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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-21-2015 APPROVED 9/1/2015 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING May 21, 2015 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Public Hearing on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) 1. Opening Remarks Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. He noted the following items at the Commissioners' places: - PowerPoint slides for item 2- Presentation of Manager's Recommended Fiscal Year 2015-16 Annual Operating Budget and FY 2015-20 Capital Investment Plan -A report and letter from the Orange County Bias Free Policing Coalition. PUBLIC CHARGE Chair McKee dispensed with the reading of the Public Charge 2. Presentation of County Manager's Recommended FY 2015-16 Budget/CIP (PowerPoint presentation) Bonnie Hammersley presented the following Power Point slides: ORANGE COUNTY FY 2015-16 COUNTY MANAGER RECOMMENDED BUDGET Presentation Outline • FY2015-16 Budget Goals • County Manager Recommended Budget • Compensation Package • Personnel • Schools • Outside Agencies • Budget Initiatives • Capital Investment Plan(CIP) • Conclusion FY2015-16 Budget Goals • Structurally Balanced Budget • Implement Team Approach • Enhance Transparency and Communication • Maintain or Improve Service Levels General Fund Expenditures Budget expenditures — increased by 2.8% from 2015 General Fund Revenues Increased about 3% GF Appropriated Fund Balance $9.8 million Revenue Assumptions • Property Taxes— 1% increase • Sales Tax—3% increase • FY2015-16 Tax Rate — No Increase Recommended Compensation Package • Wages and Merit • Wages—2% Increase • WPPR— Maintain current funding • Living Wage— Maintain current rate • Benefits • Health Insurance - No Increase • Dental Insurance — 15% Increase • Retirement— No Increase Recommended Positions • Reallocation/Revenue— 12.7 FTE (budget neutral funds) • Jail Alternatives—3.0 FTE • Administrative Assistant— 1.0 FTE • Revenue Technicians—2.0 FTE • Dental Team —2.5 FTE • Management Analyst— 1.0 FTE • OPT Bus Drivers—3.0 FTE • Social Worker (Chinese Speaking) —0.20FTE Recommended positions • Enterprise Fund —4.75 FTE • Weighmaster — 1.0 FTE • Solid Waste Drivers —2.0 FTE • Convenience Center Operators— 1.75 FT Recommended positions • General Fund —6.87 FTE • Administrative Services Supervisor - 0.125 FTE • Community Center Coordinator— 1.0 FTE • Court Liaison — 1.0 FTE • Deputy EMS Manager - 0.50 FTE • Erosion Control Officer — 1.0 FTE • Housing Management Assistant— 1.0 FTE • Human Resources Assistant Director— 1.0 FTE • Parks Conservation Tech I —0.25 FTE • Register of Deeds Deputy— 1.0 FTE Recommended School funding • Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) • Increase cost per student$81 — $448,122 • Fund Charter School Students (50) —$182,600 • CIP Planning Funds - $750,000 • Orange County School (OCS) • Increase cost per student$81 —$6,504 • Fund Charter School Students (110)— $401,720 • CIP Planning Funds—$478,000 Recommended School funding • Durham Technical College • Current Expense Increase — $53,778 • Recurring Capital Decrease— ($25,000) • Debt Service Increase—$0 Recommended Outside Agency Funding • Maintain FY2014-15 Funding • Community Home Trust (Increase) • Communities in Schools (Decrease by ADM numbers) • Fairview Community Watch (+) Recommended Fire District Rates • Maintain FY2014-15 Rates • Damascus & Southern Triangle Fire Districts— +1.5 cents • Orange Rural Fire District— +1