's recommendations, but the
39 final decision will be a consensus from the board. She said this level of cuts is unprecedented.
40 Commissioner Dorosin said the reality is that it may not be all or nothing, and it is
41 important to prioritize and to be transparent about this.
42 Michelle Brownstein said the schools try to give the Board of County Commissioners
43 what they need as far as requests and then work things out once the Board has made a
44 decision.
45 Commissioner Dorosin said it would be easier for the Board if there was some
46 designation of the level of urgency and priority assigned to the requests.
47 Michelle Brownstein said CHCCS has submitted a list regarding potential cuts.
48 Mike Kelly said he can communicate what the board has discussed, but there has been
49 no prioritization of needs, because these discussions can be demoralizing to their teachers. He
8
1 said CHCCS does not have the fine detailed information that Commissioner Dorosin is
2 requesting.
3 Michelle Brownstein said she wants to make sure the Board understands that the
4 schools were not asking for an expansion budget, and there were already significant staffing
5 cuts.
6 Mike Kelly said these cuts will mean an expansion in class sizes, and cuts to athletic
7 programs.
8 Commissioner Dorosin said he finds it unacceptable that neither school system joined
9 the lawsuits against the state. He said the only way this legislature has been beaten back is in
10 the courts. He is not going to support an increase in the district tax; however, he will support a
11 property tax increase.
12 Michael Talbert said the CHCCS superintendent recommended a budget that was
13 $900,000 less than what the school board requested, but the board did not go along with this.
14 He said this can be provided to the Commissioners.
15 Michelle Brownstein said the prioritization is also reflected in the school board
16 documents from the meeting that was held a week later.
17 Mike Kelly said the school board did not agree with the cuts recommended by the
18 superintendent.
19 Commissioner McKee asked if this information is related to the memo that was sent out
20 on May 28tH
21 Michelle Brownstein said yes.
22 Commissioner McKee asked if the full time employee (FTE) reductions in that memo
23 factored in the legislation.
24 Michelle Brownstein said that was before the senate's budget was announced.
25 Commissioner McKee said he had asked for this information a couple of meetings ago
26 from CHCCS. He said this information was not that helpful. He said he needs to know the
27 prioritizations, and he would like to know why the school board did not follow the
28 superintendent's budget but asked for more. He said the County is not flush with money, and
29 the request seemed overaggressive.
30 He said the reductions from the state are serious. He asked what accommodations
31 would be made due to teacher reductions.
32 Michelle Brownstein said teacher reductions mean more children will be in the
33 classrooms and teacher/student ratio would increase.
34 Mike Kelly said there is an acceptable threshold in order to teach a class. He said there
35 has been some flexibility in some courses that are taught in a series. He said this is being
36 enforced more now, where 20 students are being required for first courses, rather than 15
37 students.
38 Michelle Brownstein said the administrative estimate for that ratio was that it would
39 result in a loss of three full time employees.
40 Commissioner McKee said he is still not sure how this relates to a reduction in full time
41 employees if this was already a policy, and there was just an increase in the beginning size of
42 the beginning class.
43 Mike Kelly said the higher beginning number resulted in a higher ending number and
44 saved about one position at each of the high schools.
45 Commissioner McKee said that would make sense at any rate and that would be the
46 goal even if you were not in this situation.
47 Mike Kelly said that would mean fewer courses for students to take.
48 Commissioner McKee asked about the reference to counselors.
49 Mike Kelly said one of their goals for this year was to review their counseling program.
50 He said this was to be launched through a contracted study that would have cost $30,000.
9
1 Michelle Brownstein said that study was a priority because it impacted their most fragile
2 students, and there was some disparity among the counseling across the district. She said this
3 has been postponed at this point.
4 Mike Kelly said social capital is a huge factor in the differences in student success.
5 Commissioner McKee said he is uncomfortable with this dance, and he hopes that at
6 some point the Board and the schools can figure out a way to meet in the middle. He said he
7 needs to see priorities.
8 Michelle Brownstein this year is different, and what the school board presented was not
9 an expansion budget, but it expressed the needs in order to keep the status quo. She said the
10 schools are at their bare bones, and this will impact the classrooms on multiple levels.
11 Mike Kelly said there was discussion about how much money was needed to just
12 maintain the current services, and this number was $3.2 million. He said, unlike every other
13 year, the initial decision was to ask for less, and this resulted in the superintendent's
14 recommendation. He said once the school board saw the impact to the school programs, the
15 decision was made to ask for what was needed.
16 Commissioner Rich said this year is different, but she thinks this is the beginning of what
17 the "new normal" is going to be down the road. She said it may be necessary to re-think how
18 this budget process is done.
19 Chair Jacobs said a plan is needed, and it may be an unpleasant plan, because the
20 County does not have the resources available to the state. He said information needs to be
21 carefully presented to the public about budget funding. He said it is time to get past how things
22 have been done and accept the new normal. He said it is important to band together to see
23 what can be done and how to plan differently for school funding in the future.
24
25 3. Sportsplex, Pg. 430
26 Paul Laughton referred to highlights of the 2013-2014 outcomes on page 430. He noted
27 the projected revenue increase of 5.1 percent and the expenditures increase of 3.5, as outlined
28 on page 431.
29 John Stock said their revenues year-to-date are up 8 percent, $200,000, and operating
30 expenses are up only 1 percent, so profit is up about 50 percent. He gave a breakdown of
31 individual program increases. He said the Little Learners program has been incredibly
32 rewarding and successful.
33 John Stock said the budget for next year includes lower revenue, because the goal is to
34 budget conservatively.
35 Commissioner Rich asked if fees have been raised in the past year and how scholarships are
36 given to disadvantaged members of the community.
37 John Stock said there were minimal increases to the access fees for swimming and
38 fitness passes. He said staff is looking to make changes in pool usage costs, because that is
39 one of the most expensive assets. He said the goal is just to get back to market pricing.
40 He said scholarships are a little tough. He said Kidsplex works with Department of
41 Social Services (DSS) and there are national scholarships offered at times for families in need.
42
43 3. County Departments
44
45 Asset Management Services, Pg. 64
46 Darrell Butts said the asset management budget had a net change of$140,000 due to
47 expenditure decrease and revenue increase. He said the motor pool surcharge phase-in was a
48 large driver of this, as well as utility costs.
49 Chair Jacobs asked if asset management services worked with Enterprise Fund Entities
50 on energy efficiency.
10
1 Jeff Thompson said yes.
2 Chair Jacobs asked if water rates are in-town rates.
3 Jeff Thompson said yes.
4 Commissioner Price said the manager recommended amount for custodial services is
5 lower than the current year. She asked about the potential effect of this.
6 Jeff Thompson said they are moving up against a productivity threshold. He said the
7 custodians are cleaning more space than the industry average, but their productivity is catching
8 up on that. He said this will be addressed in the next budget cycle as more space is added, but
9 things are okay now.
10 Paul Laughton referred to the pink sheet regarding vehicle replacements. He noted
11 that the total for 2014-15 is $775,119, and this year it was $899,000. He said there are set
12 standards and criteria that are considered for vehicle age, mileage, maintenance and other
13 factors.
14 Jeff Thompson said this is the first year that the internal services fund is being used. He
15 said evaluations will be done for fleets, and the needs will be evaluated. He said the platforms
16 are being standardized for efficiencies.
17 Commissioner McKee asked about the change from Crown Victorias to Expeditions.
18 Jeff Thompson said the Crown Victorias are being phased out, and the Expenditions are
19 a substitute for the Tahoe platform.
20 Chair Jacobs asked if there is a spread sheet of all updated vehicles and deputy cars to
21 give to the new sheriff.
22 Clarence Grier said yes.
23 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is any off set of revenue from the sale of the older
24 vehicles.
25 Jeff Thompson said internal services captures all of the surplus revenues from sales, as
26 well as the 8 cent per mile.
27
28 Board of Elections, Pg. 76
29 Darrell Butts said the net change for 2014-15 is an increase of just over $36,000. He
30 said this is due to corresponding expenditure and revenue decreases. He said this
31 department's budget is driven by scheduled elections and the impact on temporary employees
32 and operating budget. He noted that there is a recommended staff addition for this department
33 for an elections assistant, with a total County cost just under $44,000, but this will be offset by
34 the seasonal decrease of$66,000.
35 Tracy Reams said this position would help provide outreach for voter education. She
36 said during elections there is not enough staff to do that, and it is needed with the changes in
37 election laws. She said this person would be available to do outreach and to go to the assisted
38 living homes during the early voting period to fill out absentee voting.
39 Chair Jacobs asked if this anticipates difficulties with voter identification.
40 Tracy Reams said there have only been 21 cases related to this issue so far.
41 Commissioner Gordon asked where to look for a list of new positions for each
42 department.
43 Paul Laughton said this can be found in the budget summary on the list of positions on
44 page 40.
45 Chair Jacobs asked if the department had budgeted for run-offs for the sheriff's position.
46 Tracy Reams said yes. She said that was budgeted for this current fiscal year, and the
47 funding will be rolled over to cover the run-off.
48 Chair Jacobs asked if there was a post election summary of ballots cast, changes in
49 laws, and the number of residents without valid identification.
50 Tracy Reams said yes, and she will provide this.
11
1 Commissioner Price asked about the capital outlay.
2 Darryl Butts said the large portion is replacing 35 laptops that were grant funded, as well
3 as 10 printers and a call system for one stop voting.
4 Tracy Reams said the replacement laptops were to replace older laptops purchased with
5 state funded money in 2008.
6 Tracy Reams referred to the staff addition. She said she would like the Board to be
7 aware that she has three people on her staff who could retire today based on age and years of
8 service. She said the additional staff person would be a benefit to not only her office but to the
9 County as a whole.
10 Commissioner Rich asked if any of the potential retirees are in positions that would be
11 hard to replace.
12 Tracy Reams said yes.
13
14 Child Support Enforcement, Pg. 91
15 Tonya Walton said Child Support Services has a cost increase of approximately
16 $1,700. She said the key budget expense drivers are Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and
17 operational increases.
18 Janet Sparks said the cost allocation has just come in, and because of the roll forward,
19 there will be a substantial increase of 1.469 percent, which will be a $400,000 increase. She
20 said there will be a 66 percent reimbursement from the state.
21
22 Cooperative Extension, Pg. 94
23 Darrell Butts said the 2014-15 budget has a net change, which is a County decrease of
24 just under $45,000. He said this is due to an expenditure decrease of approximately $30,000
25 and a revenue increase of$15,000. He said the driver was the transfer of a position to
26 economic development and the elimination of a County operations support staff position.
27 Commissioner Gordon asked about the new cooperative extension position and why it
28 was not on the list.
29 Paul Laughton said that was done this fiscal year.
30
31 County Attorney's Office, Pg. 99-John Roberts
32 Tonya Walton said this 2014-15 budget has seen a net County increase of$14,600.
33 She said this is mostly due to cost of living adjustment, as well as a slight operations increase.
34 John Roberts said the operations increase is for digitizing contracts. He said he had
35 originally asked for $20,000 for staff salary adjustments, but Human Resources has analyzed
36 the positions and says only one position was in need of a salary adjustment.
37 Tonya Walton said there are monies in non-departmental for this and not in his budget.
38
39 Health Department, Pg. 305
40 Darrell Butts noted that there are some fee schedule change requests on page 502, and
41 there are some non-departmental items on page 357.
42 Darrell Butts said the 2014-15 net change in the general fund was an increase of just
43 under $178,000. He said there has been an increase in grant funds of almost $66,000. He
44 said the main budget driver is the cost of living adjustment and the requested new position for a
45 half time dental office assistant. He said this position will be a swap for a dental hygienist, so
46 there is actually a savings of$43,000 with this. He said there is a request for an increase in
47 one of the remaining dental hygienists hours, which will be an increase of$15,000. He said
48 there will also be a senior full time public health educator who will focus on poverty, and this will
49 be a total County cost of$70,000. He said some of this is start up cost for the work station, so
50 $4,000 of that amount will not all be recurring.
12
1 Chair Jacobs asked about the legislative impacts on the health department.
2 Colleen Bridger said this is not known yet. She said Orange County has the lowest per
3 capita funding for health departments in North Carolina. She said this is normally not a good
4 thing unless you are considering the cuts.
5 Chair Jacobs asked how the department is doing at serving dental patients in southern
6 Orange County.
7 Colleen Bridger said there is an increase in the whole County, and she would
8 recommend exploring other avenues for providing dental services in the southern part of the
9 County.
10 Commissioner McKee asked if there has been any partnership with private providers in
11 the southern part of the County.
12 Colleen Bridger said Piedmont Health Services has been a partner in southern
13 Carrboro.
14 Commissioner McKee asked if they are capable of providing the additional services
15 needed in the next couple of years.
16 Colleen Bridger said Piedmont Health Services would love to provide the staff to do that
17 if the County could supply the space.
18 Commissioner Price asked if they provide the same services as the County.
19 Colleen Bridger said the services are largely the same, except for dentures.
20 Commissioner Gordon asked how many dental patients are coming from the southern
21 part of the County.
22 Colleen Bridger said she would need to get back to the Board with the actual numbers.
23 She said there have been discussions about putting more square footage at the Southern
24 Human Services Center and adding dental space in the southern part of the County. She said
25 Piedmont Health Services would provide the staff, and the citizens would benefit.
26 Chair Jacobs asked if her department works with nursing homes on dental care by going
27 to the facilities.
28 Colleen Bridger said no, but there has been discussion about busing senior citizens to
29 the Hillsborough facility to provide services that cannot be provided in the nursing homes.
30 Chair Jacobs asked for follow up on this. He said this is one of the gaps in care for
31 seniors in assisted living and nursing homes.
32
33 Human Resources, Pg. 325 (including Non-Departmental Items, Pg. 340)
34 Brenda Bartholomew said the 2014-15 increase of$55,000 for the department is
35 primarily due to cost of living adjustment, new hires, and equity retentions.
36 She noted the non department items on page 340, which will be discussed more at a
37 future meeting.
38 Commissioner Gordon asked if any positions have been cut this year.
39 Brenda Bartholomew said no.
40 Commissioner Gordon asked about the delays for open positions.
41 Cheryl Young said there are 6 month delays for open positions, but staff can ask for a
42 waiver for critical positions.
43 Commissioner Gordon said there were efforts not to cut positions during the recession,
44 but to save money with the delays. She asked if this is still the case.
45 Cheryl Young said yes. She said the six month hiring delay resulted in a savings of
46 approximately $2 million this year. She said the furlough is a voluntary program, and it is
47 estimated at $30,000.
48 Chair Jacobs referred to page 326 and asked if turnover data is normally tracked or if
49 this is a special effort.
13
1 Cheryl Young said staff does keep up with turnover data and patterns are noted. She
2 said there are some positions that have a higher turnover. She said the economy is improving
3 and thus some positions are leaving for higher pay.
4 Chair Jacobs said he would like to see that data.
5 Cheryl Young said she can provide that information.
6 Michael Talbert said the recruitment and hiring process has been improved, and the
7 staff is within one or two positions of being full.
8 Chair Jacobs said it would be helpful to see areas of greatest turnover.
9 Commissioner Pelissier asked if exit interviews are done with employees.
10 Cheryl Young answered yes.
11
12 Solid Waste Department, Pg. 420 (Including fee schedule change requests, Pg. 508
13 and Non-Departmental Items, Pg.344)
14 Darrell Butts said some information is out of date due to changes made earlier tonight.
15 Darrell Butts said the net change is a total decrease of$333,000. He said this is largely
16 within operations and capital outlay. He said there is one non-departmental item for this
17 department, and this is the County general fund contribution to sanitation, which is a decrease
18 of$12,593 in this budget. He said the largest drivers are the landfill closure, recycling, and
19 vehicles. He said the sanitation department has a large $2.4 million project for the construction
20 of the improved Eubanks solid waste convenience center. He noted that tipping fees have
21 gone up by $2.
22 He said the fee schedule is no longer valid.
23 Commissioner McKee asked how the capital outlay of$2.42 million for the Eubanks
24 Solid Waste improvements is being paid for.
25 Gayle Wilson said this will be paid for through debt service.
26 Commissioner McKee said he is starting to question whether to move forward with
27 Eubanks renovations before there is a solid waste and transfer station plan in place with the
28 town partners. He questioned whether it might make sense to site a transfer station adjacent or
29 on the same site as a convenience center. He wonders if there might be a savings in the
30 current year.
31 Gayle Wilson said it would depend on which transportation site he is talking about. He
32 said the site most recently discussed by Chapel Hill would not have enough space to co-locate
33 a convenience center.
34 Commissioner McKee asked if there would be a savings and money in the general fund
35 to re-allocate if the County did not go forward with the convenience center renovation.
36 Gayle Wilson said the money has already been borrowed, and the debt service is
37 obligated. He said no operating costs for the new Eubanks center were included in next year's
38 budget. He said there really are not any expenditures factored in related to convenience center
39 operations.
40 Commissioner Rich asked about the increase in tipping fees.
41 Darryl Butts said this increase is $2 per time from the 2013-14 year to the 2014-15 year.
42 Commissioner Rich asked about the original contract with Durham.
43 Gayle Wilson said this is a 5 year contract, and Orange County pays the prevailing
44 tipping fee, which will go up in July.
45 Commissioner Rich asked how often the tipping fee increases.
46 Gayle Wilson said this typically happened once a year, and $2 is not an unusual
47 amount.
48 Commissioner Gordon asked for the current schedule for the convenience center
49 construction.
14
1 Gayle Wilson said staff hopes to award the bid in January, and start construction as
2 soon as weather allows, with a goal of opening the site by August of next year.
3 Chair Jacobs asked if there is a relationship between the distance of a transfer station
4 and the convenience center.
5 Gayle Wilson said all of the convenience centers generate waste that must be hauled to
6 the transfer station. He said a station on or around Eubanks road would save hauling costs.
7 He said there would be different mileage from each of the convenience centers.
8 Chair Jacobs asked if having a transfer station would alleviate the need for the
9 convenience center.
10 Gayle Wilson said no, unless you consider a full service transfer station, but this would
11 mean increased cost, a larger area, and more complicated operation and design.
12 Commissioner McKee asked if there is room to locate a transfer station on that site or
13 around that community center on County owned property.
14 Gayle Wilson said yes.
15 Commissioner Price asked if there are any figures available on profit from the recycling
16 program.
17 Gayle Wilson said money is made on this, and next year's proposed budget estimates
18 about $454,000 from the sale of recyclable materials. He said he will be happy to provide this
19 information to the Board.
20 Chair Jacobs said it would be good to see a 5 year trend for this information.
21 Commissioner Gordon asked where this revenue goes.
22 Gayle Wilson said this offsets expenses within the recycling division, which is in solid
23 waste.
24 Commissioner Gordon referred to the fee schedule. She suggested raising fees to
25 recoup general fund contributions. She would prefer going to 50 percent, and she asked what
26 the Board is willing to do.
27 Commissioner Pelissier suggested that this would be done at their last budget work
28 session.
29 Commissioner Gordon said this is open to discussion tonight.
30 Commissioner Price said she thought this would be discussed with the town and not at
31 tonight's meeting.
32 Commissioner Gordon said the Board has not ruled out the discussion tonight. She said
33 only 25 percent of their money is being recouped.
34 Chair Jacobs said that this is part of a bigger picture, because the Board may not want
35 to add a fee if taxation is increased. He said this should be considered as part of broader
36 conversation, and the towns should have an opportunity to discuss it.
37 Commissioner Gordon asked when this discussion will happen.
38 Chair Jacobs said this might be discussed at the last work session. He noted that the
39 Town of Chapel Hill has a meeting on June 10th and he could communicate with the towns
40 about this. He suggested a discussion of this on June 12th
41 Commissioner Rich said to make sure the towns receive the yellow sheet.
42 Chair Jacobs said the mayors should also receive this, along with an explanation that it
43 will be discussed on June 12th
44 Commissioner Gordon said she brought this up so that a clear decision can be made.
45 Commissioner Dorosin left at 10:16 p.m.
46
47 Tax Administration, Pg. 432
48 Dwane Brinson said the net change is an expenditure increase of$198,000. He said
49 this is mainly due to changes in taxation changes for registered motor vehicles. He said there
50 are an extra 3 months in the current fiscal year, and this is why it makes next year look bad. He
15
1 said there have been some operational and contract cost increases. He said the biggest
2 change in tax administration budget is the revaluation fund that went into the general fund as
3 opposed to being a separate fund.
4 Commissioner Pelissier asked if the revenue stream from hotel motel occupancy is
5 expected to generate additional revenues.
6 Dwane Brinson said this is expected to maintain at the current level.
7
8 Public Affairs, Pg. 395
9 Tonya Walton said the department had a $4000 increase. She said the personnel cost
10 includes $9,600 for student interns, who will assist with various projects, reports and newspaper
11 advertisements.
12 Carla Banks reviewed some of the listed outcomes. She said billboards, Facebook,
13 Twitter, newspaper ads, and a full page in the Newcomer Guide were used to generate more
14 visibility for the County. She referred to the expo, which was a big success.
15 Commissioner Rich asked about changing the Triangle J plaque to reflect the new logo.
16 Michael Talbert said he would follow up on this.
17 Commissioner Price asked if the interns come under operations or personnel.
18 Tonya Walton said this is part of personnel.
19
20 Board of Commissioners, Pg. 72
21 Darrell Butts said this department has a net increase of$53,300 in 2014-15, and the
22 main drivers were the request for temporary personnel, and increase in laser fiche licenses.
23 Donna Baker noted that an increase for additional web streaming is not shown. She
24 said the overall cost has been reduced, but it will be total of$29,000, which is an increase of
25 $9,000 to web stream all of the meetings.
26 Commissioner Rich said she believes this is a good idea.
27 Commissioner McKee said he is hesitant to pay that extra amount for web streaming
28 when they are struggling to fund schools.
29 Commissioner Price said she believes that transparency is important.
30 Chair Jacobs said this medium allows the Board to speak more directly to people. He is
31 supportive of this.
32 Michael Talbert said this will be included in the mark up/ mark down.
33 Commissioner Gordon said she also believes transparency is also important for the
34 agendas, and she has never gotten an answer on this automated agenda issue.
35 Michael Talbert said this was considered about 2 years ago and the Board elected not to
36 move forward with any changes. He said this is being considered again between now and year
37 end.
38 Commissioner Gordon suggested numbering the pages and making it possible to look
39 at specific sections.
40
41 County Manager's Office, Pg. 102 (Including Non-Departmental Items, Pg.341)Greg
42 Wilder
43 Tonya Walton said there is a net change of a $3,000 increase. She noted that there is a
44 related non-departmental item on page 341.
45 Chair Jacobs asked for a 5 year tracking on contingency for the manager and the Board
46 of County Commissioners' office.
47 Tonya Walton said this could be done.
48
49 Finance and Administrative Services, Pg. 294
16
1 Tonya Walton said there was a net change of a $60,300 increase. She said the budget
2 drivers were cost of living adjustments and risk management projects
3
4 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner McKee to go
5 into closed session at 10:42 p.m. for the purpose below:
6
7 "To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions
8 of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or
9 employee or prospective public officer or employee" NCGS § 143-318.11(a) (6).
10
11 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
12
13 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
14
15 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier seconded by Commissioner McKee to
16 reconvene to regular session at 11:20 PM.
17
18 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
19
20 ADJOURNMENT
21
22 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier seconded by Commissioner McKee to
23 reconvene to regular session at 11:20 PM.
24
25
26 Barry Jacobs, Chair
27
28 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
1
I Attachment 3
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 BUDGET WORK SESSION
6 June 12, 2014
7 7:00 p.m.
8
9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on June 12,
10 2014 at 7:OOpm at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.0
11
12 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jacobs and Commissioners Mark Dorosin, Alice
13 M. Gordon, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT:
16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Interim County Manager Michael Talbert and Assistant County
17 Managers Clarence Grier and Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff
18 members will be identified appropriately below)
19
20 NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT
21 AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
22
23 Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:04. He noted the following items at the
24 Commissioners' places:
25
26 - White Sheet - Projected Available General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance
27 - White Sheet - Adjustments to the Manager's Recommended FY 2014-15 Budget
28 - Gold Sheet -Estimated General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance
29 - Green Sheet -Orange County CIP Plan Summary Recommended (Revised for 6/12/14
30 Meeting)
31 - Orange County CIP Year 1 Recommended Projects
32 - Estimated Cost of Temporary Wage Increase to $12.76
33 - Lavender sheet—Additional Outside Agency Information
34
35 1. FY2014-19 Capital Investment Plan
36 Accept the Five Year Capital Investment Plan and Approve the Intent to Adopt
37 Capital Funding for FY2014-15
38 Paul Laughton reviewed the information on the revised pages 6 and 7 of the CIP and the
39 highlighted changes in yellow. He noted the addition of a $424,581 placeholder in years 6
40 through10 for the Efland Cheeks Community Center, as well as the corresponding revenue, debt
41 service, and pay-as-you-go.
42 Paul Laughton noted that the school's growth numbers have increased, and this
43 document reflects the corresponding allocation percentages. He said the monetary value of this
44 change is just over $15,000, with that amount being shifted from Chapel Hill Carrboro City
45 Schools (CHCCS) to Orange County Schools.
46 He said that pages 16-17 reflect the addition of the Efland Community Center and the
47 revenue associated with that.
48 Paul Laughton said the white page is an outline of year 1 projects and funding. He said
49 lottery funds will be left as is, because these funds and article 46 will come back to the Board
50 based on what is received during the year.
2
1
2
3 2. FY2014-15 Annual Operation Budget Decision Items
4 Mark Up/Mark Down Items for the County's Annual Operating Budget and Outside
5 Agencies
6 Clarence Grier reviewed the white sheet of adjustments to the manager's recommended
7 FY 2014-15 budget. He noted revenue changes totaling an increase of$48,000, and
8 expenditures totaling $122,263. He said this means the revised expenditure budget is
9 $195,760,768. He said the Board has approximately $650,000, less the noted $170,000, to use in
10 addressing any additional items that need to be added.
11 Commissioner Price proposed adding an additional $2500 for Empowerment, which would
12 give them the amount originally requested. This change was approved by the majority of the
13 Board.
14 Commissioner Dorosin asked about the funding for Ligo Dojo of Budo Karate. He
15 understands that this organization operates in Orange County and Durham County, but he does
16 not know enough about this operation, and he is hesitant to fund this at $2000. He knows that
17 similar programs exist in Orange County.
18 Commissioner Pelissier said this program is not just karate, but it also targets at-risk
19 youth. She said there are full paying students in addition to the funded students.
20 Commissioner Dorosin said his kids attend a similar class that also targets kids with
21 hyperactivity or ADD. He is not sure that this is exclusive to this organization.
22 Sharron Hinton said the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) has found no other
23 similar program that has been as successful with at-risk youth. She said the program targets kids
24 who are court involved. She said there are children identified by the Department of Social
25 Services (DSS) who would be eligible for this program.
26 Chair Jacobs said this is a non-profit, and it is serving the residents of Orange County.
27 Commissioner Dorosin said his questions have been answered satisfactorily.
28 Commissioner Rich asked if this is the first time this organization has asked for money.
29 Sharron Hinton said this was the first time DSS has reviewed their application, but the
30 program also receives JCPC funding from Durham County.
31 Commissioner Price said it is good to know who is funding what programs.
32 Clarence Grier said all outside agencies have to list all outside and internal funding, and
33 this is included on the applications. He said this information can be summarized and provided in
34 a table.
35 Michael Talbert said the Board had asked for additional information about DSS and the
36 living wage. He noted that this information is at the Commissioners' places.
37
38 The Board had expressed their intent to approve the adjustments to the Manager's
39 Recommended FY 2014-15.
40
41 Brenda Bartholomew reviewed the handout regarding the cost of increases to temporary
42 employee wages to comply with the living wage goals. She said 65 temporary employees would
43 be given an increase to their wages, which would total approximately $50,286. She said there is
44 approximately $10,000 already budgeted for the raising of the living wage, so this increase would
45 be a $41,000 change to the budget as it is already prepared.
46 Brenda Bartholomew said the back page is intended to show that there are Social
47 Services programs that offer wages below $12.76, but there is a grant for these wages, so no
48 changes can be discussed at this point.
49 Commissioner Rich asked for an explanation of the salaries that cannot be changed.
50 Brenda Bartholomew said these are the positions listed on the back side of the page,
3
1 under the Workforce Investment Act or the Work First Program, under the DSS heading.
2 Michael Talbert said, as part of the grant, if these employees are paid more than the
3 specified amount it would affect some of their other benefits.
4 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the positions listed on the back page were included as
5 part of the budget proposal.
6 Brenda Bartholomew said these were not included.
7 Cheryl Young said the Department of Environment Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
8 (DEAPR) employees were included in the budget, but not the Work First employees, due to the
9 grant restrictions.
10 Commissioner Dorosin asked about the Enterprise Fund employees.
11 Cheryl Young said these were included in the budget.
12 Commissioner Dorosin said it would be good to know how many of these 161 temp
13 employees are full time or time limited.
14 Cheryl Young said there are 4 temporary employees who work more than 30 hours per
15 week, because these people are retirees and get benefits. She said there are a large number of
16 seasonal employees with other jobs.
17 Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to know how many hours these employees are
18 working. He said there needs to be a longer discussion about appropriate compensation.
19 Cheryl Young said a spreadsheet could be provided that lists the hours being worked for
20 each position.
21 Chair Jacobs said this discussion about temporary employees could be added to a fall
22 work session.
23 Cheryl Young said almost a hundred temporary employees are already making the
24 required $12.76.
25 Brenda Bartholomew said the total amount required to move everyone up to a wage of
26 $12.76 per hour is $75,000, but $10,000 has already been budgeted, so the amount would be
27 about $65,000.
28 Clarence Grier said the actual amount for the general fund would be $62,650, and the
29 remaining amount of$2,001.76 would go to the Enterprise Fund.
30 Commissioner McKee asked if this is to be increased now or if it will be left for a decision
31 next year.
32 Commissioner Dorosin said he feels this should be increased now to $12.76 per hour. He
33 said the broader conversation about temporary employees could be had later. Commissioner
34 Gordon said she would like to get through the budget first before making a decision on this issue.
35 She said people in the schools are losing their jobs, so she would like to see the bigger picture
36 before deciding.
37 Chair Jacobs suggested that this could be a decision item on June 17tH
38 Commissioner Pelissier said she would like to decide tonight.
39 Commissioner McKee agreed with Commissioner Pelissier. He feels this decision should
40 be made tonight.
41 Chair Jacobs agreed.
42 Commissioner Gordon said she wanted to get through all of the steps of this budget first
43 before making a decision.
44 Chair Jacobs said the majority of the group agreed to this proposal for $65,000, and if
45 Commissioner Gordon would like to revisit this at the end of the meeting, there could be another
46 discussion.
47 Nancy Coston gave an update on state cuts and the impacts to childcare and social
48 services. She said it looks like the Senate and the House will change the income eligibility for
49 childcare. She said it is likely that the County will be told to stop serving people with children over
50 the age of 5 who are over 133 percent of poverty level. She said the County is currently serving
4
1 about 125 kids over the age of 5 who fit in that category and would be cut from the state funding.
2 She said funding for all of these children would total about $200,000 for part-time day care. She
3 said that does not factor taking any more children into the program.
4 Commissioner McKee asked if the County can re-structure their County programs to
5 support these people.
6 Nancy Coston said yes. She said the County can have their own local polices that are
7 funded locally.
8 Nancy Coston said a total of 850 children are being served now, and there are 85 on the
9 waiting list
10 Chair Jacobs said the original discussion was to allocate $170,000 of a possible
11 $650,000. He suggested that the remainder be allocated to the social justice fund, or separation
12 of what will be needed for childcare, with the remainder placed in the social justice fund.
13 Nancy Coston said there is funding for child welfare to help make up for some of the cuts
14 that the County experienced a couple of years ago. She said another approach would be to allow
15 the flexibility for some of those funds to come back to childcare.
16 Commissioner McKee said he would support putting the rest of the $650,000 into the
17 social justice fund since there is no way to know what the County will face in this next year.
18 Commissioner Pelissier asked Nancy Coston if there is any way to project how much of
19 the child welfare funds could be transferred to child care.
20 Nancy Coston said there is a formula used to fund this program, and she does not know
21 this formula. She said it will be less than the childcare amount needed, and she guesses it will be
22 around $100,000. She said this will not be known until the fall
23 Commissioner Pelissier noted that Commissioner McKee's suggestion would add about
24 $414, 587 into the social justice fund for DSS needs.
25 Commissioner Pelissier said she was not sure she would want to allocate the whole
26 amount. She feels that whatever dollar amount is allocated, the usage should be clarified.
27 Chair Jacobs said the Board could pass something to authorize the DSS director to
28 appropriate funds as needed over the summer to address childcare needs created by the state
29 legislature.
30 Commissioner Dorosin said he would be in favor of putting some of the money into DSS
31 now. He suggested an amount of$100,000.
32 Michael Talbert asked what would be needed to get through the summer.
33 Nancy Coston said she is not sure what kids will come up in the summer, but the cost will
34 be higher. She said it would be great to have the money, but the budget can be adjusted as
35 things move along. She said she would guess that it would be no more than $40,000 in the
36 summer.
37 Commissioner Price asked about the effects of the possible state cuts on staffing.
38 Nancy Coston said so far she has not seen this affect her staffing.
39 Commissioner Price said she is willing to do whatever needs to be done for the children.
40 Commissioner Rich said she likes the idea of keeping the bulk amount in the social justice
41 fund and allowing Nancy Coston to appropriate what she needs up to a certain amount for the
42 summertime. She asked how much money comes in through grants.
43 Nancy Coston said the childcare program does not get very many donations.
44 Chair Jacobs suggested putting the $414,000 into the social justice fund and allocating
45 $64,000 to DSS on June 17th for the summer coverage.
46 The Board expressed their agreement.
47 Michael Talbert said the $64,000 will be included in the mark up, as part of the budget that
48 will immediately go to social services. He suggested that Nancy Coston and other departments
49 come back after the summer to give an update on the impacts of the state budget.
5
1 Chair Jacobs asked if the Board can authorize the manager to approve allocations within
2 his purview over this summer, after consultation with the chair/vice chair, to fund programs that
3 may be cut by the state.
4 Clarence Grier said there is still $350,000 that can be put into the social justice reserve for
5 contingency items over the summer.
6 Chair Jacobs said the Board agreed by consensus.
7 Paul Laughton said there is already $100,000 in the social justice fund and this would
8 bring it to $450,000.
9
10 Decision Point 2
11 County Fee Schedule Decisions
12 Clarence Grier said there are only two fees that will change: 1) $59 will be eliminated for
13 rural recycling, as well as the $19 for multi-family service, and 2) there is a change in the
14 estimated Mebane rates for the Efland Water Sewer System, as Mebane has decided not to
15 increase rates.
16 Commissioner Gordon said she would like to remind the Board that there was discussion
17 about changing the solid waste convenience center (SWCC) fee.
18 Chair Jacobs said he and Michael Talbert wrote to the towns and no response has been
19 received so far.
20 Commissioner Gordon said the question is whether to change the SWCC fee this year or
21 wait until the advisory group meets.
22 Chair Jacobs said there will be a discussion on property taxes in the next item, and this
23 might have a bearing on whether to raise the fee. He said there is also a difference of opinion
24 regarding whether fees are the way to pay this. He said the fees would be larger than the impact
25 of the property tax, which would magnify the changes. He suggested waiting for feedback and
26 discussion with the towns.
27 Commissioner McKee said this is part of a larger discussion, and he would prefer to wait
28 until the towns weigh in.
29 Commissioner Dorosin said he is opposed to raising the fees; but he would support
30 eliminating the fees and having the costs covered by the general fund.
31 Commissioner Pelissier said the Board should not do anymore piece meal decision
32 making, and she would defer making a decision about fees at this point.
33 Commissioner Price said the inspection fees are going up 40 percent, and asked for an
34 explanation of this.
35 Craig Benedict said the fees are going up from $38 to $50, which is about 20 percent. He
36 said there was discussion in 2006 about raising fees incrementally by about 10 percent each
37 year. He said this was frozen in 2008, and a recent study showed the rate of$50 to be a
38 reasonable rate. He said this increase is an effort to catch up.
39 Commissioner Price said some of the fees are going up more than 20 percent.
40 Craig Benedict said some of the higher rates are commercial rates, and these are not
41 residential rates.
42
43 Decision Point 3
44 Funding for Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools
45 Clarence Grier referred to the gold sheet regarding unassigned fund balance. He said the
46 expected total revenues at the end of the fiscal year are $192,957,950, and total expenditures are
47 expected to be $187,318,733. He said this gives an expected increase in the general fund
48 balance of$5,639,217. He said the projected excess general fund unassigned fund balance as
49 of June 2014 totals $1,911,124, and the projected ending general fund unassigned fund balance
50 as of June 30, 2014 totals $35,280,170, which equates to an increase of 18.83 percent.
6
1 Michael Talbert went over the proposed usage of unassigned fund balance as outlined on
2 the white hand out. He said the $1,911,124 in unassigned fund balance is over and above the 17
3 percent in the fund balance policy. He noted that the Board will see, at the meeting on June 17tH
4 an agenda item that reflects a proposed refunding based on the County's new AAA rating, and
5 this will save the County $837,808. He said this new rating will give the County much better
6 borrowing rates. He said the 17 percent fund balance goal is a milestone that should be kept.
7 Michael Talbert said the House is expected to vote on their budget on June 13th and then
8 it will go to the conference committee. He said there will likely not be a decision prior to Orange
9 County adopting their budget on Tuesday night.
10 Michael Talbert outlined the following details of scenarios for a potential tax increase and
11 the impact of this increase:
12
Incre
ase
in
Per
Mgr Tax Pupil
Per Total Rate Fund
Enrollment Pupil Mgr Request Difference 1 cent increase Per Pupil ing Mgr Total
CHCCS 20,202.00 3,364 67,959,528 72,383,766 4,424,238.00 1,638,241 2.70 3,583.00 219 95.00 314.00
OCS 20,202.00 3,364 67,959,528 71,757,504 3,797,976.00 1,638,241 2.32 3,552.00 188 95.00 283.00
Tax CHCCS Fund
Increase Balance
1.50 2,457,736.00 4,424,238.00 1,966,502.0 1,911,12 (55,378.00
0 4.00 )
Mgr 67,959,528 1.75 2,866,921.75 4,424,238.00 1,557,316.0 1,911,12 353,808
Rec. 0 4.00
Origina 65,079,252 2.00 3,276,482.00 4,424,238.00 1,147,756.0 1,911,12 763,368
1 0 4.00
Increas 2,880,276 2.50 4,095,603.00 4,424,238.00 328,635.00 1,911,12 1,582,489
e 4.00
Mgr
Rec. 3,364.00
Tax OCS Fund
Origina 3,269.00 Increase Balance
I
Increas 95.00 1.50 2,457,736.00 3,797,976.00 1,340,240.0 1,911,12 570,884
e 0 4
1.75 2,866,921.75 3,797,976.00 931,054.00 1,911,12 980,070
4
2.00 3,276,482.00 3,797,976.00 521,494.00 1,911,12 1,389,630
4
2.50 4,095,603.00 3,797,976.00 (297,627.00 1,911,12 2,208,751
4
3,276,482.00
911,124.00
7
1
2 Michael Talbert said if taxes were raised 1.5 cents, it would bring in $2,457,000, which
3 would equate to an additional $121 per pupil. He said a full 2 cent tax increase would generate
4 $3,276,483, which would add an additional $162 per pupil.
5 Michael Talbert said if the County wants to fully fund schools, it would equate to a tax
6 increase of 2.71 cents.
7 He said the County could levy a tax and put the funds into a reserve account (similar to
8 the social justice fund) until the legislative budget is adopted and then come back in September
9 to allocate all or part of this to the schools. He said he would not recommend using the $1.9
10 million in unassigned fund balance, as this is a safety net for dealing with emergencies during the
11 year without violating the 17 percent goal.
12 Chair Jacobs said he wanted to clarify that this Board has not had a discussion on how to
13 fund schools yet.
14 Discussion ensued regarding clarification of the above spreadsheet.
15 Commissioner Gordon suggested fully funding the original request from the schools, and
16 then putting money aside in reserves to deal with the unknown.
17 Commissioner Dorosin clarified that any funds generated by a tax increase would be split
18 equitably between the two schools systems.
19 Clarence Grier said at some point in time, the County will need to generate revenues to
20 replace the general fund revenues that are used. He said $9.1 million is approximately 6.5 cents
21 on the current tax rate, which would be hard to make up through under spending in future years.
22 Clarence Grier responded to Commissioner Dorosin's concerns about equitable
23 distribution of funds. He said whatever is done, all funds will be divided on an ADM basis
24 between the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) and Orange County Schools (OCS).
25 Commissioner Gordon said that it is almost certain that the school districts are going to
26 take a hit from the state budget, so even if the County "overfunds," it is almost certain the funds
27 will be needed.
28 Commissioner McKee suggested that the Board start with the $2.8 million recommended
29 by the manager, proceed with a 1.5 cent tax increase, and take $1 million out of the fund balance.
30 Commissioner Pelissier proposed a 2 cent tax increase, to be directly allocated, with
31 additional money reserved from the fund balance to use as needed, based on what happens in
32 the general assembly.
33 Commissioner Dorosin proposed either a 2 cent tax increase, with $1.5 million being
34 taken from the fund balance, or a 2.5 cent tax increase, with $1 million taken from the fund
35 balance.
36 Commissioner Gordon said she believes the County needs more revenue, and she would
37 support a tax increase of at least 2 cents. She said the original requests of the school system
38 should be fully funded. She would support a tax increase up to 2.5 cents.
39 Commissioner Rich said she is not in favor of raising taxes more than 2 cents. She likes
40 the combination of using some of the fund balance, but she is wary of using too much, as this
41 money needs to be available for other emergencies.
42 Chair Jacobs said he is comfortable with a 2 cent tax increase, and he would be
43 comfortable taking as much as $1 million from the fund balance, but this can be discussed.
44 Chair Jacobs and Clarence Grier discussed the financial responsibility that the County has
45 shown in building up a substantial fund balance that has been used in lieu of a tax increase for
46 several years now.
47 Clarence Grier said a 2 cent tax increase, plus the manager's recommendation and $1
48 million from the fund balance should be enough to fully fund schools.
49 Commissioner McKee asked what the $7.1 million in funding will equate to in per pupil
50 funding increase.
8
1 Michael Talbert said full funding would be $314 per pupil.
2 Commissioner Gordon said she believes a 2 cent tax increase is needed.
3 Clarence Grier clarified that a 2 cent tax increase, plus the manager's recommendation,
4 and $1,148,000 would fully fund the higher request of$7.3 million, and the increase of$314 per
5 pupil.
6 Commissioner McKee said he has a problem with this, because this is above the amount
7 that the CHCCS superintendent recommended to his board and what Orange County asked for.
8 He said this sets a bad precedent. He said the total amount needs to be set for what is needed,
9 and some money can be set aside.
10 Discussion ensued regarding the amount of funding per pupil for the different proposed
11 scenarios. A break was taken to calculate these numbers for further discussion.
12 Michael Talbert said the $7.7 million requested by the CHCCS includes $2.2 million to
13 help re-build their fund balance.
14 Tom Forcella said, with the requested amount, CHCCS's fund balance would be at the
15 minimum that it needs to be, but it would not be at $2.2 million over the minimum. He said the
16 $2.2 million would be for positions that are being paid for in the current year, and there would not
17 be additional money in the fund balance.
18 Todd Lofriese said the estimated year end fund balance would be below the 5.5 percent
19 target, which would equate to $3 million.
20 Commissioner Gordon said CHCCS has a policy regarding this 5.5 percent, and there is
21 no flexibility to go into this money.
22 Chair Jacobs said the goal of these policies is for the school systems to be able to cover
23 their bills, and any shortfall would be up to the County.
24 Clarence Grier reviewed the above chart regarding the different scenarios for tax
25 increases and funding.
26
27 Commissioner McKee made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Price to go with a 1.75
28 cent tax increase; $1 million from fund balance, and $2.8 million from the manager's
29 recommendation.
30
31 Commissioner Gordon said additional revenue is needed for both school districts. She
32 would argue for a 2 cent tax increase to generate more revenue.
33 Commissioner McKee said a 2 cent tax increase is a psychological barrier for many
34 people who live on modest incomes in Orange County.
35 Commissioner Rich said the 1.75 cent or the 2 cent tax increase make the most sense.
36 She leans toward the 2 cent increase since it seems the most prudent to avoid coming back to do
37 this again next year.
38 Commissioner Dorosin said he feels it would be best to do a 2 cent tax increase. He said
39 a general property tax increase has not been done in several years, and this is where the weight
40 of addressing the funding should be. He said it is important to note the extraordinary moment
41 that the County is in, and he does not think that this sets a precedent.
42 Commissioner Pelissier agreed with Commissioner Dorosin's comments. She said she
43 agrees that there are lower income residents in the County, but there have been additions to the
44 social safety net to address this. She noted that the state has also decreased the income tax,
45 and there are gaps that need to be filled.
46 Commissioner Price said she wanted to start lower and raise the tax incrementally if
47 needed next year. She said there are already people leaving the County due to the expense of
48 living here.
49 Chair Jacobs said there is not a lot of difference in the 1.75 cent and 2 cent tax increase,
50 but he does understand the psychological implications. He thinks the County has been very
9
1 responsive to the economy and the residents on fixed incomes. He said he is still inclined to
2 suggest a 2 cent increase on the property tax, and he would not utilize more than $955,000 of
3 fund balance.
4
5 VOTE: Ayes, 2 (Commissioner Price and Commissioner McKee); Nays 5 (Chair Jacobs,
6 Commissioner Dorosin, Commissioner Gordon, Commissioner Pelissier, Commissioner Rich)
7 Motion Fails.
8
9 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
10 raise the general property tax by 2 cents and take $955,000 from the fund balance to fund the
11 schools.
12
13 Commissioner Rich made a friendly amendment and suggested leaving $1 million in the
14 fund balance and only taking out $911,124 from the fund balance.
15
16 Commissioner Gordon accepted the friendly amendment, and Commissioner Pelissier
17 seconded and thus amended her original motion to only use $911,124 for fund balance, along
18 with 2 cent increase.
19
20 Commissioner McKee said he would vote against the proposed 2 cent tax rate increase,
21 as he feels this extra .25 cents will generate very little money, but it will cross a psychological
22 barrier for many residents.
23 Commissioner Price agreed with Commissioner McKee.
24
25 VOTE: Ayes, 5 (Chair Jacobs, Commissioner Dorosin, Commissioner Gordon, Commissioner
26 Pelissier, Commissioner Rich); Nays, 2 (Commissioner Price and Commissioner McKee)
27
28
29 Decision Point 4
30 Tax Rate Decisions
31 • Ad Valorem Tax Rate
32 Clarence Grier said the new tax rate would increase to 87.8 cents per $100 of assessed
33 valuation.
34
35 • Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Special District Tax Rate
36 Commissioner Pelissier and Commissioner McKee suggested leaving the district tax the
37 same.
38 Commissioner Rich would like to increase the rate.
39 The majority of the Board agreed to leave this tax the same.
40
41 • Fire District Tax Rates
42 Clarence Grier said New Hope Fire District would like to go up from 9.45 cents to 9.95
43 cents, and White Cross would like to increase from 8.00 cents to 11 cents.
44 He said all of the other districts would remain the same.
45 Chair Jacobs said the Board needs to have a general discussion about the burden of
46 these taxes on individual property owners. He said he is not completely comfortable going to 11
47 cents for White Cross, but he will go with the Board consensus.
48 Commissioner McKee agreed with much of what Chair Jacobs said. He said he does feel
49 that a discussion is needed. He said if it was not for the necessary renovations to the main
10
1 station, and the addition of paid firemen, he would oppose the 11 cents. He said he will support
2 this, but there needs to be a discussion this fall.
3 Discussion ensued, and there was consensus that future discussion is needed to create
4 parameters.
5 Commissioner Price said she is in favor of giving these firefighters the resources they
6 need.
7 Commissioner McKee said this is a 4.2 cent increase for those residents in White Cross.
8 He noted that some people in the area of the substation will be saving more than this on their
9 insurance.
10 Commissioner Pelissier said she is fine with doing the tax increase, but this is the second
11 year of this, and it is harder to deal with them when they are back to back.
12
13 The Board agreed by consensus to raise the fire district tax for White Cross and New
14 Hope Fire Departments.
15
16 Capital Request from Chapel Hill Carrboro School System (CHCCS)
17 Michael Talbert said $750,000 has been requested by CHCCS for capital. He said
18 Orange County Schools have not requested anything yet. He is not recommending this, as most
19 of the fund balance has just been spent, and taxes have been raised.
20 Commissioner Gordon said this was one of her top priorities, and she is in favor of
21 keeping this on the table. She feels this will make it possible to add capacity. She said it seems
22 the Board is not ready to do this.
23 The Board agreed with this assessment.
24
25 Clarence Grier said he would like to note that the County has surpassed the $200 million
26 mark with this budget, which means that the budget has increased $13 million over last year's
27 budget.
28
29 3. Break (to allow Finance and Administrative Services Director to formulate Draft
30 Resolution of Intent to Adopt FY 2014-15 Budget)
31
32 4. Resolution of Intent to Adopt FY 2014-15 Annual Operating Budget
33 Approval of Resolution of Intent to Adopt FY 2014-15 Annual Operating Budget at
34 the Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting on June 17, 2014
35
36
37 Resolution of Intent to Adopt the 2014-15
38 Orange County Budget
39
40 The items outlined below summarize decisions that the Board acted upon June 12, 2014 in
41 approving the FY2014-15 Orange County Annual Operating Budget.
42
43 WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has considered the Orange County
44 2014-15 Manager's Recommended Budget; and
45
46 WHEREAS, the Commissioners have agreed on certain modifications to the Manager's
47 Recommended Budget as presented in the 2014-15 County Manager's Recommended Budget
48 on May 20, 2014;
49
11
1 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
2 expresses its intent to adopt the 2014-15 Orange County Budget Ordinance on Tuesday, June
3 17, 2014, based on the following stipulations:
4
5 1) Property Tax Rates
6
7 a) The ad valorem property tax rate shall be set at 87.8 cents per $100 of assessed
8 valuation.
9
10 b) The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District Tax shall be set at 20.84 cents per
11 $100 of assessed valuation.
12
13 c) The Fire District and Fire Service District tax rates shall be set at the following rates
14 (all rates are based on cents per $100 of assessed valuation):
15
16
• Cedar Grove 7.36
• Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District 15.00
• Damascus 8.80
• Efland 7.00
• Eno 7.99
• Little River 4.06
• New Hope 9.95
• Orange Grove 6.00
• Orange Rural 7.36
• South Orange Fire Service District 10.00
• Southern Triangle Fire Service District 8.80
• White Cross 11.00
17
18
19 2) County Employee Pay and Benefits Plan
20 Provide a County employee pay and benefits plan that includes:
21
22 a. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 1.5% for all permanent employees hired on or before
23 June 30, 2014, effective July 1, 2014.
24 b. Increase the salary range maximums by 1.5% to allow those employees at or exceeding
25 the range to receive the 1.5% COLA.
26 c. An Employee Performance Award in the amount of$500 (proficient performance) or
27 $1,000 (exceptional performance), effective with WPPR review dates from July 1, 2014 to
28 June 30, 2015.
29 d. Continue the $27.50 per pay period County contribution to non-law enforcement
30 employees' supplemental retirement accounts; increase the County match up to $1500
31 per year ($62.50 semi-monthly) based on employee contribution; continue the mandated
32 Law Enforcement Officer contribution of 5.0% of salary; and increase the County's
12
1 required contribution to the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (LGERS)
2 for all law enforcement officers (LEOS).
3 e. Funding to address an employee health insurance increase up to 14.35% over current
4 premiums, effective January 1, 2015.
5 f. Increase the living wage from $10.97 to $12.76 per hour.
6 g. Extending the six-month hiring delay and the voluntary furlough program.
7 h. Addressing increased costs for Retiree Health Benefits.
8
9 3) Modifications to County Manager's FY 2014-15 Recommended Annual Operating
10 Budget
11 The following modifications to the County Manager's Recommended Budget are made:
12
13
1 Changes in Funding to Improve Service Delivery (Increase in FTE Approved)
General Fund
One-Time Offsetting
Dept/Division Position Effective Date FTE Annual Salary and Operating Start-Up Revenue or Net County
Change Salary Benefits Costs Cost Total
Costs Cost Savings
Animal Services-Animal Shelter Veterinary Health Care Technician July 1,2014 1.0 $29,286 $42,289 $127 $0 ($10,250) $32,166
Elect ons Assistant-Voter
Board of Elections Outreach July 112014 1.0 $30,768 $43,994 $0 $0 $0 $43,994
DEAPR-Parks Parks Conservation Tech II November 1,2014 0.75 $17,842 $26,256 $1,425 $0 ($797) $26,884
Economic Development Business Retention Specialist July 1,2014 1.0 $67,553 $86,283 $780 $0 $0 $87,063
Emergency Services-
Administration EM Planner July 1,2014 1.0 $39,387 $53,914 $6041 $4,116 $0 $58,634
Health-Dental Health Dental Office Assistant July 1,2014 0.5 $13,939 $24,626 $0 $0 $0 $24,626
Health-Dental Health Dental Hygienist July 1,2014 0.2 $11,8811 $12,240 $0 $0 $0 $12,240
Health-Health Promotion& Senior Public Health Educator-
Education Poverty July 1,2014 1.0 $41,381 $56,209 $14,101 $570 $0 $70,880
Library-Main Communications Specialist January 1,2015 1.0 $18,742 $25,861 $0 $1,775 ($5,460) $22,176
Library-Carrboro Librarian I July 11 2014 0.25 $11,200 $12,914 $0 $0 $0 $12,914
Planning-OPT Office Assistant II July 1,2014 1.0 $29,286 $42,288 $1,170 $3,633 ($47,091) $0
Planning-OPT Public Transportation Driver July 1,2014 1.0 $29,286 $42,288 $1,220 $0 ($43,508) $0
Sheriff Deputy Sheriff-Transport July 1,2014 2.0 $71,366 $101,682 $0 $0 $0 $101,682
Tax Administration- Office Assistant I I-extension of
Collector/Revenue Time-limited July 1,2014 1.0 $29,872 $42,962 $0 $0 $0 $42,962
TOTALS 12.7 $441,788 $613,806 $19,427 $10,094 ($107,106) $536,221
Grant Fund
One-Time Offsetting
Dept/Division Position Effective Date FTE Annual Salary and Operating Start-Up Revenue or Net County
Change Salary Benefits Costs Cost Total
Costs Cost Savings
Senior Public Health Educator-
Health-Triple P Initiative(30 fund) Program Coordinator July 1,2014 1.0 $41,381 $56,209 $0 $8,000 ($64,209) $0
TOTALS 1.0 $41,381 $56,209 $0 $8,000 ($64,209) $0
Visitors Bureau Fund
FTE Annual Salary and Operating One-Time Offsetting Net Visitors
Dept/Division Position Effective Date Change Salary Benefits Costs Start-Up Revenue or Bureau Fund
Costs Cost Savings Cost Total
Economic Development-Visitors
Bureau Sales Manager July 1,2014 1.0 $50,000 $66,129 $4,380 $1,827 ($14,194) $58,142
2 TOTALS 1.0 $50,000 $66,129 $4,380 $1,827 ($14,194) $58,142
3
4 5) General Fund Appropriations for Local School Districts
5
6 The following FY 2014-15 General Fund Appropriations for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
7 and Orange County Schools are approved:
8
9 a) Current Expense appropriation for local school districts totals $72,147,134 and equates to
10 a per pupil allocation of$3,571.
11
12 1) The Current Expense appropriation to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools is
13 $44,066,106.
14
1
2 2) The Current Expense appropriation to the Orange County Schools is $28,081,028.
3
4
5 b) Recurring Capital appropriation for local school districts totals $3,000,000
6
7 1) The Recurring Capital appropriation to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools totals
8 $1,832,400.
9
10 2) The Recurring Capital appropriation to the Orange County Schools totals
11 $1,167,600.
12
13 c) Long Range (Pay-As-You-Go) Capital appropriation for local school districts totals
14 $3,724,849.
15
16 1) The Long-Range (Pay-As-You-Go) Capital appropriation to the Chapel Hill
17 Carrboro City Schools totals $2,275,138.
18
19 2) The Long-Range (Pay-As-You-Go) Capital appropriation to the Orange County
20 Schools totals $1,449,711.
21
22 d) School Related Debt Service for local school districts totals $16,608,984.
23
24 e) Fair Funding appropriation for local school districts totals $988,000. This appropriation
25 is to be split 50/50 between Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and Orange County
26 Schools.
27
28 f) Additional County funding for local school districts totals $1,253,804.
29
30 (1) School Health Nurses —Total appropriation of$697,380 with $460,684
31 allocated for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and $236,696 allocated for
32 Orange County Schools.
33
34 (2) School Resource Officers —Total appropriation of$556,424 allocated in the
35 Sheriff's Department to provide School Resource Officers to Orange County
36 Schools.
37
38 6) County Fee Schedule
39 To adopt the County Fee Schedule to include changes included in the FY 2014-15
40 Manager's Recommended Annual Operating Budget.
41
42 Clarence Grier read the resolution of intent to adopt FY 2014-15 Annual Operating Budget
43 at the Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting on June 17, 2014.
44
45 Chair Jacobs suggested the addition of language specifying the funding allocation for the
46 Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center.
47 Paul Laughton said the wording will be changed on page 3 to specify "fund balance
48 appropriation", rather than "Board appropriation."
49
15
1 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
2 approve the Resolution of Intent to Adopt FY 2014-15 Annual Operating Budget at the Board of
3 County Commissioners Regular Meeting on June 17, 2014.
4
5 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
6
7 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
8 adjourn at 10:40 p.m.
9
10 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
11
12 Barry Jacobs, Chair
13
14 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
1
I Attachment 4
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 REGULAR MEETING
6 January 22, 2015
7 7:00 p.m.
8
9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday,
10 January 22, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.
11
12 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs,
13 Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County
17 Managers Clarence Grier, Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff
18 members will be identified appropriately below)
19
20 Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. He asked for a moment of silence
21 in honor of Martin Luther King.
22
23 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
24 Chair McKee reviewed the following information at the Commissioner's places:
25 - Blue Sheet— Revised Copy of Item 4a — revised Human Relations Month Proclamation
26 - Yellow Sheet - Correction to the Dec. 1, 2014 minutes
27 - Pink Sheet— Revision to Item 61 — Meeting Calendar Change
28 - Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness Community Report
29
30 County Manager Bonnie Hammersley introduced the Board to Ms. Audrey Spencer-
31 Horsley, the new Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Director.
32 Gayle Wilson said the new roll carts are ready for distribution to the rural parts of the
33 County. He said delivery of the carts will start on Saturday and full delivery should take about 3
34 weeks.
35 Commissioner Jacobs asked if customers would still be allowed to use the older orange
36 bins.
37 Gayle Wilson said yes.
38 Commissioner Price asked about collection of the older orange bins once the new carts
39 are delivered, and discussion ensued.
40
41 PUBLIC CHARGE
42 Chair McKee dispensed with the reading of the public charge.
43
44 2. Public Comments
45 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda
46 Don O'Leary said he has not heard back about the issue on fluoride, and he hopes the
47 information he has supplied is helpful. He said he would like to point out some other issues with
48 water in the County. He said people living outside of Hillsborough city limits are charged
49 exorbitant amounts for their water. He said this should be investigated, and he encouraged the
50 Board to see what can be done to reduce rate costs for these residents.
2
1 Chair McKee said that is best addressed to the Town of Hillsborough rather than the
2 Board of Commissioners.
3 Don O'Leary said the County is still responsible for the fluoride in this water, and the
4 Board of County Commissioners should be able to regulate what Hillsborough and OWASA
5 charge for water.
6 John Roberts said Hillsborough is statutorily authorized to charge an extra amount on
7 water rates for those residents who live outside the town limits. He said this is to pay for the
8 infrastructure that is required to go outside their corporate limits, and this applies to all towns
9 with water systems. He said this is not something the County can impact or regulate, as it has
10 been granted by the state legislature.
11 Ida Evans Lawson said she is a concerned resident. She said her water bill is about
12 $105 per month, and she used to pay $20 per month at her previous residence. She said she
13 lives in Fairview and lives on a fixed income. She has taken this issue to the town.
14
15 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda
16 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda
17 below.)
18
19 3. Petitions by Board Members
20 Commissioner Rich asked if the Board had received an answer from the County
21 Attorney about the resolution that was passed in Greensboro on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
22 Transgender (LGBT) rights. She would like to know if Orange County can create a legal
23 resolution that mirrors that one.
24 John Roberts said he asked Greensboro's attorney to call him, but he has not received
25 any communication yet. He said he also asked one of his staff attorneys to contact the City of
26 Greensboro housing director for the same information on what authority was used in creating
27 the resolution, and he will let the Board know as soon he gets more information.
28 Commissioner Rich said her petition would be to create a resolution once that
29 information is gathered.
30 Commissioner Rich asked for a report on how the County handles jobs for at-risk teens.
31 She noted that Durham has a program that addresses this issue.
32 Commissioner Rich said there is a program called "Just Economics," which is an
33 initiative that started in Asheville and is now being done in Durham as well. She said the
34 program allows local shop owners to go through a certification program on living wages, after
35 which they receive a plaque to let people know that their store pays a living wage. She will
36 forward more information to the Commissioners.
37 Commissioner Dorosin said he is the representative on the ABC Commission. He said
38 the commission annually gives funds back to Orange County. He said it appears that there is
39 no policy as to how these funds are calculated or allocated. He noted that the amount has been
40 around $400,000 for the past 5 years, but there is no formula for how this number was
41 generated. He suggested the creation of a policy to address the allocation of these funds. He
42 said sales are increasing, and there is a cap on how much the ABC Commission can retain. He
43 requested that this be added as an agenda item for discussion.
44 Commissioner Dorosin said these petitions are done at the beginning of the meeting and
45 then Board comments are done at the end of the meeting after the public and the media have
46 already left. He requested that the Board comments be moved up on the agenda.
47 Commissioner Dorosin said the Town of Hillsborough has engaged the School of
48 Government to do a study regarding the options for the Colonial Inn. He feels that the Board
49 should also be engaged in getting information and deciding whether or not there is a role that
50 the County can play.
3
1 Chair McKee said he discussed this with the mayor earlier this week, and he will share
2 that information at a later time.
3 Commissioner Jacobs responded to Commissioner Dorosin's comments. He said there
4 is time set aside at the retreat for discussion of Board procedures. He noted that several
5 Commissioners have brought up their desire to change where Board comments are structured
6 on the agenda.
7 Commissioner Jacobs referred to the discussion about the Colonial Inn, and he said the
8 County manager has already done some investigation on this issue. He said he has also talked
9 with the Mayor, and there is agreement that there are possibilities for a partnership. He
10 suggested it would be good to get Steve Brantley involved in these discussions.
11 Commissioner Jacobs noted that there is a policy stating that the Commissioners should
12 receive information about upcoming closed sessions, and he received no information about the
13 closed session tonight.
14 Commissioner Price referred to Commissioner Rich's comments on the gender issue.
15 She said this was discussed in the legislative issues work group, and this would be welcomed
16 as part of their legislative packet.
17 Commissioner Price said some of the artists in the community have expressed concern
18 about the Arts Commission website and marketing. She said the website is very out of date,
19 and needs to be updated. She suggested an evaluation of the effectiveness of"EverWonder,"
20 which is used for the uploading of advertising information, and she asked for an update to the
21 website.
22 Commissioner Price referred to a memo she had sent to the Board in December
23 regarding the "My Brother's Keeper" challenge. She invited the Board to be part of this
24 challenge, and she said a mini summit has been scheduled for February 13th.
25 Chair McKee referred to the petition regarding "My Brother's Keeper." He said the Board
26 policy is not to vote on petitions at the initial presentation. He said Commissioner Price did
27 bring this item to the Board's attention on December 21, but it has not been addressed because
28 of the recess. He said the efforts of this community challenge align with the goals of the Board
29 and the County, and he noted that there is no fund request or staff time required. He said there
30 seems to be Board consensus and support from the mayors. He said, unless there is anyone
31 who objects, he will look into getting a press release out to support this.
32 The Board agreed by consensus.
33 Commissioner Dorosin asked John Roberts to provide a copy of the Greensboro
34 ordinance on gender equality.
35 John Roberts said he would provide this.
36 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
37
38 a. Human Relations Month Proclamation
39 The Board considered adopting the Proclamation officially proclaiming the month of
40 February 2015 as "Human Relations Month" in Orange County and authorizing the Chair to
41 sign.
42
43 Human Relations Commission Member Matt Hughes read the proclamation:
44
45 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
46
47 HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH PROCLAMATION
48 WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners established the Human
49 Relations Commission in June 1987 with the desire to "encourage mutual understanding and
50 fair treatment of all citizens"; and
51
4
1 WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission believes that in order to achieve
2 justice and equal opportunity for all Orange County residents, we must all strive to create an
3 atmosphere where people are valued and accepted rather than merely tolerated, and therefore
4 continue to promote the ideal of social justice for all; and
5
6 WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission has diligently served Orange
7 County since 1987 and remains committed to promoting equal treatment, opportunity and
8 understanding throughout the community; and
9
10 WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission enforces the County's Civil
11 Rights Ordinance which specifically prohibits discrimination based on an individual's race, color,
12 creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status and familial status; and
13
14 WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission encourages Orange County
15 residents, as individuals, to take a stand against social injustice and continue to work together to
16 make freedom,justice, and equal opportunity available for all; and
17
18 WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to preserving the progress made thus far towards
19 equality and leading the challenge for equal opportunity using all the means at our disposal.
20
21 NOW, THEREFORE, We, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim
22 February 2015 as "HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH" in Orange County and challenge our
23 residents to promote the ideology of social justice for all by celebrating and encouraging
24 multiculturalism in the County and encouraging all residents to embrace diversity in Orange
25 County.
26
27 THIS THE 22nd DAY OF JANUARY, 2015.
28
29 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Rich for the
30 Board to adopt the Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign.
31
32 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
33
34 Matt Hughes noted that a forum on voting rights would be held by the Human Rights
35 Commission on Saturday, January 5th at 2:30 at the Century Center in Carrboro.
36
37 5. Public Hearings
38
39 a. CDBG Program — Scattered Site Housing Rehabilitation Program
40 The Board conducted a public hearing to receive public comments prior to official close-
41 out of the County's FY 2010 Community Development (CDBG) Scattered Site Housing
42 Rehabilitation Program and then closed the public hearing.
43 James Davis opened this discussion and read the following background information from
44 the abstract:
45 BACKGROUND: In February 2011 Orange County was officially awarded a $400,000
46 Community Development Block (CDBG) Grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce for a
47 Scattered Site Housing Rehabilitation Program. Funds from this grant were intended to be used
48 to repair eight (8) deteriorated housing units in the County. All CDBG activities have now been
49 completed and seven (7) homes were substantially rehabilitated. A summary of the program
50 beneficiaries is attached to this abstract. A public hearing was conducted on December 2, 2013
51 to receive public comments and the grant was "closed out". However, the notice for the hearing
5
1 was void of the N.C. Department of Commerce's mandatory Spanish-language notification
2 designed to ensure that the Spanish speaking LEP community was properly informed. In order
3 to complete the official grant closeout process, the N.C. Department of Commerce is requiring
4 that another notice including the referenced Spanish information be published and an additional
5 public hearing occur. Proper notice for this public hearing has been published.
6
7 FINANCIAL IMPACT: This grant provided $400,000 in this community for the repair of seven
8 (7) homes. The total hard cost for the completion of the housing rehabilitation was $311,257
9 plus $40,000 administrative costs for a total of$351,257. The remaining $48,743 was
10 associated with one of the selected houses that were determined to be too deteriorated for
11 repair. Thus, $48,743 was retained by the State Community Development Program.
12
13 Commissioner Jacobs referred to the $48,000 retained by the state and asked how
14 these houses are vetted in order to avoid forfeiting this money in the future.
15 James Davis said there is a process to evaluate the homes, and this home appeared to
16 have met the qualifications but had more deterioration than was first determined.
17 Commissioner Jacobs said this seems to indicate that there is a flaw in the process, and
18 he asked if this will be changed to avoid future issues.
19 James Davis said yes. He said this is not a new incident, and it was discussed with the
20 Board at a previous meeting. He said staff is in the process of making sure homes meet the
21 specifications for a future rehab program through the N.C. Housing Finance Agency.
22 Commissioner Rich said she had the same question as Commissioner Jacobs, and she
23 would like the process to be reviewed.
24 Commissioner Price asked if the guidelines allow funds to be switched or rolled over
25 from one project to another.
26 James Davis said there is a good likelihood that funds could be used to complete a
27 similar project.
28 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are any controls in the project regarding the
29 amount of rehab needed as compared to the value of the house. He wants to make sure funds
30 are being maximized.
31 James Davis said there are currently no funds available from the legislature, but there
32 are monies available from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, and this agency is much stricter
33 on the homes they select. He said the homes can only increase to a certain value, so as not to
34 affect the value in the neighborhood.
35 Commissioner Dorosin said he is thinking more broadly about a policy and what kind of
36 parameter funds like this should have in order to maximize resources.
37 Renee Holmes is the Health and Homes Program coordinator, and she has worked on
38 these grants. She said staff was initially told that the maximum spending was $40,000 per
39 home. She said rehab specialists evaluate the homes to determine the amount of rehab
40 needed to bring the house up to code. She said the state has made exceptions as many
41 houses required more than $40,000. She said there is an application period and homes are
42 selected from those applicants.
43 Commissioner Dorosin said there were seven homes in this project. He asked if there
44 were more applicants and how the projects are prioritized.
45 Renee Holmes said the state requires that the income for the scattered sites must be 50
46 percent of area median or less. She said this is how these sites are prioritized. She said the
47 economic recovery is 80 percent of area median income, and it is first-come, first-served.
48 Commissioner Dorosin said the County has made housing a priority, and the state has
49 guidelines, but those should be the floor. He said there are priorities that should be set and
50 guidelines on when it is worthwhile to spend $75,000 on one house, versus spending that much
51 on two homes. He wants to make sure the program is maximized.
6
1 Commissioner Jacobs said Orange County does have a housing rehab program that is
2 built into their budget annually. He said, with a new director, it would be a good idea to have a
3 chart listing all of the housing programs administered by the County, including information on
4 the criteria, and available funds. He said this would help them understand the full gamut of
5 opportunities and challenges.
6
7 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
8 open the public hearing.
9
10 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
11
12 PUBLIC COMMENT:
13 NONE
14
15 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
16 close the public hearing.
17
18 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
19
20 b. CDBG Program — Economic Recovery Program
21 The Board conducted a public hearing to receive public comments prior to official close-
22 out of the County's FY 2010 Community Development (CDBG) Economic Recovery Program,
23 and then close the public hearing.
24
25 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to
26 open the public hearing.
27
28 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
29
30 James Davis reviewed the following background information:
31
32 BACKGROUND: In February 2011 Orange County was officially awarded a $500,000
33 Community Development Block (CDBG) Grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce for an
34 Economic Recovery Program. Funds from this grant were intended to be used to repair eight
35 (8) deteriorated housing units, reconstruct one (1) dwelling unit and provide urgent repair
36 assistance for an additional 15 dwelling units in the County.
37 All CDBG activities have now been completed and eight (8) homes were substantially
38 rehabilitated and 15 dwelling units received urgent repair assistance. The targeted home for
39 reconstruction activity was not completed due to the owner's reluctance to participate in the
40 program. A summary of the program beneficiaries is attached to this abstract.
41 A public hearing was conducted on December 2, 2013 to receive public comments and the
42 grant was "closed out". However, the notice for the hearing was void of the N.C. Department of
43 Commerce's mandatory Spanish-language notification designed to ensure that the Spanish
44 speaking LEP community was properly informed. In order to complete the official grant closeout
45 process, the N.C. Department of Commerce is requiring that another notice including the
46 referenced Spanish information be published and an additional public hearing occur. Proper
47 notice for this public hearing has been published.
48
49 FINANCIAL IMPACT: This grant provided $500,000 in this community for this grant program.
50 A total of$484,000 was expended for this program, which includes $359,000 in hard costs
51 associated to rehabilitate the homes, and $125,000 in administrative and other costs. The
7
1 remaining $16,000 is associated with the clearance and relocation costs for a home that
2 withdrew from the program. Therefore, the $16,000 was retained by the State Community
3 Development Program.
4
5 PUBLIC COMMENT:
6 Ida Lawson said she is so grateful for this rehab program and the beautiful work done on
7 her own home. She hopes this program will continue.
8
9 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Rich to close
10 the public hearing.
11
12 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
13
14 6. Consent Agenda
15 e Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda
16 Commissioner Price asked to remove item 6-h for discussion.
17
18 0 Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda
19 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs
20 to approve the remaining items on the consent agenda.
21
22 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
23
24 a. Minutes
25 The Board approved the minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board for the following
26 meetings: November 6, 2014 BOCC Regular Meeting; November 11, 2014 BOCC Work
27 Session; November 18, 2014 BOCC Regular Meeting; November 19, 2014 AOG Meeting;
28 December 1, 2014 BOCC Regular Meeting; December 9, 2014 BOCC Regular Meeting.
29 b. Motor Vehicle Property Tax Releases/Refund
30 The Board adopted a resolution, which is incorporated by reference, to release motor vehicle
31 property tax values for twelve (12) taxpayers with a total of sixteen (16) bills that will result in a
32 reduction of revenue. Approval of these release/refund requests will result in a net reduction of
33 $4,758.62 to Orange County, the towns, and school and fire districts. Financial impact year to
34 date for FY 2014-2015 is $25,425.86.
35 c. Property Tax Releases/Refunds
36 The Board adopted a resolution, which is incorporated by reference, approving the
37 release/refund requests in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 105-381 for thirteen
38 (13) taxpayers with a total of twenty-three (23) bills that will result in a reduction of revenue.
39 d. Applications for Property Tax Exemption/Exclusion
40 The Board approved the attached resolution for eleven (11) untimely applications for
41 exemption/exclusion from ad valorem taxation for eleven (11) bills for the 2014 tax year.
42 e. FY 2014-2015 Budget Amendment#5
43 The Board approved budget ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2014-15 for the Health
44 Department, Department of Environment, Agriculture, and Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste
45 Enterprise Fund, Human Services Non-Departmental, and Department of Social Services.
46 f. Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Amendment
47 Outline and Schedule for Sign Regulation Amendments
48 The Board approved the process components and schedule for a government initiated Unified
49 Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment for the February 2015 Quarterly Public Hearing
50 regarding sign regulations and direct staff to proceed accordingly.
51 g. Request for Road Additions to the State Maintained Secondary Road System
8
1 The Board approved a recommendation to the North Carolina Department of Transportation
2 (NCDOT), and the North Carolina Board of Transportation (NC BOT) two petitions to add one
3 (1) subdivision road in Triple Crown Estates Subdivision, and one (1) industrial access road to
4 the State Maintained Secondary Road System.
5 L Buckhorn Mebane Sewer Phase 2 Extension Project Easements & Pump Station
6 Property
7 The Board: 1. Authorized the Chair to sign easement and real estate offer/closing documents on
8 behalf of the Board; 2. Authorized the payment of negotiated easement and real estate
9 purchase value to individual property owners, LLC's, etc.; and 3. Authorized the County
10 Attorney's office to proceed with legal acquisition of utility easements and/or real estate with
11 court filing, if necessary.
12 j. Amending the County Manager's Employment Contract
13 The Board amended the County Manager's employment contract, increasing the costs
14 associated with the Manager's compensation by approximately eight thousand dollars ($8,000)
15 plus other minor associated costs related to benefits, to be paid an annualized salary of
16 $168,000.00.
17 k. Right-of-Way Agreements for Duke Energy for the Provision of Electrical Service
18 to Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
19 The Board approved and authorized the Chair to sign Right-of-Way Agreements with Duke
20 Energy for the purpose of providing electrical service to Brightfield electric vehicle charging
21 stations to be built next to the Skills Development Center and the Farmers Market Pavilion.
22 I. Change in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule for 2015
23 The Board changed the County Commissioners' regular meeting calendar for 2015 to add a
24 Joint Planning Area (JPA) Public Hearing on March 26, 2015 at 7:OOpm with the Towns of
25 Chapel Hill and Carrboro prior to the joint meeting between Orange County BOCC and the
26 Town of Chapel Hill at Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill;
27 and to add a BOCC Work Session on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted
28 Building, 300 West Tryon St, in Hillsborough, N.C.
29
30 Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
31 h. Revised Memorandum of Agreement between the NC Sedimentation Control
32 Commission and Orange County
33 The Board considered approving revisions to the current Memorandum of Agreement
34 (MOA) between the Sedimentation Control Commission (SCC) and Orange County for the
35 purpose of clarifying roles in the enforcement of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of
36 1973, N.C. General Statute Chapter 113A, Article 4 and any rules adopted pursuant to the Act
37 and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.
38
39 Commissioner Price said she pulled this to bring attention to what this agreement does,
40 and to let the public know that the Board has no choice in this matter. She said the agreement
41 has to be signed, or money is lost.
42
43 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
44 approve the revisions to the current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the
45 Sedimentation Control Commission (SCC) and Orange County for the purpose of clarifying roles
46 in the enforcement of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973, N.C. General Statute
47 Chapter 113A, Article 4 and any rules adopted pursuant to the Act and authorize the Chair to
48 sign the agreement.
49
50 Commissioner Dorosin said he echoes Commissioner Price's comment. He said this
51 change is being made to sanctify continued plans for fracking in this state, and this is the state
9
1 asserting its authority to prevent local government from restricting or regulating fracking. He
2 said he appreciates Commissioner Price speaking up.
3 Commissioner Jacobs noted that he had shared an article related to this issue, regarding
4 Dillon's rule.
5
6 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
7
8 7. Regular Agenda
9
10 a. Updated Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness Memorandum of
11 Understanding
12 The Board considered adopting the updated Orange County Partnership to End
13 Homelessness Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County and the Towns
14 of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough and authorizing Chair to sign the same.
15 Commissioner Pelissier said the Board needs to vote on this MOU. She said when the
16 partnership was created in 2007, it was a ten year plan to end chronic homelessness, and it
17 would have ended in 2017. She said, since that time, the federal government has seen that
18 there were other best practices, and ending homelessness is now an ongoing focus that
19 includes prevention of homelessness.
20 Commissioner Pelissier said the four elected officials on the committee got together and
21 reviewed and revised this MOU. She said the towns have already adopted this, and the County
22 is the last to look at it.
23 She said the major changes are designed to recognize that this is an ongoing program,
24 and the goal was to have some certainty about funding. She said any party can withdraw from
25 the program, but a one year notice is required. She said if one party withdraws, it does not
26 obligate any other parties to continue, though hopefully they will.
27 She said another major change is that the coordinator's position will be in the County
28 Manager's office. She said four elected officials from the different towns will comprise the
29 executive committee, and these officials will assess the progress and meet with the coordinator
30 on a regular basis. She said this is the first year that Chapel Hill will spend more than the
31 County in the funding of the coordinator position, because this is based on population.
32 Mary Jane Seyda is the Chair of the Partnership to End Homelessness. She recognized
33 Commissioner Pelissier and her work on this committee. She said the purpose of the
34 partnership is to have all service providers, municipalities, and public entities collaborate
35 together to prevent and end homelessness. She said the overarching goals of the partnership
36 are to: 1) Reduce the number of people who experience homelessness; 2) reduce the length of
37 time people are homeless; and 3) to reduce the number of people who return back to
38 homelessness.
39 Mary Jane Seyda said their leadership team is the large group that provides the vision,
40 and there are 25 active voting members. She said this is a very engaged partnership,
41 composed of many different members of the community. She said there are 6 work groups that
42 are comprised of different service providers and agencies in Orange County.
43 She said one of these work groups is the 100,000 Home Task Force, which not only
44 counted the homeless population, but also did surveys to see how people's mental health is
45 compromised by their homelessness. She said the goal was to house these people first, and in
46 the three years since this survey, 26 of these people—who typically have been on the street for
47 5 to 20 years - have been housed.
48 Mary Jane Seyda said another initiative is the Outreach Court, which is the first and only
49 special court in North Carolina for homeless people with misdemeanor charges. She said this is
50 an alternative program in which the service providers are right there in court to give people the
51 ability to engage in services.
10
1 Jamie Rohe reviewed the following background information about her position as the
2 Homeless Programs Coordinator:
3
4 The Partnership budget supports the Homeless Programs Coordinator (Coordinator) position,
5 the cost of participating in the national homeless database, and miscellaneous expenses. The
6 Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of local
7 strategies to end and prevent homelessness including:
8 • Building partnership and collaboration among homeless housing and service providers;
9 • Applications for federal funding (approx. $700,000 annually) and pursuing other funding
10 sources;
11 • Promoting evidence-based practices;
12 • Determining unmet needs of those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness and developing
13 strategies to fill those needs; and
14 • Collecting homelessness data.
15
16 The evolution of the Partnership reflects the progress it has made over the past six (6) years as
17 well as changes in the national approach to ending homelessness. These changes are mirrored
18 in the updated MOU — specifically, from ending chronic homelessness in 10 years to ending all
19 homelessness on an ongoing basis.
20
21 Jamie Rowe said the $700,000 in funding supports the Continuum of Care Program, and
22 the Emergency Solutions Grant. She said this money helps pay for emergency shelters, and
23 provides housing vouchers for people who are disabled and homeless. She said funding also
24 pays for the Rapid Re-housing program, which helps about 30 people annually.
25 Commissioner Rich said she was on the partnership when she was on the Chapel Hill
26 Town Council, and she participated in the initiative to count the homeless. She said the
27 program does an amazing job with this collection of data. She said this program is very
28 successful.
29 Commissioner Price thanked the Partnership for their work. She asked about the data in
30 the MOU. She said the percentages are pro-rated according to the 2010 census, and she
31 wonders what happens when the homeless move from place to place and these numbers
32 change.
33 Mary Jane Seyda said the monies put in by the municipalities are for the Programs
34 Coordinator position. She said the work groups are just providing services for any homeless
35 person, and this does not involve tracking where the person is from. She said funding is based
36 on the number of people that actually live in the towns.
37 Commissioner Price asked about the chain of command related to the coordinator's
38 position. She asked for clarification on item 3a in the MOU and the terminology used.
39 Jamie Rohe said there is an Executive Team made up of the 4 elected officials, and then
40 there is a Leadership Team, or Board of Directors, with 20 members.
41 Bonnie Hammersley said the coordinator position has been moved from the housing
42 department to be under the County Manager. She said this is a coordinator position, so it does
43 not involve supervisory responsibilities. She said the coordinator reports directly to the County
44 Manager.
45 Commissioner Price asked about the wording that refers to supervising of"town or
46 County staff."
47 Commissioner Pelissier said it is because, being a partnership, it is possible for a staff
48 member from Chapel Hill to attend their meetings. She said, for example, Chapel Hill can ask
49 this staff person to help Jamie Rohe, but Jamie Rohe will have no supervisory responsibilities
50 over this person.
51 Commissioner Jacobs asked for the names of the other elected members.
11
I Commissioner Pelissier answered:
2 Alderman Damon Seils -Town of Carrboro
3 Council Member Sally Greene -Town of Chapel Hill
4 Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson - Town of Hillsborough
5
6 Chair McKee said people often think of the homeless as those living in the woods or
7 sleeping in the alley, but it is his understanding that the homeless also includes those who are
8 "couch surfing." He asked for clarification on this.
9 Jamie Rohe said the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a
10 restrictive definition of homelessness, which includes those people staying in emergency
11 shelters, transitional housing (which is really a long term shelter), and people living in places not
12 meant for human habitation. She said this does not include people who are in institutions. She
13 said this conservative definition is designed to be clear about who is receiving assistance, and
14 to make sure data is measurable.
15 Mary Jane Seyda said the number on the street is very conservative, as it does not
16 include these people who are just one night away from being on the street.
17 Jamie Rohe said their partnership is starting to look more closely at affordable housing
18 issues.
19 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there has been consideration of the tiny house
20 movement.
21 Commissioner Rich said she has asked the Board to look at information on the tiny
22 houses, and it should be coming back for discussion.
23 Commissioner Rich said it would be good to treat affordable housing as a County-wide
24 initiative, like the issue of homelessness.
25 Mary Jane Seyda said there have been discussions with the municipalities about this.
26 Jamie Rohe said every five years any jurisdiction that receives state and federal is
27 required to do a five year consolidated plan. She said the County is due to complete its updated
28 five year strategic plan. She said some of the home funding is used to give rental assistance to
29 the homeless, so the partnership is encouraging the town and the County to use this planning
30 tool to look at the current stock, the current needs and the big picture.
31 Bonnie Hammersley said Commissioner Pelissier had petitioned for Orange County to
32 take the lead in the affordable housing discussion with the Towns. She said the newly hired
33 Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Director, Audrey Spencer-Horsley, has a
34 strong background in this area.
35 Commissioner Pelissier said the Partnership to End Homelessness cannot be the
36 affordable housing entity for the entire County. She said the elected officials need to be
37 engaged in this as well. She said her petition also included a request for researching the idea of
38 tiny houses.
39 Chair McKee asked Audrey Spencer-Horsley if she would like to make any comments.
40 Audrey Spencer-Horsley, the new Housing, Human Rights and Community Development
41 Director, said she believes that problems are solved through collaboration to maximize
42 resources. She said she is excited about being a part of this conversation.
43
44 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Price for
45 the Board to adopt the updated Partnership to End Homelessness Memorandum of
46 Understanding and authorize the Chair to sign.
47
48 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
49
50 b. Recommended Uses of General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance as of June 30,
51 201 4
12
1 The Board considered a recommendation for the use of the General Fund unassigned
2 Fund Balance in excess of the BOCC's fund balance policy of$1.5 million of the excess fund
3 balance to continue the funding of the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Fund; $450,000
4 to replenish the Social Justice Fund or for FY2014-15 appropriations as needed; and the
5 remaining balance of$1.1 million available unassigned balance be used to balance the FY2015-
6 16 budget; and provided direction and feedback to staff on the other potential uses of
7 unassigned (available) fund balance.
8 Clarence Grier said staff has made some recommendations for the unassigned fund
9 balance in excess of the BOCC's fund balance policy of 17 percent. He reviewed the following
10 information from Page 6 of attachment 2:
11
12 General Fund Balance Available for Appropriation as of January 22, 2015
13 Attachment 2
14
15 Totals
16 Fund Balance Available for Appropriation (A), June 30, 2014 $ 44,940,204
17 Fund Balance, Assigned
18 FY2014-2015 Budget $ 10,068,343
19 Total Assigned Fund Balance (B) 10,068,343
20
21 Fund Balance Unassigned (A less B), June 30, 2014 $ 34,871,861
22
23 General Fund Expenditures for the year ended June 30, 2014 $186,998,772
24
25
26 General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance as of June 30, 2014
27 As a Percentage of General Fund Expenditures 18.65%
28 BOCC Fund Balance Policy - 17 % 17.00%
29
30 General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance as of June 30, 2014
31 In excess of the Board's policy $ 3,082,070
32 Less: OPEB Funding (1,541,035)
33 Less: CY Appropriation of Fund Balance -
34
35 Additional Unassigned Fund Balance Available for Appropriation
36 As of November 30, 2014 $ 1,541,035
37
38 Suggested Current Year uses of the Additional Fund Balance Available to
39 avoid financing cost: Replenish the Social Justice Fund or General Fund
40 appropriations (as needed) for FY2014-15 45( 0,000)
41
42 Additional Amounts Available for Appropriation L!,091,035
43
44
45 * 17% Fund Balance totals........................................................................ $ 31,789,791
46
47 Clarence Grier noted the information on attachment 3. He said the fund balance has
48 increased by 57.83 percent since 2008. He said it has increased 105 percent since 2009. He
49 said the outstanding liability for OPEB is now$59.1 million.
13
1 Chair McKee referred to Bonnie Hammersley's response to a question from a
2 commissioner in reference to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) request of
3 $750,000 for older schools, as included below:
4 "My reluctance for recommending additional funds to the schools at this time is threefold. One,
5 1 am always concerned about appropriating additional funds, even from fund balance, outside of
6 the normal budget process. Even if the purpose is worthy, as the CHCCS request is, it gives
7 special treatment to that request when competing requests cannot be equally considered. To
8 do so, would necessitate conducting a mini budget process. As I am sure you know the County
9 has a number of needs that go unmet every year that should be considered as well. It has been
10 reported that state revenues are coming in lower than expected which might necessitate that we
11 appropriate more in county funds to avoid further reductions. Two, as you suggest, with only 6
12 months into the fiscal year, we do not have a good idea of where we will end up at year-
13 end. Although, I am sure we won't have a problem with keeping the budget balanced, I wouldn't
14 want to end up with a fund balance at year-end lower than what the credit rating agencies
15 consider necessary or prudent to maintain our credit rating. The County just earned our third
16 AAA rating this past summer, which helps ensure reasonable borrowing costs for both the
17 County and schools. Third, as with any budget there are uncertainties that may result in urgent
18 or unexpected requirements that the county has to fund and we need to be in a position of
19 having funds available to meet those needs. At the January 27 BOCC work session, I will
20 provide more information on the upcoming budget revenue and expenditure projections."
21
22 Bonnie Hammersley said she and Clarence Grier felt it was also important, with the
23 $450,000, to restore the social justice fund, as all of this fund money has been fully allocated
24 and the childcare issue may not be fully resolved.
25 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the $59 million in outstanding liability for OPEB is a
26 static amount, or if it changes every year.
27 Clarence Grier said it changes every year based on actuarial assumptions of employees
28 coming on to the plan and those retiring. He said over the next 4 to 5 years the liability should
29 come down.
30 Commissioner Dorosin said the state wants local governments to make deposits into this
31 fund, and he asked if there is a formal requirement or time for the contribution of specific
32 amounts.
33 Clarence Grier said no. He said the state would like for the County to fund at least 90
34 percent. He said Orange County is one of very few counties in the state that are making actual
35 contributions to the OPEB fund. He said this will become an issue over the next couple of
36 years, as there is a new standard out for pension liabilities that is the same as the OPEB
37 liabilities. He thinks there may be more stringent requirements about contributions for both of
38 these at that time.
39 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the coverage is ten percent.
40 Clarence Grier said yes.
41 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a formal policy as to what the Board of County
42 Commissioners should be contributing.
43 Bonnie Hammersley said Orange County does not currently have a policy regarding
44 OPEB; however, she will be looking at this during their budget process. She said this is
45 important, and 10 percent is not a good number, so it is important to have a policy.
46 Clarence Grier said one of the stipulations from the bond agency a few years ago was
47 that Orange County needed to decide how to address OPEB.
48 Commissioner Dorosin said there is an impression in the public that excess fund balance
49 is found money, and then everyone wants a piece of the pie. He said it would be easier to
50 address this if there was some structure or policy in place. He appreciates that this is going to
51 be more formalized, and he thinks it is important.
14
1 Commissioner Jacobs said he appreciated the manager's response about budgeting out
2 of phase. He said he hopes that this can be communicated as a formal response to the Chair of
3 the Chapel Hill Carrboro School Board. He said he voted against the parking deck in
4 Hillsborough, not because he did not think it was needed, but because it was out of phase with
5 the budget. He feels more comfortable with things being looked at holistically, so that
6 judgments can be made about priority.
7 Commissioner Jacobs said he is still getting used to OPEB, as it popped up in the mid
8 2000's. He said prior to that, the County was supposedly following best practices, and this was
9 not on the radar. He knows this is law, and he feels there may be a political component as well.
10 He would like to understand more about it as a policy is developed.
11 Commissioner Jacobs referred to an earlier comment from Commissioner Dorosin about
12 the ABC Board money. He suggested that the ABC Board money could go directly to the social
13 justice fund.
14 Commissioner Price thanked Clarence Grier for this final report and for his service to
15 Orange County.
16 Commissioner Burroughs said she was the Commissioner who asked the question about
17 the uses of the fund balance. She said she understands the issues of not knowing what the
18 state will do in this next budget cycle. She said she does appreciate the school system bringing
19 the issue forward, and she said this issue of a time window will come up again. She said if the
20 County waits for a bond to pass before planning and building, it will mean doing that concurrent
21 with having to build a new elementary school. She said there is an opportunity, with this
22 window, to get ahead of that and delay building a new elementary school.
23 Commissioner Burroughs thanked Clarence Grier for his service to the County.
24 Chair McKee also thanked Clarence Grier for his service to Orange County.
25 Clarence Grier thanked them all for the opportunity to serve the Board of County
26 Commissioners, the employees, and the residents of Orange County.
27 Commissioner Dorosin said the recommendation is to put $1.5 million in the OPEB fund
28 now. He asked, given the comments about phasing, why this cannot be done in June.
29 Clarence Grier said when the County wants to issue debt they may have to go to the
30 public markets to do this. He said this will be reviewed through the local rating institutions and
31 the Local Government Commission LGC), who will ask whether the County has done what was
32 promised as part of the budget policy. He said if this money is not put in now, it should not be
33 delayed for long. Clarence Grier said there is an established policy of putting the funds into
34 OPEB when there is an excess in fund balance.
35 Bonnie Hammersley echoed Clarence Grier's comments. She said this is the year end
36 of 2014. She said if you wait and do not put anything in now, it means missing a budget year.
37 Chair McKee asked if an implied policy has been established by putting the money in
38 during this time frame over the past several years.
39 Clarence Grier said yes, this is an implied practice.
40
41 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
42 put $500,000 to the Post Employee Benefit Funds (OPEB); $450,000 to replenish the Social
43 Justice Fund; and to leave $2.1 million as unassigned balance to be used to balance the FY
44 2015-16 budget.
45
46 VOTE: Motion Fails 3-4
47 Ayes, 3 (Commissioner Jacobs, Commissioner Dorosin, and Commissioner Rich) - Nays, 4
48 (Commissioner Burroughs, Commissioner Price, Chair McKee, and Commissioner Pelissier)
49
50 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs
51 to approve the following recommended uses of the General Fund available fund balance:
15
1 • $1.5 million of the excess fund balance to continue the funding of the Other Post
2 Employment Benefits (OPEB) Fund;
3 • $450,000 to replenish the Social Justice Fund or for FY2014-15 appropriations as
4 needed; and
5 • the remaining balance of$1.1 million available unassigned balance be used to balance
6 the FY2015-16 budget;
7
8 VOTE: Motion Passes 4-3
9 Ayes, 4 (Commissioner Burroughs, Commissioner Price, Chair McKee, and Commissioner
10 Pelissier) - (Commissioner Rich, Commissioner Jacobs, and Commissioner Dorosin)
11
12 8. Reports
13 NONE
14
15 9. County Manager's Report
16 Bonnie Hammersley said the Board will be receiving the agenda for the January 27 work
17 session, and she reviewed the following items from that agenda:
18 Projected January 27, 2015 Regular Work Session Items
19 • Follow-up on Ephesus Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Public Improvements and
20 Request for County Investment in the Project
21 • Application and Guidelines for the County's '/4 Cent Sales Tax Business Investment
22 Grants &Agriculture Investment Grants
23 • FY 2015-16 Budget Assumptions/Fiscal Outlook/Budget Update/Budget Drivers (in Prep
24 for BOCC Retreat)
25 • Board Appointments to Advisory Boards/Commissions
26
27 Bonnie Hammersley said the first quarterly fiscal report, ending Sept. 30, 2014, is
28 included in their information packets.
29 Clarence Grier said the second report will be available on January 27tH
30
31 10. County Attorney's Report
32 NONE
33
34 11. Appointments
35 Commissioner Jacobs noted that the Board is going to finally address appointing people
36 who have not been recommended. He said there are cases where there is a preponderance of
37 females as opposed to males, or Chapel Hill residents as opposed to Orange County residents.
38 He said he would be moved to recommend additional people to fill these recommended
39 positions, but only in deference to the fact that the Board has not had this conversation, will he
40 be quiet about that tonight.
41
42 a. Affordable Housing Advisory Board —Appointments
43 The Board considered making appointments to the Affordable Housing Advisory Board.
44 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price to
45 appoint the following to the Affordable Housing Advisory Board:
46
47 • Appointment to a first full term (Position #2) At-Large for Ms. Vanessa Soleil ending
48 09/30/2017.
49 • Appointment to a first partial term (Position #4) At-Large for Ms. Traci Wooten ending
50 06/30/2016.
16
1 • Appointment to a second full term (Position #5) At-Large for Ms. Nannie M. Richmond
2 ending 06/30/2017.
3 • Appointment to a second full term (Position #8) At-Large for Ms. Patsy Barbee ending
4 06/30/2017.
5 • Appointment to a first full term (Position #11) At-Large for Mr. Noah Oswald ending
6 06/30/2017.
7
POSITION NAME SPECIAL EXPIRATION
NO. REPRESENTATIVE DATE
2 Ms. Vanessa Soleil At-Large 09/30/2017
4 Ms. Traci Wooten At-Large 06/30/2016
5 Ms. Nannie M. Richmond At-Large 06/30/2017
8 Ms. Patsy Barbee At-Large 06/30/2017
11 Mr. Noah Oswald At-Large 06/30/2017
8
9
10 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
11
12 b. Arts Commission —Appointments
13 The Board considered making appointments to the Arts Commission.
14 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Price to
15 appoint the following to the Arts Commission:
16
17 • Appointment to a partial term (position #6) At-Large for Ms. Lynne Albert expiring
18 09/30/2016.
19 • Appointment to a partial term (position #12) At-Large for Mr. Ian Bowater expiring
20 03/31/2015.
21 • Appointment to a partial term (position #15) At-Large for Ms. Kim Roberts expiring
22 03/31/2015.
23
POSITION NAME SPECIAL EXPIRATION
NO. REPRESENTATIVE DATE
6 Lynne Albert At-Large 09/30/2016
12 Ian Bowater At-Large 03/31/2015
15 Kim Roberts At-Large 03/31/2015
24
25
26 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
27
28 c. Commission for the Environment—Appointment
29 The Board considered making an appointment to the Commission for the Environment.
30 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
31 appoint the following to the Commission for the Environment:
32
33 • Appointment to a partial term (Position #6) At-Large for Dr. Thomas Eisenhart expiring
34 12/31/2016.
35
POSITION NAME SPECIAL EXPIRATION
NO. REPRESENTATIVE DATE
6 Dr. Thomas Eisenhart At-Large 12/31/2016
17
1
2
3 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
4
5 d. Economic Development Advisory Board —Appointment
6 The Board considered making an appointment to the Economic Development Advisory
7 Board.
8 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to
9 appoint the following to the Economic Development Advisory Board:
10
11 • Appointment to a first full term (Position #6) Core Business Community for Ms. Paige Zinn
12 expiring 06/30/2017.
13
POSITION NAME SPECIAL EXPIRATION
NO. REPRESENTATIVE DATE
6 Ms. Paige Zinn Core Business Community 06/30/2017
14
15 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
16
17 e. Orange County Housing Authority—Appointments
18 The Board considered making appointments to the Orange County Housing Authority.
19 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price to
20 appoint the following Orange County Housing Authority:
21
22 • Appointment to a first full term (Position #1) At-Large for Ms. Evelyn Johann expiring
23 06/30/2019.
24 • Appointment to a second full term (Position #2) At-Large for Ms. Jean Bolduc expiring
25 06/30/2019.
26
POSITION NAME SPECIAL EXPIRATION
NO. REPRESENTATIVE DATE
1 Ms. Evelyn Johann At-Large 06/30/2019
2 Ms. Jean Bolduc At-Large 06/30/2019
27
28 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
29
30 Commissioner Jacobs asked about the position on this board that is filled by the Interim
31 Housing Director.
32 Donna Baker said when the by-laws were redone this position was designated as
33 whoever was in that director position. She will follow up with providing information on this to the
34 Board.
35
36 12. Board Comments
37 Commissioner Price attended the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
38 (NCACC) Legislative Goals conference. She said the suggestion of County Commissioners
39 being able to carry guns into meetings was defeated.
40 Commissioner Price said she also attended an open session on board procedures, and
41 some of the issues raised are things that should be discussed as the Orange County Board
42 revises various processes.
18
1 Commissioner Jacobs de facto represented the Board at an event at the UNC LAUNCH
2 center. He said some of the program alumni were present, and it was amazing to see how
3 successful many of them have been.
4 Commissioner Pelissier said the Orange Durham Express has started service in
5 Mebane, and it now provides service all the way to Durham and Duke University.
6 Commissioner Pelissier she is attending an upcoming breakfast sponsored by the UNC
7 Institute for the Environment. She said the former mayor of Bogata will be speaking, and he is a
8 world renowned expert on sustainable transportation.
9 Commissioner Pelissier said Wake County is revising their transit plan, and the timeline
10 for a proposal is this summer. She said the Triangle Transit Special Tax Board met today and
11 there were several attendees from Wake County.
12 Commissioner Pelissier said the annual Mental Health Legislative Breakfast is January
13 24tH
14 Commissioner Dorosin said he attended an informational meeting in Efland, and many
15 residents were excited about the new circulator route, but they have had difficulty getting
16 information on the times and the route. He asked the planning department if there were any
17 handouts or information that could be provided.
18 Commissioner Dorosin said he attended a public hearing on the proposed new
19 economic development in Carrboro. He said a developer wants to move the art center building
20 in order to build a new hotel on the property. He said there are many changes proposed to this
21 property, and the Board needs to be monitoring the impacts. He said the development plan
22 seems as if it would require some support from the County.
23 Commissioner Rich said she supports the idea of having Board comments at the
24 beginning of the meeting.
25 Commissioner Rich said she volunteered for the first time with the Department of Social
26 Service's (DSS) Toy for Tots, and it is an awesome program.
27 She thanked David Stancil for the mini parks tour in northern Orange County this past
28 weekend.
29 Commissioner Rich said her various commissions met over the break. She said the
30 Durham Orange Chapel Hill work group met and discussed changing the path of the light rail.
31 She said Durham is also purchasing some land around where the light rail will be located, and
32 this is intended for affordable work force housing.
33 Commissioner Rich said the Home First calendar is out, and the retreat will be February
34 14th at the Carolina Inn.
35 Commissioner Rich said the Visitor's Bureau met yesterday, and numbers are on target.
36 She said a lot of large jobs are being completed, and occupancy numbers may go down as a
37 result. She said there were also a lively discussion about the proposed hotel in Carrboro, as
38 well as a discussion of"Airbnb."
39 Commissioner Rich said ParkontheHill.com is a new app for parking in Chapel Hill.
40 Commissioner Price said the Agri Summit will be on Feb 16th, and registration is
41 available on-line.
42 Chair McKee said he attended the MLK Banquet this past weekend, which was put on
43 by the NAACP, as well as another event at the Kenan Center.
44 Chair McKee said he spoke at the event in Hillsborough on voices of Martin Luther King
45 and others who have moved us forward on social justice issues. He said all citizens need to
46 step up to reiterate these voices from the past and bring new voices on how to move forward.
47
48 13. Information Items
49 • December 9, 2014 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List
50 • Tax Collector's Report— Numerical Analysis
51 • Tax Collector's Report— Measure of Enforced Collections
19
1 • Tax Assessor's Report - Releases and Refunds under $100
2 • Major Fund Financial Statement for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2014
3 • BOCC Chair Letter Regarding Petitions from December 9, 2014 Board Meeting
4
5 14. Closed Session
6 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to go
7 into closed session at 9:28p.m.for the purposes of:
8
9 "To discuss the County's position and to instruct the County Manager and County Attorney on
10 the negotiating position regarding the terms of a contract to purchase real property," NCGS §
11 143-318.11(a)(5).
12
13 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
14 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
15 reconvene into regular session at 10:55 p.m.
16
17 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
18
19 15. Adjournment
20 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price to
21 adjourn the meeting at 10:55 pm.
22
23 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
24
25 Earl McKee, Chair
26
27 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
28
29
30
1
I Attachment 5
2
3 DRAFT
4 MINUTES
5 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
6 Work Session
7 January 27, 2015
8 7:00 p.m.
9
10 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Tuesday,
11 January 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
12
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs,
14 Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
16 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
17 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County Manager
18 Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified
19 appropriately below)
20
21 Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:05. He reviewed the following items at the
22 Commissioner's places:
23 - PowerPoint sheets and updated financial information for Item 1- Update on the Ephesus
24 Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Public Improvements and Request for County Investment in
25 the Project
26 - Yellow, revised sheet for Item 4—County Commissioners - Boards and Commissions
27 Assignments
28
29 1. Update on the Ephesus Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Public Improvements
30 and Request for County Investment in the Project
31
32 BACKGROUND: The Town of Chapel Hill, at the March 21, 2014 Joint Meeting with the Board
33 of County Commissioners, presented an improvement project for the Ephesus Church —
34 Fordham Boulevard of the Town of Chapel Hill. In order to support the renewal of the Ephesus
35 Fordham area, the Town of Chapel Hill must make investments in much needed traffic and
36 stormwater capital improvements. The project would be financed with the use of Tax Increment
37 Financing or Project Development Financing. Under this method the financing of economic
38 development projects occurs by pledging the anticipated growth in tax base as a source of
39 repayment. The theory is that the project being financed is enabling the tax growth and
40 therefore the project is and will be self-financing because, if not for the project, the tax growth
41 would not have occurred.
42
43 The Town of Chapel Hill would like the County to participate in the Ephesus Fordham Renewal
44 Project by pledging the lesser of 50% of the actual increment property tax revenues received or
45 50% of the actual annual debt service cost. The Town of Chapel Hill (Town) is suggesting that
46 the County consider an approach to investing in the project using mutually agreed upon criteria,
47 which will be tied to the Ephesus - Fordham project performance. The Town would provide an
48 annual Ephesus Fordham project performance report during the County's budget deliberations
49 that would include the following: additions to the tax base, status of public improvements, status
50 of private improvements, including progress toward meeting affordable housing, energy
51 efficiency and transportation goals, and economic impact analysis.
2
1 The Planning Department has provided its comments in Attachment C about the project;
2 specifically in regards to traffic analysis, stormwater/flood control and school impact fee
3 scenarios depending on student generation. Traffic analysis and programmed projects note how
4 some Ephesus-Fordham intersection improvements could be funded in part by Durham- Chapel
5 Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization funds. Planning recommendations also note how a
6 future transit study and Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan (OCBRIP) funds could be
7 used/assigned to `cross-town' routes to augment shopping opportunities between the downtown
8 area/campus and this new retail node. Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) is presently studying bus
9 routes to support future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).
10
11 Stormwater/flood control comments relate to how the County could participate in public
12 sponsored improvements that have multiple benefits of flood control, water quality and
13 environmental enhancement. Chapel Hill has recently (last fall) addressed a more
14 comprehensive stormwater approach than anticipated early last year.
15
16 School impact fee potential receipts were analyzed related to the existing impact fee schedule
17 (Scenario A) vs. what new student generation rates (from a draft study completed late October
18 2014) may hypothetically generate from a student number perspective and an adjusted, yet
19 unadopted fee schedule change (Scenarios B and C).
20 A PowerPoint planning overview will be given at the meeting.
21
22 Additionally, if a new high school and/or major additions have to be made to one of the existing
23 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) high schools to accommodate the projected
24 increase in students, the additional debt service would reduce the net amount of property taxes
25 received as a result of the planned project improvements.
26
27 The first Ephesus Fordham performance report would be submitted during the first budget cycle
28 in which an actual tax increment from the project was expected in the next fiscal year. The
29 County could potentially benefit from participating with the Town of Chapel Hill from increased
30 property and sales tax revenues.
31
32 Based on information provided, the County would potentially receive incremental property tax
33 revenues over three phases of the Project of approximately $14 million. County expenditures,
34 based on current County financial policies and guidelines, would total $23 million prior to the
35 requested debt contribution. After paying the requested debt contribution of$400,840 over 20
36 years, Attachment B-1 reflects Scenario 1 where the County would net a deficit of incremental
37 tax revenues of$10.4 million. This scenario includes the cost impact of providing County
38 services affected by the project, as well as the 48.1% target impact of General Fund revenues
39 provided to Education, and the costs to fund the additional students in each phase of the project
40 at the current per pupil amount of$3,571 per pupil. After paying the requested debt contribution
41 of$400,840 over 20 years, Attachment B-2 reflects Scenario 2 where the County would net a
42 deficit of incremental tax revenues of$6.9 million.
43
44 This scenario only includes the 48.1% target to Education and the costs of the additional
45 students in each phase of the project.
46
47 In order for the County to participate in the project without incurring a deficit, the County would
48 have to modify its financial policies in the areas of earmarking revenues for a particular purpose
49 or project, and modify its funding target for education.
50
3
1 Bonnie Hammersley introduced this item. She noted that the numbers included in this
2 project presentation are speculative and will probably change. She said the town manager
3 hopes the County will keep an open door in considering this project and remember that this
4 request is not for a multi-year agreement.
5 Craig Benedict reviewed the following PowerPoint slides:
6
7 Ephesus Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Project
8 Small Area Planning
9 Traffic Analysis
10 Stormwater/Flood Control and School Impact
11 Orange County Planning comments
12
13 Outline of Comments
14 A. Purpose
15 B. Study Area Overview
16 C. Objectives
17 D. Context
18 D-1 Surrounding Context
19 D-2 Project Area Existing Land Use
20 E. Public Transit
21 F. Road Improvements
22 G. Stormwater/Flood Control & Map
23 H. School Impact
24 H-1 Abstract
25 H-2 Scenarios; Table Form
26
27 Overview & Orange County Comments
28 A. Purpose: To review
29 Planning document
30 Synthetic S-TIF proposal costs
31 Stormwater and Water Quality
32 Flooding
33 Multi-modal Transportation
34 Regional Economic Development Opportunities
35 School Impacts
36
37 B. Study Area Overview
38 A few miles from downtown Chapel Hill
39 Proximity to the I-40 interchange
40 Major commercial district of Chapel Hill and Orange County
41 High Potential for Redevelopment
42
43 C. Primary Plan Objectives
44 Increasing the economic potential
45 Improving the transportation conditions
46 D.1. Surrounding Context
47 • Along Hwy 15/501 — a gateway corridor and a high investment corridor
48 D.2. Existing Land Uses
49 Commercial —74%
50 High Density Residential — 13%
51 Low Density Residential —2%
4
1
2 E. Public Transit Element of the Plan
3 Existing Transit Service Serving the Study Area
4 Orange County Planning Comment—Additional Transit Service
5 o Enhanced bus element network :
6 • A circulator shuttle that would provide service to:
7 o Downtown Chapel Hill
8 o The UNC Campus and future Carolina North
9 • An adjusted OPT 420 bus route:
10 o Rural Orange County & Hillsborough
11 o Consider dedicated BRT lanes — as identified by Kimley Horn Traffic Analysis
12 2/18/2011, page 1.26 and 1.4
13 o High-order Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
14 Walkability
15 Multi-modal Aspects
16 Future bus tie-in Light Rail
17
18 F. Planned Roadway Improvements and General Comments in the Study Area
19 Positive
20 Fordham Blvd (US 15-501) corridor is congested
21 Need for investment
22 Improvements are typically funded through DCHC-MPO
23 Some programmed
24 MPO recently (Nov. 2014) approved $2.17 million Ephesus-Fordham intersection
25 improvement which decreases $8.8 million S-TI F estimate
26 Negative
27 S-TIF or other Funding for roads is not a county function, however, participation in the
28 prioritization of MPO projects is
29 State TIP/NCDOT Collaboration
30 Positive
31 Mixed Use Project
32 Internal trip capture
33 Decrease typical external trip generation
34 Negative
35 Stronger bus transit attributes
36 Downtown/college area integration (i.e. cross town shopping)
37
38 Recommendations
39 Building a Transit Infrastructure
40 Fund a study to review:
41 1. Circulator shuttle,
42 2. OPT 420 bus route adjustment (regional tie-in), and
43 3. Future BRT in corridor.
44 BRIP amendments to help fund above transit considerations
45 Circulator shuttle
46
47 G. Stormwater/Flood Control Elements of the Plan
48 1. Background
49 Kimley-Horn & Associates Analysis in 201
50 2. Specific Original Work
51 3. Original Costs Estimates
5
1 $1.2 million
2 ➢ $210,000 for design
3 ➢ $910,000 for construction
4 ➢ $80,000 for contingency
5 4. Stormwater Master Planning
6 Investigate solutions at both the micro and macro scale
7 5. New Direction
8 Beyond on-site drainage piping
9
10 6. Orange County Participation Suggestions
11 Best Management Practices (BMP's) to mitigate flood conditions
12 Reduce nutrient runoff
13 Benefits of flood control and water quality as it affects a larger regional or sub-regional
14 context
15 Social, health and emergency service impact of flooding
16 Larger scale, publically sponsored flood/stormwater BMP's on public land or easements
17 Ameliorate flood events
18 Environmental benefits
19
20 H. School Impact
21 H-1. Abstract of School Impact Scenarios
22 Range was from 105 to 450 students
23 Student Generation Rates (SGR) (proposed); higher degree of specificity using housing
24 type and bedroom count which was not used in earlier studies.
25 Completed on October 28, 2014 but unadopted
26 Existing Rates (Scenario A),
27 Hypothetical Scenarios (Scenarios B & C)
28
29 H-2. School Impact Scenarios (Tabular)
30 SCENARIO A (Existing Program)
31 Present Schedule Adopted 2008
32 Student Generation Rates from Census year 2000
33 ➢ Impact Fee Assessment (Potential Revenues)
34 ✓ $1,922,570
35 ✓ 105 Students
36 o 14.29 multi-family units generate one student
37 ➢ Capital (Expenditures)
38 ✓ $4,500,000 — 18% of a school (cost $25m ±)
39 o $42,750± per elementary student
40 SCENARIO B (All Multi-Family 0-2 Bedrooms)
41 Impact Fee Assessment
42 (Potential Revenues)
43 ✓ $3,570,000
44 ✓ 194 Students
45 o 7.7 multi-family units generate one student
46 Capital (Expenditures)
47 ✓ $8,290,000 —33% of a school
48 (cost $25m ±)
49 SCENARIO C
50
51 [Mix of Multi-Family 0-2 Bedrooms (77.5%) and 3+ Bedrooms (22.5%)]
6
1 Impact Fee Assessment (Potential Revenues)
2 ✓ $5,492,630
3 ✓ 299 Students
4 o 5 multi-family units generate one student
5 Capital (Potential Expenditures)
6 ✓ $12,800,000 — 51% of a school
7 (cost $25m +)
8
9 Craig Benedict referred to the positives and negatives of the project and said that
10 several perceived negatives can also be positives. He noted that possible congestion would
11 actually help support the criteria required for the MPO to provide funding for traffic
12 improvements.
13 Craig Benedict referred to the slide on Orange County's participation and said the
14 majority of the parcels in the area are almost 100 percent impervious and will have to pay into
15 offsite funds to compensate for their inability to meet standards. He said there is interest in
16 having some of the additional best management practices (BMP) turned into environmental
17 aspects to be maintained by a municipal service district. He said a mechanism for maintenance
18 is important.
19 Craig Benedict noted that the school impact information uses hypothetical student
20 generation rates that are in the books, but this may not be an accurate reflection of the future
21 numbers. He said there is a wide range of variability with multi-family projects. He said the total
22 number of projected units is 1495, but 198 of those units are being redeveloped and will be
23 removed from the equation.
24 Craig Benedict said a new student generation study was completed in November, and it
25 showed an increase in development over the last 10 years. He said the 2007 numbers in all of
26 the multi-family units showed only .07 students per unit. He said the new numbers are broken
27 into categories by the number of bedrooms in the units. He said even the 0 to 2 bedroom
28 numbers are higher than the 2007 projections.
29 Craig Benedict said the County receives about $1,286 per unit with the current rates,
30 which is very low. He said the school impact fees were never intended to cover the full cost of a
31 student, but the number has been anywhere from 20-40 percent. He said, as we try to get
32 closer to 60 percent, school construction accelerates, and the impact fee does not necessarily
33 accelerate. He said scenarios B and C show that impact fees are an important revenue source,
34 but they do not pay for the capital side of building the school based on the new development.
35
36 Paul Laughton reviewed scenarios in their packet for the Fordham Financial Analysis-
37 Based on Phases of Education. He said the first 2 scenarios have been presented to the Board,
38 and the packet also includes scenario 3, which shows more of a cumulative effect. He outlined
39 the following spreadsheet:
40
Ephesus-Fordham Financial Analysis (Scenario 1)
Based on Phases 284.00
With Education 175.00 19.00 90.00
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Percentage of
Percentage County
Fy14-15 of Services Revenues Revenues Revenues
FY14-15 Allocated to
Budeet Budeet Project $ 1,424,704.00 $ 154,721.00 $ 726,694.00
7
Governing and $
Management 17,550,772 8.99% 8.99% 128,066.00 13,908.00 65,322.00
General Services 9,451,951 4.84% 0.00%
Community and
environment 7,548,601 3.87% 0.00%
Human services 32,242,706 16.51% 16.51% 235,271.00 25,550.00 120,004.00
Public safety 22,382,107 11.46% 0.00%
Cultural and
recreation 2,696,035 1.38% 0.00%
Education 76,847,414 39.36% 0.00% 1,310,208.00 142,270.00 670,930.00
Debt service 26,529,306 13.59% 0.00%
Total $ 195 248 892 100.00% 0.00% 1,673,545.00 181,728.00 856,256.00
Net (248,841.00) (27,007.00) (129,562.00)
Request 400,840.00 400,840.00 400,840.00
Net increase(deficit) S (649.681) S (427.847) S (530.402)
Number of Years in
phases 4 years 6 years 10 years
Cumulative increase
(deficit) S (2 598 724.00) S (2,567,082.00) S (5 304 020.00)
A B C
Cumulative deficit of
project over life of
project Total of A+B+C S (10.469.826.00)
Notes:
Education is based on 48.1%Target of General Fund Revenues being provided to Education,as well as the growth in students in each phase of the
project.
1
2 Paul Laughton said scenario 1 looks at the 2014-15 general fund budget of
3 $195,000,000, and it does not include transfers. He said it only includes the expenditures for
4 the departments, education, and debt service, and this is why the total is under $200,000,000.
5 He said this scenario looks at the possible impacts of County services and departments
6 related to this project, and it is difficult at this time to pinpoint the numbers and percentages of
7 some of the departments. He said this shows a worst case scenario for those departments and
8 functions that might be affected by this project, and a percentage has been attached for the
9 county services that would be allocated to this project.
10 Paul Laughton said this shows the entire function of the 8.99 percent of Governing and
11 Management and 16.51 percent of Human Services.
12 Commissioner Rich asked for clarification on how some of these numbers, such as
13 public safety, are devised.
14 Paul Laughton said this only looks at Governing and Management and Human Services.
15 He said this is a very challenging scenario, but as the project moves forward it may be
16 necessary to look at the effect on government services.
8
1 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the 911 center is a public safety cost.
2 Paul Laughton said yes, but it is not included in this. He said that is a special revenue
3 fund and this is only looking at services from the general fund.
4 Commissioner Dorosin asked for clarification on how the percentages in this sheet are
5 calculated. He referred to the 16.5 percent number.
6 Paul Laughton said this is strictly budget allocation out of the $195,000,000 budget.
7 Commissioner Dorosin said the way he reads this is that there is a whole budget
8 number, and then the goal is to determine how much additional cost the County will bear as a
9 result of this development. He said it looks like 16.5 percent of all the human services cost will
10 be connected to this new project.
11 Paul Laughton said the 16.51 percent is the human services percent of the total budget,
12 and this number has been used toward the incremental revenue that is anticipated for phase 1
13 in order to show a corresponding expense allocation. He said the same thing has been done for
14 the governing and management.
15 Commissioner Rich asked about the 39.3 percent for the schools.
16 Paul Laughton said the 39.36 percent is just made up of the $76 million for education out
17 of the $195 million. He said this was not allocated that way when looking at the impact of the
18 $1.3 million for education. He said this is done using a target of 48.1 percent of general fund
19 revenues earmarked for schools. He said that 48.1 percent number has been used, and then in
20 these first two scenarios the student growth has been added to that. He read through the
21 numbers from the spreadsheets.
22 Commissioner Burroughs asked about the education piece and why the 48.1% target is
23 used by both schools.
24 Paul Laughton said 48.1 percent is the target the Board of County Commissioners has
25 set for education from the general fund, and it is for total education.
26 Commissioner Price asked if the phase 3 numbers refer to the beginning or the end of
27 phase 3. .
28 Paul Laughton said this project is supposed to be built out at the end of year 4. He said
29 the $1.24 million is used for each year of phase 1.
30 Commissioner Pelissier said it needs to be stated that these scenarios are not accurate,
31 because revenues for phase 1 will continue in phase 2. She said the deficit is quite inflated.
32 Paul Laughton said the $1.24 million is not one-time revenue, and this is why scenario 3
33 presents it as ongoing and cumulative each year.
34 Chair McKee said the 48.1 percent is a moving target. He said if you assume that there
35 is $1.24 in increased revenue in phase 1, and there are no additional children, then if funds are
36 allocated on a per student basis, no additional funds would be allocated for the schools.
37 Paul Laughton said most of the time, allocation of funds has been attributed to growth in
38 the schools, but not all of the time.
39 Chair McKee said if there are no children coming into schools during the first phase,
40 then 48.1 percent of the $1.4 million will not be automatically allocated to the schools.
41 Paul Laughton said if there is no growth, the goal is still to hold to the target of 48.1
42 percent of general fund revenue. He said if the $1.4 million in revenue is put into the general
43 fund, then the goal will be to give $48.1 percent to education, although there will be no extra
44 component for growth.
45 Commissioner Dorosin said he thinks the target is 48.1 percent, whether there are more
46 children or fewer children. He said this issue needs to be revisited. He thinks it is a bad
47 budgeting idea to always set aside a certain percentage that then drives the budget. He said
48 the budgeting should be based on needs. He said the budget does sometimes get driven by
49 needs, but it only gets driven above 48.1 percent.
50 Chair McKee said this is a concern of his.
9
1 Commissioner Pelissier said she agrees that the 48.1 percent target needs to be
2 discussed, but that discussion does not need to be just tied to this project. She said she is
3 struggling with allocating the whole 48.1 percent, because when it is actually distributed, the
4 attribution should be to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). She does not think the
5 entire attribution can be made to one school system, because it is not all expended in one
6 school district.
7 Bonnie Hammersley said staff is not saying that the entire 48.1 percent is going to
8 CHCCS. She said the current policy says that whenever the revenue goes up in the budget,
9 48.1 percent goes to all education.
10 Commissioner Jacobs noted that the number is approximately 48.1 percent, but there is
11 not a cap. He noted that Village Apartments has already been approved for this site, so there
12 will be additional students.
13 Commissioner Jacobs said all of this information is hypothetical, and he does not trust
14 projections. He said if this is going to be based on hypothetical information about revenue
15 generation, then it is reasonable for the County to generate hypothetical expenditures. He said
16 it should be proposed that the municipalities take these expenditures and impacts to the County
17 into consideration. He said staff is working to try and articulate these impacts. He said there is
18 no coefficient where the municipalities worry about how this will hit the County, but there will be
19 complaints if County taxes are too high. He said better communication and cooperation can
20 help people know upfront what the cost will be for a County taxpayer who happens to live in the
21 municipality
22 Commissioner Burroughs asked if it is correct to say that when you first look at this, you
23 see a deficit because there is no revenue yet. She said this is an exercise in revenue foregone.
24 Commissioner Rich said she thinks that the 175 students forecast in the first phase is an
25 outrageous number if you consider the history of developments in Chapel Hill. She said this
26 makes the education number high, and she thinks this is why there is a large deficit.
27 Paul Laughton said the total number is still 284 students over the three phases, so the
28 cumulative cost is still going to be there.
29 Commissioner Rich said there is an impact fee for students, plus the 48.1 percent
30 allocated for education, and then there is $3,500 per student. She said it seems that this is
31 double charging.
32 Paul Laughton said these scenarios have the 48.1 percent separate outside of the
33 growth, and then the growth is added on. He said this is because experience has shown that
34 the number goes over 48.1 percent as a result of growth.
35 Commissioner Rich asked if schools have gotten more than 48.1 percent for multiple
36 years.
37 Paul Laughton said yes.
38 Commissioner Jacobs said 48.1 percent is the floor, not the ceiling. He said, with the
39 coefficient that Craig Benedict used, there are almost 19 students from the first approved
40 apartment complex. He said blank assumptions cannot be made, and he does not know
41 enough about these 265 apartments. He said the Board could shoot holes into each of these
42 assumptions, but he is trying to take this as staff's first try at working with Chapel Hill on
43 providing metrics to start the conversation on this project.
44 Commissioner Price said she agrees with Commissioner Jacobs. She said she also
45 questions the number of proposed students. She said unless you have an idea of who will be
46 attracted to these accommodations, this is hypothetical, and it is scary to see such a huge
47 deficit at the end.
48 Commissioner Burroughs said design will also determine the housing with form based
49 code projects. She said the bigger point is to determine the philosophy for this project and
50 whether it is to bring in less revenue than you might have had. She said it is not about losing
51 money, but it is about getting less money. She is open to continuing a discussion about this.
10
1 Commissioner Pelissier said she understands this a little differently in terms of revenues
2 and expenses. She said if a certain amount of revenue comes in, but spending is more than
3 that revenue, then there would be a loss, and taxes would have to be increased or the money
4 would have to be found elsewhere.
5 Commissioner Pelissier said the conversation has focused on school generation rates
6 and residential, but the County's interest is in the commercial portion. She wants to see the
7 commercial development data and how this would generate sales tax and property tax
8 revenues.
9 Commissioner Dorosin said there are some important questions to answer. He is
10 reluctant to start thinking about development and revenue generation if this is going to price out
11 affordable housing and low wealth options. He said it is important to be cautious in putting
12 everything on this market based analysis.
13 Commissioner Jacobs said Chapel Hill has assured them that Orange County can jump
14 into this project at any point, so this does not have to be articulated to everyone's satisfaction at
15 this time. He said this should be viewed as a potential partnership with pros and cons.
16 Paul Laughton said the second scenario takes out the attempt to attach a percentage for
17 County services. He presented the following information on scenario 2:
18
Ephesus-Fordham Financial Analysis(Scenario 2)
Based on Phases 284.00
With Education 175.00 19.00 90.00
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Percentage
Percentage of County
Fy14-15 of Services Revenues Revenues Revenues
FY14-15 Allocated to
Budget Budget Project $ 1,424,704.00 $ 154,721.00 $ 726,694.00
Governing and $
Management 17,550,772 8.99% 0.00%
General Services 9,451,951 4.84% 0.00%
Community and
environment 7,548,601 3.87% 0.00%
Human services 32,242,706 16.51% 0.00%
Public safety 22,382,107 11.46% 0.00%
Cultural and
recreation 2,696,035 1.38% 0.00%
Education 76,847,414 39.36% 0.00% 1,310,208.00 142,270.00 670,930.00
Debt service 26,529,306 13.59% 0.00%
Total S 195,248,892 100.00% 0.00% 1,310,208.00 142,270.00 670,930.00
Net 114,496.00 12,451.00 55,764.00
Request 400,840.00 400,840.00 400,840.00
Net increase
(deficit) (286.344) (388.389) (345.076)
Number of Years in
phases 4 years 6 years 10 years
11
Cumulative increase
(deficit) S (1 145 376.00) S (2 330 334.00) S (3 450 760.00)
A B C
Cumulative deficit
of project over life of
project Total of A+B+C S (6.926.470.00)
Notes:
Education is based on 48.1%Target of General Fund Revenues being provided to Education,as well as the growth in students in each phase of the
project.
1
2
3 Paul Laughton said the legal sheet at their places tonight is scenario 3, which shows a
4 cumulative projection with less deficit. He reviewed the following information:
5
Ephesus-Fordham Financial Analysis(Scenario 3)
Based on
Phases 284.00
With
Education 175.00 194.00 284.00
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Percentage of
Percentage County
Fy14-15 of Services Revenues Revenues Revenues
FY14-15 Allocated to
Budget Budget Project $ 1,424,704.00 $ 1,579,425.00 $ 2,306,119.00
Governing and
Management $ 17,550,772 8.99% 0.00%
General Services 9,451,951 4.84% 0.00%
Community and
environment 7,548,601 3.87% 0.00%
Human services 32,242,706 16.51% 0.00%
Public safety 22,382,107 11.46% 0.00%
Cultural and
recreation 2,696,035 1.38% 0.00%
Education 76,847,414 39.36% 0.00% 1,310,208.00 1,452,477.00 2,123,407.00
Debt service 26,529,306 13.59% 0.00%
Total S 195,248,892 100.00% 0.00% 1,310,208.00 1,452,477.00 2,123,407.00
Net 114,496.00 126,948.00 182,712.00
Request 400,840.00 400,840.00 400,840.00
Net increase
(deficit) S (286.344) S (273.892) S (218.128)
Number of Years
in phases 4 years 6 years 10 years
12
Cumulative
increase(deficit) S (1,145,37 6.00) S(1 643 352.00) S (2 181 280.00)
A B C
Cumulative deficit of project over life
of project Total of A+B+C 14.970.008.001
Notes:
Education is based on 48.1%Target of General Fund Revenues being provided to Education,as well as the growth in students in each phase
of the project.
1
2 Bonnie Hammersley said staff will continue to work with the Town of Chapel Hill. She
3 noted that scenarios 2 and 3 did not include the cost for services throughout the County,
4 because staff did not feel it was defensible to take the entire amount. She said there will be
5 costs, and staff will work to get a more accurate view of this moving forward.
6 Commissioner Rich asked if the numbers could also show the sales tax and other
7 multipliers that bring in revenue. She said this is showing negative numbers because that
8 information is not being included. She said she does not see this as a negative project.
9 Bonnie Hammersley said as this project moves forward staff will have more accurate
10 numbers and will include a breakdown of residential and commercial sales and property tax.
11 She said her conversation with the Town Manager was that the County would continue to look
12 at these numbers, and recognize that the town is not looking for a multi-year agreement.
13 Commissioner Dorosin said if you look at the school impact scenarios that have been
14 presented, development is already not expected to cover the costs.
15 Commissioner Jacobs said he understands that Craig Benedict has spoken with Chapel
16 Hill's engineer, and the town is contemplating a more comprehensive study of stormwater in the
17 entire area. He asked if there is a timeframe for this.
18 Craig Benedict said there are two requests for proposals (RFP's) that will be going out to
19 address upstream watershed, and it will probably be about a 12 to 24 month time frame to find
20 out what comes forward from the consultants. .
21 Commissioner Jacobs said another problem with the way this discussion is going is that
22 the Board does not have to address the whole $400,000 per year. He said he does not want to
23 get involved in roads, but the stormwater management is a health and safety issue. He would
24 like to know what the plan is before he is willing to invest in it. He said if Orange County
25 decides not to be involved in a formula that predominately funds roads, then this would reduce
26 their contribution
27 Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the manager could do analysis with the proposed
28 limited investing mentioned above.
29 Commissioner Price referred to attachment C, and asked about the status of the
30 possible reimbursement for the transportation project at 15-501 and Ephesus Church Road.
31 Craig Benedict said it is very likely that this project will be funded, but it will be two years
32 out. He said if improvements are to be done earlier than this funding, then Chapel Hill could
33 proceed with interim money and then be reimbursed by the Department of Transportation (DOT)
34 when it comes into the capital improvement program.
35 Commissioner Price asked what will happen if this does not get reimbursement from the
36 state. She asked if this could come back to the County.
37 Craig Benedict said yes. He said originally there were $8.8 million worth of roadway
38 improvements included in the $10 million package, and $1.2 million for stormwater
39 improvements.
13
1 Commissioner Price asked about the localized stormwater municipal service district.
2 She asked if Chapel Hill would be levying a fee over the area, and she said her concern is the
3 cost of living.
4 Craig Benedict said it is important that the district is established now to find out what
5 improvements would be subject to long term maintenance and what that cost will be. He said
6 this is a dense, high intensity development, and there will likely be heightened sensitivity to the
7 best management practices that are put in here. He said the district will be analyzed to
8 determine what type of increment would be associated with all of the property owners. He said
9 there is no current estimate for how much a district tax would be per household.
10 Commissioner Rich said the County is not in the business of roads, but the County is in
11 the business of putting in infrastructure for economic development, and she thinks that this
12 includes the roads in the towns. She said these roads can be instrumental to attract companies.
13 She said roads are infrastructure, and it is important to think about this.
14 Commissioner Rich suggested putting the discussion of the 48.1 percent target for
15 schools on the agenda for a future work session.
16 Commissioner Price referred to page 14 on attachment c and asked when the Board
17 should expect an estimate on these numbers.
18 Paul Laughton said he does not have a time frame at this point.
19 Chair McKee said the key point is that this is the first of many discussions on this
20 proposed project and the level and timing with which the County wants to participate. He said
21 another point is that this project is a component of economic development, and it will bring in
22 additional property taxes and sales tax.
23 Chair McKee said the Board has talked about the fact that about 85 percent of the
24 County's revenue is from residential property tax, and there has been discussion about how to
25 push this number down by increasing commercial development. He said Steve Brantley has
26 said it takes about$160 million of investment to push this percentage down by one point. He
27 said it is important to push this number down so that homeowners in the middle to low income
28 levels can stay in their homes.
29 Chair McKee said this may involve some policy discussion or decisions.
30 Chair McKee said many of these numbers are hypothetical at this point, and it is
31 important to keep this in mind.
32
33 2. Proposed Draft Applications, Guidelines & Scoring Sheets for Article 46's
34 Business Investment Grant &Agriculture Economic Development Grant
35 Steve Brantley presented this item and introduced the following four members of the
36 Orange County Economic Development Advisory Board who were instrumental in creating
37 these guidelines: Jim Kitchen, Delores Bailey, Karen McAdams, and DR Bryan.
38 Steve Brantley reviewed the purpose and background from the abstract as follows:
39
40 BACKGROUND: In November 2011, Orange County voters approved a referendum to levy a
41 one-quarter (1/4) cent sales tax that provides additional annual funding for education and
42 economic development purposes. This "Article 46" funding program generates approximately
43 $2.5 million annually in new local sales tax proceeds which are split equally between education
44 (shared between the Orange County & Chapel Hill/Carrboro school systems) and economic
45 development. The 50/50 share of Article 46 funds for economic development, averaging $1.25
46 million per year, is initially set for 10 years. The BOCC adopted a Resolution in December 2011
47 authorizing the new one-quarter cent sales tax.
48
49 Key Sectors for Use % of Total $ Annually
50 • Debt service on water, sewer & associated 60% $750,000
51 Infrastructure made in Orange County's 3
14
1 Economic Development Districts
2 (Eno, Hillsborough and Buckhorn)
3 • Orange County's Small Business Loan Fund 16% $200,000
4 • Entrepreneurial & Incubator Support 8% $100,000
5 • Business Investment Grants 8% $100,000
6 • Agriculture Economic Development Grants 5% $60,000
7 • Marketing & Collaborative Outreach 1.5% $20,000
8 • Advertising, Publishing & Collateral Materials 1.5% $20,000
9 100% $1,250,000
10
11 While some Article 46 "key use" funding categories had immediate activity and expenditure
12 needs, such as utility infrastructure improvements in the County's three economic development
13 districts, the two grant programs lacked basic guidelines to help guide the best use of Article 46
14 funds. As a result, although funds began to accrue in accounts being set up for that eventual
15 use, the specific grant programs were not immediately active. Also, the Economic Development
16 Advisory Board was just being re-formed and had not yet assumed specific tasks. The
17 Economic Development Advisory Board members did meet throughout 2014 and drafted a
18 recommended set of Applications, Guidelines and Procedures (see Attachments B and C)
19 recommending how to administer the Business Investment Grant and Agriculture Economic
20 Development Grant programs.
21
22 Much of the advisory board's effort was patterned after the County's Small Business Loan
23 program and current By-Laws, Policies & Procedures, Application and review process. For
24 Article 46's two grant programs, the Economic Development Advisory Board has offered to
25 receive, review and award all grant applications, subject to the BOCC's comments and
26 approval. Current accrued balances available to disburse are approximately $200,000 in the
27 Business Investment Grant program and $120,000 in the Agriculture Economic Development
28 Grant program.
29
30 FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with discussion of Article
31 46's two grant programs. There are no action items requiring formal decisions during the work
32 session. Eventual funding of the Business Investment Grant and the Agriculture Economic
33 Development Grant programs would be provided by Article 46 proceeds, and not from the
34 General Fund.
35
36 Jim Kitchen thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their support. He said this
37 is an important proposal before the Board. He said there is approximately $200,000 in grant
38 funding that has been allocated, but there is no policy or criteria in place for the allocation. He
39 said a subcommittee with a wide variety of representation was formed to work on this, and it is
40 still a work in progress.
41 Jim Kitchen said the group is proposing two grants — a small grant up to $1,000, and a
42 large grant up to $10,000. He said the purpose of this grant program is to grow the
43 entrepreneurial ecosystem in the County and to encourage small business development, with
44 the goal of increasing jobs and opportunities in Orange County.
45 He said the Orange County Economic Development Committee and the sub-committee
46 will bear most of the burden of the administration and will do most of the work, supported by the
47 County staff.
48 Jim Kitchen said the details are in the materials before the Board. He said businesses
49 will fill out a simplified application for the smaller grants, and a 4 to 5 page, more complex
50 document for the larger grants. He said mentoring will be an important part of this process, and
15
1 there will be follow up required six months after the money is allocated. He said the committee
2 is ready to go with this program as soon as the Board is ready.
3 Delores Bailey is the Executive Director of Empowerment, Incorporated, which owns the
4 Midway business center, the first small business incubator in Orange County. She discussed
5 her incubator and the ways in which it has helped grow businesses. She believes this small
6 business grant program will stimulate small business development and expansion in Orange
7 County.
8 Commissioner Dorosin asked how the amount of$1,000 was chosen as the size for the
9 small grant. He said this seems small, and he wonders if$3,000 might be more useful.
10 Jim Kitchen said the committee had heard that there were some businesses that only
11 needed $500 to $1000 for specific needs. He said the goal was to make it fast and easy for
12 those who just needed a low price stimulus to their business. He said this low amount requires
13 less of a burden for providing data.
14 He said the committee will learn quickly what the right numbers are. He said the
15 program will start out with these numbers and then see what needs to be tweaked.
16 Commissioner Dorosin said the amount is a threshold, and not everyone will ask for the
17 full amount. He worries that the $1000 is a very small grant.
18 Commissioner Dorosin referred to the scoring sheet on page 12 of the abstract. He said
19 some of the criteria seem to be fairly on or off. He questioned how you can distinguish between
20 someone whose need is a 7 versus a 9. He said some of the criteria seem more suited for a
21 checklist.
22 Jim Kitchen said it is clear when an applicant tells them there is a need that that is
23 critical to their success and then can provide information to validate that. He said there are
24 others who are more indifferent about their needs. He said this criteria has also been used
25 successfully for the LAUNCH incubators and accelerators.
26 Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciates the explanation. He said he thinks of
27 applicants more at the grassroots level.
28 Jim Kitchen agreed. He welcomes feedback if there is something that is missing from the
29 criteria.
30 Commissioner Pelissier said she appreciated all of the work their group has done on
31 this. She asked about the requirement for a 6 month mentorship, and she said this seems a bit
32 onerous for a $1000 grant. She said it seems that a lot of the questions are geared toward
33 existing businesses and expanding businesses. She asked if it is anticipated that there will also
34 be applicants for new businesses who might need a mentorship.
35 Delores Bailey said a lot of start up businesses are being brought out of applicants
36 homes or are just growing, so the applicants have no experience with actually talking with a
37 professional.
38 Commissioner Pelissier asked if there can be some flexibility in the mentoring
39 requirements.
40 Jim Kitchen said the goal was to spend Orange County's money wisely, and to ensure
41 that if money was taken, the applicants would have the support to do something useful with it.
42 Commissioner Price said she thinks the mentoring is good, but she wonders if the
43 mentorship is too long. She suggested checking in with applicants after 4 months.
44 Commissioner Price asked if business owners are required to be an Orange County
45 resident.
46 Jim Kitchen said the business has to be located in Orange County, but the owner does
47 not.
48 Commissioner Price said Orange County already has a precedent for the grant amounts,
49 if you consider the arts commission, which has a $1,500 grant without further reporting. She is
50 okay with $1,000 or $1,500 for a grant.
16
1 Commissioner Dorosin said $1,500 is more acceptable to him, but he thinks it should be
2 higher.
3 Commissioner Price asked if there will be an online application.
4 Jim Kitchen and Steve Brantley answered yes.
5 Commissioner Jacobs thanked the group for their proposals. He suggested inclusion of
6 a statement that Orange County encourages a diverse workforce and values paying a living
7 wage. He suggested a stand-alone statement, possibly on page 7 or 8, under "compliance and
8 regulations." He said this could be just an affirmative statement at the end.
9 Commissioner Rich asked that staff work with the other towns to make sure they know
10 that this is going into effect and to get the word out to the community.
11 Chair McKee noted the discussion about the amount for the smaller grant, and he asked
12 staff to bring back a recommendation on this. He asked that Commissioner Jacob's suggestion
13 regarding the statement on diversity and a living wage be included.
14
15 Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program (attachment c)
16 Karen McAdams is the agricultural representative on this board, and she said this grant
17 is similar to the previous grant, but there are also some differences. She said the grant is to
18 increase farm income. She said there is a diverse and strong agricultural realm in Orange
19 County and this is an exciting time.
20 Karen McAdams said the proposed application borrows heavily from the Rural
21 Advancement Foundation application for their tobacco trust fund grants. She said her staff
22 expects to process grant applications quarterly and to review this process in 6 to 12 months and
23 tweak it, as needed.
24 Karen McAdams said diversity will be considered in the selection process, with the types
25 of projects and with the recipients. She said the grant subcommittee has suggested having
26 members from the economic development advisory committee, as well as folks from the
27 agricultural community. She said it has come to her attention that the agricultural preservation
28 board would like to have input as well. She said input is welcomed from the Commissioners.
29 Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff has considered asking applicants whether their
30 proposed enterprise will fill an unaddressed niche in the local agricultural economy.
31 Karen McAdams said this question can be added.
32 Commissioner Jacobs said the present use value system subsidizes farmers, because
33 they pay a lower property tax. He said the people who do not qualify for the present use value
34 but are producers have to pay full County property tax. He asked about the possibility of giving
35 a targeted boost to these people who are not able to benefit from the use value system.
36 Chair McKee asked if targeting would be allowed in this program.
37 John Roberts said this is a grant program, and he does not see a reason why targeting
38 could not be done.
39 Karen McAdams said this suggestion will be considered.
40 Commissioner Price said she would request that this application be online. She said her
41 concern is the amount of detail that is required to get $1000. She wonders if it is possible to
42 streamline the process.
43 Karen McAdams said the goal is to be good stewards of the County's money and to
44 make sure that applicants are able to do something that will add more agricultural jobs and will
45 get something done.
46 Commissioner Price said she does not want anyone to be scared away by the
47 application.
48 Karen McAdams said this has been discussed, and this is why the agricultural
49 application is different from the business grant.
17
1 Commissioner Pelissier noted that this application asks the applicant to find their own
2 mentor. She suggested that applicants should be able to get direction on where to find
3 assistance.
4 Commissioner Pelissier said she does not think the criteria should be heavily based on
5 innovation. She said the idea is to get more income, and there may be areas where the market
6 still needs to be filled.
7 Commissioner Jacobs said he would hope that staff would help people avoid running
8 their heads into a competitive wall where the niche is already filled or saturated. He hopes the
9 applicants are given guidance to steer them to places where they can be successful.
10 Commissioner Jacobs expressed his thanks to staff for moving this forward.
11 Commissioner Price asked where an applicant would go if they wanted to manufacture
12 strawberry jam, and whether this would be an agricultural grant or a small business loan.
13 Karen McAdams said this question has not been addressed yet.
14 Chair McKee said he is one of the operations that enjoy the use value process. He said
15 he would not want a detrimental effect to the small farmers who do not enjoy this use value, but
16 he also does not want to see a mark against an operation that does use it. He said it is
17 important to look at each individual operation on a stand-alone basis.
18 Chair McKee thanked the staff for being conscientious about the use of the County's
19 money.
20
21 3. FY 2015-16 Budget Assumptions/Fiscal Outlook/Budget Update
22 Bonnie Hammersley presented the following PowerPoint slides on the overview of the
23 budget process for 2015-16:
24
25 ORANGE COUNTY FY2015-16 BUDGET Orientation
26 Presentation Outline
27 Financial Overview
28 Financial Projections
29 FY2015-16 Budget Process
30
31 FY2015-16 Budget Goals
32 e Structurally Balanced Budget
33 e Implement Team Approach
34 e Enhance Transparency and Communication
35 e Maintain or Improve Service Levels
36
37 General Fund GROWTH (Bar Graph)
38 General Fund Revenues (Bar Graph)
39 General Fund Expenditures (Bar Graph)
40 General Fund Appropriated Fund Balance (Bar Graph)
41
42 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS
43 e State Impact
44 e Local Revenue
45 e Cost to Continue
46
47 State Budget Impact
48 • Social Services
49 • Public Safety
50 • School Funding
18
1 Weakening Revenue
2
3 Modest revenue growth
4 e Property Taxes
5 e Sales Tax
6
7 COST TO CONTINUE
8 0 Personnel Cost
9 - Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
10 - Work Performance Planning Review (WPPR)
11 0 Benefits
12 - Health Insurance
13 - Retirement
14 e Ongoing Obligations
15 - Consumer Price Index (CPI) impact
16 e Reserve Levels
17 - Actuarial requirement
18 - Financial Policies
19
20 Budget GUIDELINES
21 e Maintain Current Appropriation
22 e BE CREATIVE
23 e Present at least one (1) collaboration opportunity
24 FY2015-16 Budget Schedule (Chart)
25
26 Conclusion
27 Orange County exists to provide governmental services requested by our Residents or
28 mandated by the State of North Carolina.
29 To provide these quality services efficiently, we must;
30 Serve the Residents of Orange County— Our Residents Come First;
31 Depend on the energy, skills, and dedication of all our employees and volunteers;
32 Treat all our Residents and Employees with fairness, respect, and understanding.
33 Orange County Residents Come First
34
35 Bonnie Hammersley said the general fund growth slide illustrates the recession well, and
36 the data supports the theory that government is about two years behind. She noted that
37 anticipated federal and state grants are not included in the budget process. She said once
38 grants are actually received, the budget is then amended.
39 Bonnie Hammersley said the general fund revenues do exceed the adopted budget by
40 an average of 2 to 3 percent.
41 She said the general fund expenditures slide shows the practice of under-expending in
42 the adopted budget. She said there is a six month vacancy freeze that is in place, and no value
43 was placed on that, so that is part of the reason for the under-expenditure, which averages
44 about 5 percent. She said she will be looking at this to determine whether some of the controls
45 can be loosened up a little on these expenditures.
46 Commissioner Dorosin asked if these two slides are showing that the County is bringing
47 in more money than expected, and spending less money than expected.
48 Bonnie Hammersley answered yes.
49 Bonnie Hammersley reviewed the general fund appropriated fund balance. She said
50 general fund balance has accumulated over the last few years, as it has been appropriated but
19
1 not spent. She said the balance shown for 2015 is an accumulation of 2012, 2013, and 2014,
2 as well as some additional fund balance.
3 Bonnie Hammersley said the state impact for budget assumptions is where the County
4 has the least amount of control and the most amount of uncertainty. She said there are issues
5 with social service and the child care fund. She said there are public safety issues with state
6 inmates and the possibility that they might be pushed into County jails.
7 Bonnie Hammersley said there are issues with school funding, and specifically with
8 drivers' education, which is an unfunded mandate.
9 Bonnie Hammersley said there has been a swing in the property values, and properties
10 in Orange County are currently selling at 1 percent over assessed values.
11 She said staff is looking at a 1 percent growth in property taxes, which would amount to
12 about $1 million more in the budget, but it is still early.
13 Bonnie Hammersley said sales tax is one of the most unpredictable revenue sources.
14 She said a change from point of sale to per capita has been discussed. She said if this change
15 was made, Orange County would benefit from it, as it benefits rural counties. She said current
16 projections give a conservative estimate of 3 to 5 percent, which would be somewhere near $1
17 million.
18 Chair McKee said he has heard there is going to be a real push from the rural counties
19 on the reallocation of the sales tax. He said it is important to note that this is going to be a
20 major point of discussion.
21 Commissioner Jacobs asked if this has been addressed by the legislative goals
22 committee.
23 Commissioner Pelissier said no.
24 Commissioner Jacobs suggested that this might be a good time to bring it up.
25 Bonnie Hammersley said cost to continue projections will likely come very late in the
26 process.
27 Bonnie Hammersley said the health insurance plan is currently in a fiscally positive
28 position.
29 Bonnie Hammersley said the consumer price index (CPI) has declined .6 percent since
30 July of 2014, due to energy costs.
31 Bonnie Hammersley said actuarial reviews are done on an annual basis to determine the
32 reserve levels for health insurance. She said there is a stop loss requirement of$100,000, after
33 which the health insurance provider kicks in. She said the actuarial review makes sure the
34 reserves are at a level that will allow claims to be paid.
35 Bonnie Hammersley said she has not included the schools in the cost to continue. She
36 said that is part of this budget, but she is waiting to hear from the schools on their requests.
37 Commissioner Dorosin asked about the past OPEB discussions.
38 Bonnie Hammersley said she will bring a recommendation on this in the next budget
39 discussion.
40 Bonnie Hammersley said she has not had to ask department directors to cut their
41 budgets. She said she has asked the department directors to bring forward additional requests,
42 and she will consider the big picture and determine if there are things that can be done above
43 and beyond the current appropriations.
44 She reviewed the budget schedule, and she reminded the Board that the budget is a
45 plan, and it is good to have contingency plans in place for each department, in case things do
46 not go as anticipated. She said these contingency plans are renewed on an annual basis.
47 Commissioner Jacobs referred to the goal of being creative, and he asked if department
48 heads are allowed to move funding within their budgets to address issues or changes without
49 waiting for the next fiscal year.
50 Bonnie Hammersley said yes.
20
1 Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is any opportunity for Bonnie Hammersley to
2 represent the department heads and give a presentation on the current appropriations and
3 possible issues and areas of interest.
4 Bonnie Hammersley said there will be individual meetings, but if that does not work,
5 there are other tools to provide that information to the Board.
6
7 4. County Commissioners — Boards and Commissions Assignments
8 Chair McKee said this is the chance to shuffle the deck a little bit and choose the boards
9 and commissions that the Commissioners would like to work on.
10 Chair McKee referred to page three of the yellow abstract, and he noted the governing
11 policy regarding the round robin members. He said that officers can remain, and Commissioner
12 Pelissier is the secretary for the Triangle Transit Board, and Commissioner Rich is the finance
13 officer for the Visitor's Bureau. He said their names are to be marked to hold those positions.
14 Chair McKee referred to the bottom of page 4 and top of page 5. He said Joint Orange-
15 Chatham Community Action (JOCCA) is shown as a board for which continued participation
16 needs to be decided. He said he is not sure any changes should be made here, and he noted
17 that Commissioner Price is the current representative.
18 He said what is not shown in this decision list is the library subcommittee on inter-local
19 agreements/elected officials. He said he is not sure that there was ever a process to choose
20 the two additional Commissioner members for this committee. He suggested, since there will
21 be ongoing discussions with Chapel Hill regarding the Southern Branch Library and funding for
22 the Chapel Hill Library, that this subcommittee be moved to become a standing committee and
23 that it be included in the choices tonight.
24 Donna Baker said this has been a floating committee that started with the interlocal
25 agreement with Chapel Hill.
26 Chair McKee said there needs to be consensus on what to do with this. He asked if the
27 Board would like to add this to the list of choices with the other boards and commissions.
28 There was consensus to add this to the list with a change of name to "Library
29 Subcommittee/Elected Officials."
30 Discussion ensued regarding the Commissioners' committee participation. Choices are
31 noted in the chart below:
32
BOARD NAME MEETING DATE BOCC MEMBER BOCC Member Serving 2015
Currently
Serving -2014
STATUTORY
ABC Board Monthly, Third Commissioner Not Commissioner Commissioner
Tues 8:30 AM Required (non- Dorosin Burroughs
voting member)
Board of Health Monthly, Fourth 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Wed Required Pelissier - Burroughs
7:00 PM Member
Board of Social Monthly, Third 2 appointees Chair McKee— Chair McKee
Services Mon 4:00 PM Commissioner not Member
required but usually
a Commissioner Citizen-Already
serves appointed
Community 1 Commissioner or Chair McKee Chair McKee
Oversight Board designee
(part of OPC 1 Consumer/Family
21
Community member
Operations Center) 1 Citizen/
Stakeholder
INTERGOVERNME
NTAL and OTHER
GROUPS WITH
BOCC MEMBERS
Burlington/Graham Requires Commissioner Commissioner
MPO 1 Commissioner Jacobs-Member Jacobs —
Transportation member member
Advisory 1 Alternate Chair McKee -
Committee Commissioner Alternate alternate-OPEN
Communities in Monthly, Fourth 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Schools Wed 3:00-5:00 Required Dorosin Burroughs
PM
Community Home Monthly 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Trust BOD Required Rich- Member Price
Durham-Chapel Monthly- second Requires OPEN-Member Commissioner
Hill-Carrboro- Wed. 1 Commissioner Jacobs —
Metropolitan Member Member
Planning Chair Jacobs-
Organization 1 Alternate Alternate Commissioner
(MPO)- Commissioner Price -Alternate
Transportation
Advisory
Committee
Durham- Orange- Commissioner
Chapel Hill Work Rich
Group Commissioner
Price
Durham Tech Quarterly 2 Appointees—one Commissioner Commissioner
Board of Trustees can be a Price— Member Price
Commissioner but
doesn't have to be Citizen already
appointed
Fire Chief's Bi-monthly—first Commissioner not Chair McKee Chair McKee
Association of Weds.-7pm required as member
Orange County — but can attend as
guest(s)
Healthy Carolinians Meets quarterly Commissioner not Commissioner Commissioner
(3 d Thursdays at required —often Dorosin Pelissier
8:30am) same BOCC
Member as on the
Board of Health
HOME Program Quarterly 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Review Committee Required Price Dorosin
Intergovernmental Meets 3 times per 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Parks Work Group year at 5:30pm Member Jacobs /OPEN Rich — member
1 Alternate Commissioner
22
Commissioner Dorosin -
alternate
JCPC (Orange 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
County Juvenile Pelissier Burroughs
Crime Prevention
Council)
Library Committee- Chair McKee
Elected Officials Commissioner
Jacobs
Orange County Bi-Monthly-last 1 Commissioner - Commissioner Commissioner
Partnership for Wed of month- at Board of Directors Dorosin - Dorosin
Young Children 8:30am Member
Small Business Meets as needed 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Loan Program when a McKee Dorosin
thoroughly vetted
application has
been received.
Partnership to End Monthly -1St Wed. 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Homelessness at 5:30pm member Pelissier Pelissier
TJCOG Commissioner
Rich — member
Chair McKee -
Alternate
Triangle Area Rural Bi-monthly 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Planning Member Price—Member- Price - Chair
Organization 1 Alternate CHAIR
(TARPO) Commissioner
Transportation Commissioner
Advisory Pelissier -
Committee Alternate
Triangle Transit Monthly—4 th May appoint a Commissioner Commissioner
Board of Trustees Wednesday Commissioner or Pelissier - Pelissier—
1:00pm-5:OOpm Commissioner- Secretary Secretary
appointed citizen
Workforce Meets monthly in Does not require a Nancy Coston — Nancy Coston
Development Board Asheboro Commissioner- DSS Director
— Regional usually has been 1
Partnership Non-Voting
Liaison
Visitor's Bureau Monthly—Third 1 Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
Wed Required Rich — Member- Rich
8:00 AM Finance Officer
BOARDS TO
23
WHICH BOCC
HAS ALREADY
MADE
APPOINTMENTS
for 2015
NACo Voting 1 Commissioner Commissioner
Delegate Required Price
NCACC Voting 1 Commissioner Commissioner
Delegate Required Price
Triangle Transit 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Special Tax Board required Pelissier and
open
LIWG ( Legislative 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Issues Work Group) Price and
Commissioner
Pelissier
SHORT TERM
TASK
FORCES/WORKG
ROU PS
Alternatives to Jail Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Assessment Work Jacobs and
Group Commissioner
Pelissier
Cedar Grove Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Advisory Board Jacobs and
Meeting Commissioner
Price
Family Success Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Alliance Dorosin and
Commissioner
Pelissier
Strategic Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Communications Discussion of Rich and OPEN
Work Group topic to be held at
Feb. 10th work
session
Solid Waste Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Advisory Group Jacobs and
(SWAG) Commissioner
Rich
Space Study Work Meets as needed 2 Commissioners Chair McKee
Group and
Commissioner
Price
EX-OFFICIO
Hillsborough/Orang Chair Serves
24
e County Chamber
of Commerce-
does not require a
Commissioner
NC DOT Quarterly Chair/Vice
Meetings Chair
School Chair/Vice
Collaboration Chair
Meetings
Officers
NCACC Board of Commissioner
Directors Price
TARPO Commissioner
Price - Chair
Triangle Transit Commissioner
Board of Trustees Pelissier—
Secretary thru
September
2015
Visitor's Bureau Commissioner
Rich — Finance
Chair—
Executive
Committee
Boards to be
decided
on/chosen at
future work
session
JOCCA- need to Meets Quarterly 1 Commissioner Commissioner
decide whether to in Pittsboro at Or Price
continue 5:30pm - Citizen
participation
Boards — Not
Meeting at this
time
Efland Mebane One meeting 1 Commissioner
Small Area Plan scheduled for
Implementation February 2, 2015
Focus Group
Historic Rogers Not meeting at 2 Commissioners Commissioner
Road Task Force this time Rich and
Commissioner
Price
Hollow Rock Park Not meeting at 2 Commissioners
25
Planning this time-
Committee Per conversation
with Dave Stancil
–the interlocal
agreement
discussion is
scheduled for the
2/17/15 BOCC
meeting
Library Services Has not met 2 Commissioners
Task Force since 2009—
suggestion to
sunset and re-
create, if needed
at a later date
Solid Waste Meets as needed 1 Commissioner Suspended
Management Plan Until further
Work Group direction
Solid Waste How is this May be re-
Interlocal different from constituted at a
Agreement– SWAG? later date
Elected Leaders
Work Group
1
2
3 Chair McKee said JOCCA will be discussed at a future work session. He said there is a
4 question about continued participation.
5 Donna Baker said there are some unanswered questions regarding funding.
6 Commissioner Price said there are some issues and it would be tragic to drop it at this
7 time. She said it would be good to discuss this. She said there has been discussion of
8 submitting a grant application.
9 Bonnie Hammersley said part of her upcoming conversation with the Chatham County
10 manager will be regarding JOCCA.
11 Chair McKee asked if Commissioner Price would continue as the JOCCA representative
12 until a decision is made.
13
14 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Price to
15 adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m.
16
17 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
18
19 Earl McKee, Chair
20
21 Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
22
23
26
1 Orange County Board of Commissioners' regular meetings and work sessions are available via
2 live streaming video at orangecountync.gov/occlerks/granicus.asp and Orange County Gov-TV
3 on channels 1301 or 97.6 (Time Warner Cable).
1
1 Attachment 6
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 ANNUAL PLANNING RETREAT
6 WHITTED BUILDING
7 January 30. 2015
8 9:00 a.m.
9
10 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for their annual Board retreat on Friday, January
11 30, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.
12
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark
14 Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Renee Price and Penny Rich
15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Bernadette Pelissier
16 COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: John Roberts
17 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County Manager
18 Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker.
19 FACILITATOR: Cynthia Brown, The Sojourner Group
20
21 Department Heads: Jim Groves, Gayle Wilson, Dwane Brinson, Carla Banks, Nancy Coston,
22 Janet Sparks, Lucinda Munger, Janice Tyler, Tracy Reams, Bob Marotto, Dave Stancil, Steve
23 Brantley, Craig Benedict, Jim Northrup, Jeff Thompson, Greg Wilder, Mark Chilton, David Stancil,
24 Jim Northup, Colleen Bridger, Paul Laughton , Audrey Spencer-Horsley
25
26 OBJECTIVES
27 • To review progress on Orange County's goals and priorities.
28 • Relationship Building between Commissioners and Staff
29 • Discuss how Orange County should fund school and county capital projects.
30 • Initiate a discussion about BOCC Actions related to petitions, boards and commissions.
31
32 AGENDA
33
34 8:30 —9:00 Welcome/Continental Breakfast
35 9:00 - 9:15 Facilitator— Introductions/Ground Rules/Agenda Review
36 9:15— 11:00 2015 Update to 2009 Goals and Priorities
37 11:00 — 11:15 BREAK
38 11:15— 12:00 Team Building Exercises (DSI Comedy Club)
39 12:00 — 1:00 LUNCH
40 1:00 —2:15 How Should Orange County Fund School and County Capital Projects? Bond
41 Referendum vs. Fund with Existing Tax Rate
42 2:15—2:30 BREAK
43 2:30 —3:00 Funding Orange County School and County Capital Projects Discussion, continued
44 3:00 —3:45 Process for BOCC Actions
45 3:45—4:00 Open Discussion/Wrap Up
46
47 MEETING SUMMARY
48
49 Facilitator— Introductions/Ground Rules/Agenda Review
2
1 The facilitator asked retreat guests to introduce themselves, she reviewed the following group
2 agreements and then reviewed the agenda for the day.
3
4
5 1. Be fully Present - Limit Electronic Device Use to items related to today's agenda
6 2. Speak Your Truth
7 3. Accept other's truth —
8 4. Lean into Discomfort and Lean into Each Other-
9 5. Expect and Be Willing to Accept Non closure -
10 6. Speak one at a time/Listen for Understanding
11 7. Leave your Ego at the Door— Ego That part of us that continues to worry, live in doubt, is
12 afraid,judges people, is afraid to trust, needs proof, believes only when it is convenient, fails
13 to follow-up, refuses to practice what it preaches, needs to be rescued, wants to be a victim,
14 beats up on "self', needs to be right all the time and continues to hold on to what does not
15 work. Taken from the Introduction of"One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days & 40 Nights
16 Towards Spiritual Strength & Personal Growth" by lyanla
17
18 2015 Update to 2009 Goals and Priorities
19 Bonnie Hammersley distributed a document from the Orange County Schools indicating that
20 effective January 1, 2015 any Orange County Schools' Employee who earns below the Living
21 Wage of$12.76 per hour for any assignment will receive a pay increase to adjust their wages to at
22 least $12.76 per hour for that assignment.
23
24 Before the update began, these issues emerged:
25 • The BOCC should be discussing goals during the budget process. The County Manager said
26 she will develop a proposed process of creating goals annually so the goals guide the work of
27 the BOCC.
28 • Along with the financial impact Orange County should have a social impact to its goals
29 indicating that social impact is just as important as money.
30
31 After some of the Department Directors made their initial reports related to Goal One: Ensure a
32 community network of basic human services and infrastructure that maintains, protects and
33 promotes the well-being of all County residents, it was apparent that it would be difficult to receive
34 a full report from each Department Director in the allotted time for this agenda item, if the original
35 report format was followed. As a result of Commissioner's suggestions, the BOCC agreed that
36 they wanted the Department Directors to focus primarily on their Department challenges, what they
37 need in terms of guidance from BOCCs, and to say whether the goals and priorities related to their
38 Department are still relevant. Consequently, what is reported here is that condensed format by
39 department. A more detailed account of other information related to ongoing efforts and
40 accomplishments related to each goal can be found in the BOCC Retreat Package, Donna Baker's
41 notes or the Retreat recordings.
42
43 Animal Services-Bob Marotto
44 • It should be one of the Animal Services goals to keep down the cost of pet ownership so even
45 people with limited incomes can enjoy their pet.
46 • There should be an amnesty period for folks whose animals haven't been vaccinated.
47 • Challenges:
3
1 o Effective coordination with people in the county working with the low income population.
2 Currently, working with Social Services and other Departments
3 o Free Roaming Cats—we are working on a new policy proposal because what we are doing
4 now is not working.
5 Animal Services was asked to inform Commissioners when there are state versus local laws that
6 impact how they operate.
7
8 Board of Elections-Tracy Reams
9 The BOCC says they want to make available adequate resources to ensure the election process is
10 open and democratic. Because the BOCC supports voting access, they want to make sure
11 barriers to that access are eliminated.
12 Challenge:
13 o Implementation of new voting equipment (electronic poll books). We need to find precincts
14 who have competent people who are willing to work with this new equipment.
15 o Will be requesting funds for new voting sites as directed by the current BOE. This request
16 may be impacted by the new board coming in August.
17
18 Tax Administration-Dwane Brinson
19 • The Address Ordinance is not being implemented as quickly as desired. The Department feels
20 they are at the stage where they may need to implement a fee for folks who haven't changed
21 their address.
22 • It was suggested before a fee is assessed, that a community education strategy using various
23 forms of media be implemented to inform the public why they need to comply with the Address
24 Ordinance. Because letters previously sent to residents resulted in them getting signage with
25 their new address at their own expense only to find later that they had the wrong address and
26 they needed to purchase another sign. Other issues impacting compliance include time
27 related to having to get address changes for licenses, creditors, etc.
28 • 2017 Tax re-evaluation
29 • We need to do a better job of educating the public about our Tax Assistance Programs and tax
30 exemption options
31 • EMS Billing and Collections —Customer Service and revenues have decreased. Have had a
32 number of issues with the contractor EMSMC not providing the level of service that we think
33 meets Orange County's standard of service.
34
35 Information Technology-Jim Northrup
36 There needs to be a Communication Goal within the IT Department because we can't
37 communicate without IT. The County Manager acknowledged that IT is central to
38 communication and that Jim as head of IT will be a part of the group focused on
39 implementation of the Communications Strategic Plan and the Emergency Communications
40 Plan.
41 IT accomplishments are integrated throughout the document.
42 Information Technology is the support system that makes all of the County's online services
43 possible.
44 Challenge:
45 o Balancing individual Commissioners needs/requests with the overall Board needs balanced
46 with Management's goals. While the desire in a "can do" organizations is to say yes one-on-
47 one to Commissioners that has to be balanced against other goals and priorities.
48
4
1
2
3 Human Resources-Brenda Bartholomew
4 • Would like for HR to become a strategic player in the game—that we are at the table when
5 decisions are being made that are related to personnel and human resources' decisions.
6 • Measure HR impact on your Department, consider the rules and the exception to the rules
7 when problems arise.
8 • Learn all we can about Orange County strategies and core values to inform recruitment,
9 retention and succession planning. Look to our employees as best candidates for promotions.
10 • Prioritize looking at salary plans, compensation, and performance reviews.
11 • We want to build trust among employees
12 • When asked how the county is doing on diversity in the workplace the response was that
13 Departments are different but we need to enhance our competitive process and eliminate
14 barriers to diversity.
15
16 North Carolina State Cooperative Extension-Carl Maytac
17 • They are working on updating their long range plan and developing an agenda for an
18 Agriculture Summit.
19 • They still have vacancies that need to be filled —the Director wants to fill the current Extension
20 Agent position then wants an additional position.
21 • When asked if they have any focus on getting quality/nutritious food to those in need, the
22 response was they are working on a food distribution network. Community gardens are being
23 developed short term and they are educating people on how to do food access and nutrition
24 work.
25
26 Library-Lucinda Munger
27 We review our strategic plan, goals, and objectives monthly.
28 Challenges:
29 o Biggest challenge is outreach into the community and within county government to
30 understand how to do research on topics. There's a need to break the stereotype and
31 change the image of the library, clarifying for people what a library is and is not. The library
32 is an information center with skilled researchers who can find information that is needed.
33 o Would like more of an open dialogue with County colleagues including the Commissioners
34 so they can make better use of the library resources.
35
36 Department of Environmental, Agricultural, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR)-Dave Stancil
37 Challenges:
38 o Coordinating with the schools to use their facilities like their gymnasium or school fields for
39 the public when those facilities aren't in use by the school.
40 o Community Centers -What are they?What level of service can we anticipate from them?
41 o In the area of Agriculture and local foods —Can we create local markets and get food stuffs
42 to institutions and other local consumers in a way that makes sense.
43 o How do we work with nonprofit providers and sports complex on recreation
44 o Joint parks and capital funding for parks with neighboring communities.
45 o Climate Change and Environmental Issues
46
47 Child Support-Janet Sparks
48 • Challenges
5
1 o The economy; displaced workers with new jobs not earning a living wage.
2 o Personnel Turnover (There are 3 vacant positions) - difficulty of filling positions because we
3 can't compete with benefits packages offered by other employers; problem of salary
4 compression and challenges of pay for new staff that would be higher than longer term
5 employees. This is an issue across County departments. There is a plan being developed
6 to address this issue that should come to the BOCC's by July 2015.
7
8 Asset Management Services-Jeff Thompson
9 Challenges
10 o Maintaining our great facilities in a way that is efficient and entrepreneurial so we can lower
11 cost or spread the cost across greater productivity amongst our employees.
12 o Maintaining an approach to County Government that is progressive, entrepreneurial and
13 uses innovative thinking so we can continue to meet our challenges.
14 o Sustainability is not just an issue of energy or environment it's organization, it is a way of
15 life, it is our quality of life. It is how we deal with each other, it is social justice, how we deal
16 with one another, it is everything.
17
18 Aging Services-Janice Tyler
19 The County is aging. In the period of time covered by our Master Aging Plan 2012—2017 Orange
20 County's over 60 population will have increased by 31%. At present, 17% of our population is over
21 60.
22 Challenges:
23 o We've outgrown our facilities for the aging population.
24 o Need staffing for evening positions. We've lost evening hour positions that are being filled
25 by temporary employees.
26 o We need more affordable housing, more respite services' facilities, better long-term care
27 facilities and transportation.
28 o Loss of state and federal funds
29 • When asked how Orange County's aging population compares with neighboring counties, staff
30 responded that Orange County's aging population is not as large as Wake County but is
31 greater than Chatham County's.
32 • Orange County is not collecting demographic data about the users of many of the services they
33 offer. (i.e. where people are coming from to use our services, income, gender, race/ethnicity,
34 etc.)
35
36 Solid Waste Management-Gayle Wilson
37 Challenges:
38 o Improving and restoring inter-local cooperative agreements with partners.
39 o Funding for these programs
40 o Maximizing organizational efficiencies and reducing environmental impacts.
41 o Long-term final destination for waste that is collected —citing of a transfer station.
42
43 BOCC's Clerk's Office-Donna Baker
44 o Challenges
45 o Increasing diversity on Boards and Commissions
46 o Upgrade the Southern Human Services Center meeting facility.
47
48 Economic Development
6
1 There are multiple challenges to attracting businesses to locate in Orange County.
2 o Challenges:
3 o Tax rate —a business that chooses to locate in Alamance County can save 2.7
4 million dollars if they locate in Alamance versus Orange.
5 o Other regulations limiting access to certain land spaces
6 o Limits on buildings
7 o Need more products added to our offerings to potential job/businesses
8 o Separation of commercial and residential zoning intended to avoid over
9 development impacts business recruitment. Rural Buffer limitations — It is a tension
10 that we don't put more in the rural buffer.
11
12 Public Health—Colleen Bridger
13 Challenge:
14 o We need more nurses! We are staffed as if we will never have turnover, maternity leave or
15 epidemics and we are dealing with all of these issues. We will attempt to address this in
16 this year's budget, but it is not a problem that can be addressed all at one time within a
17 single year.
18
19 Social Services-Nancy Coston
20 • Automation implementation over the past several years has been a challenge and we have
21 another year before we get to a level playing field on our public assistance.
22 • Then we can move resources back to focus on services that address our goal of family stability.
23
24 Housing-Audrey Spencer-Horsley
25 • We need to determine how the affordable housing programs are coordinated to support a
26 BOCC broader strategy to deal with those who are economically challenged and better serve
27 the community.
28 • Recently, when staff went to work with the Sheriff's department to better serve our populations
29 that don't have English as their primary language it seems this service is under-utilized within
30 the County.
31 • There are strong groups working on affordable housing, homelessness and other related
32 issues. How do we do a seamless affordable housing strategy so we can maximize our
33 resources?
34
35 Public Affairs-Carla Banks
36 Public Affairs didn't exist when the goals and priorities document was created. There were lots of
37 accomplishments that were highlighted. Our primary objective is to bring more visibility and public
38 awareness to Orange County operations, services and programs.
39 Challenges:
40 o Understaffing - Trying to balance all the Public Affairs responsibilities with one staff person.
41 o Budget too low— need full time professional staff.
42
43 Planning-Craig Benedict
44 Challenge
45 o Not sure if the population growth and county staff projections are realistic. We need more
46 realistic projections to make sure we are able to provide quality services for residents and
47 businesses.
48
7
1
2 County Manager— Bonnie Hammersley
3 In the interest of time the County Manager will bring her presentation to a future BOCC work
4 session.
5 Team Building Exercises (DSI Comedy Club)
6 Zach Ward from the DSI Comedy Club facilitated a relationship building process with
7 Commissioners and Department Directors. Everyone in the audience was invited to observe this
8 session but they had the option to leave until lunch is over and return when the BOCC's Retreat
9 resumed.
10
11 Funding Orange County School and County Capital Projects?
12 This session opened with a detailed presentation by staff about the two options for funding school
13 and capital projects: Bond Referendum or Using the Existing Tax Rate. Paul Laughton used the
14 following table to make his presentation.
How Should Orange County Fund School and County Capital Projects?
Bond Referendum Fund within Existing Tax Rate
What are the challenges facing this option? What are the challenges facing this option?
• Bond referenda are allowed online in even ■ Affordability and Capacity impact
election years for counties (i.e. 2016, 2018, ■ Fiscally sustainable
etc.) ■ Impact on current operations
• General Assembly potential actions ■ Advantages and Disadvantages
• Affordability and Capacity impact
• Voter fatigue in wake of possible Chapel
Hill bond package
• Interest rate fluctuations
• Impact on current operations
• Advantages and Disadvantages
When should the bond referendum happen?
■ May 2016 or November 2016
o Staff presents schedule impacts
What process will be followed? What process will be followed?
■ Overview of the last referendum process as Included in the traditional Capital
well as voting results presented by staff Investment Plan (CIP) process
• Determine process parameters for o Determine process parameters for
funding eligibility funding eligibility
• Cost in ad dollars and time to promote o Community Input during the Budget
previously Public Hearings
Will there be a Bond Referendum Advisory
Committee? If yes:
• Composition
• Appointment process for Advisory
Committee members
• Process for interest groups to request
funds
• Community Input
• Public outreach responsibility
Board of Orange County Commissioners Board of Orange County Commissioners
(BOCC) capital projects? (BOCC) capital projects?
■ List priorities List priorities (same or different with bond)
15
8
1 After the presentation the Commissioners had a detailed discussion of the options key points of
2 their discussion included the following:
3 With the Bond Referendum option, there will be:
4 1. Voter buy-in for those who vote—there are a significant number of voters who don't vote so the
5 Board doesn't know those voter's position.
6 2. An explicit commitment to targeted bond priorities — even though the existing Commissioners
7 can't obligate future Commissioners to honor those priorities.
8 3. A tax increase
9 4. A better interest rate—though it is projected to be negligible
10
11 With the Existing Tax Rate option, there will be:
12 1. Competition of CIP/School needs with current county services and programs
13 2. A tax increase
14
15 Decisions and Considerations:
16 1. A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Price to continue
17 discussion under the assumption they will have a Bond. A proposal to have a Bond will be
18 placed on a future BOCC meeting agenda to get public input and have a formal BOCC vote. If
19 there is an affirmative vote, it was suggested that the bond issues be placed on the ballot by
20 separate general categories since many of the potential bond topics i.e. schools, affordable
21 housing, are likely to be a part of a broad mix of priorities.
22 2. There needs to be ongoing discussion and coordination with Chapel Hill to clarify overlap on
23 Bond issues.
24 3. There needs to be better coordination and communication with the Orange County School
25 Board. The schools need the most money and there was a suggestion that there needs to be a
26 maintenance plan to address the needs of old schools in addition to funding to build new
27 schools. Bringing old schools up to the level of newer schools should be prioritized.
28 4. The BOCC received information about the timeline for formal and informal actions that will have
29 to be performed based on whether the Bond Referendum is on the May or November 2016
30 ballot.
31 5. They agreed to use the 2001 Bond Process and Structure if there is an affirmative vote on
32 doing a Bond Referendum at the BOCC meeting where this issue is discussed.
33 6. The issue of a May versus a November date for the bond was discussed. November was
34 viewed as a priority date because it would involve more voters since it would be a Presidential
35 election year. The primary concern for waiting until November would be the delay in getting
36 schools funding for the projected $750,000 needed in the first year.
37 7. When questioned whether the CIP Projects in years 6-10 would tie up the county's capital
38 capacity, the Commissioners were reminded that the CIP Project Schedule is a planning tool.
39 CIP Projects are re-evaluated annually so they can change priority based on several variables.
40
41 The Bond issue will be brought back to the BOCC's as an agenda item as soon as possible.
42
43 Process for BOCC Actions
44 The two items to be discussed during this time frame were issues related to Petitions by the
45 BOCC, Petitions by the Public and several topics related to Board and Commissions. Although
46 time was limited, we began the discussion related to Petitions by the BOCC. The remaining topics
47 were deferred to the February 1 0th BOCC Work Session.
9
1 After a discussion about the existing BOCC Petition process, it was suggested that they could
2 continue the current process if the following key points are addressed: (These issues are relevant
3 to Petitions by the BOCC and the Public)
4 1. Communication with the petitioner needs to be improved, so there is more
5 transparency with the petitioner regarding the status of their petition and the process for
6 vetting the petition.
7 2. The timing of when a petition item is processed needs to be addressed so there is not
8 a protracted delay in addressing the item.
9 3. Everything doesn't need to be a petition. Some items simply require that a
10 Commissioner go to the County Manager/staff to get the information that is needed.
11 However, it is important that when there is a response that all Commissioners receive the
12 information.
13 4. In a future session, the Board needs to clarify what type of items require a petition
14 versus those that don't need a petition.
15
16 Open Discussion/Wrap Up
17 In this final session the County Manager made closing comments that summarized thoughts about
18 the meeting and follow up steps to be undertaken by the staff:
19 1. The Manager thought it was a good that the process was changed for presenting the
20 update on goals and priorities, then she thanked the Department Directors for their
21 presentations given that change in the approach.
22 2. Staff will provide the Commissioners with an inventory of the services that have fee waivers
23 and she will ask for opportunities where fee waivers may be included. They will share the
24 local, state, or federal policy source.
25 3. At an upcoming work session, Bonnie will propose a goal setting process.
26 4. Following the suggestion that came out of the DSI Team Building Session, we will always
27 repeat what a person says to you to reflect back to them what you understand them to be
28 saying, to stay in the moment.
29 5. On the Bond Referendum she summarized:
30 a. There is consensus on having a Bond Referendum.
31 b. The County Manager will develop an abstract on a bond so the Board of County
32 Commissioners can have a public discussion about the bond.
33 c. Paul and Bonnie are working with the Financial Advisor who can help with the entire
34 process.
35 d. The Manager said it was helpful that the Commissioners want to follow the 2001
36 process.
37 6. The Manager will work with the Board to improve the petitions process.
38
39 Cynthia Brown, the Retreat facilitator, thanked the BOCC for entrusting facilitation to her for the
40 meeting and said she would type up her meeting notes and share them with the County Manager
41 before they are distributed to the BOCCs.
42
43 Finally, in closing comments the Board and the staff participants expressed appreciation for the
44 inclusion of staff in the BOCC Retreat.
45
46
47 Earl McKee, Chair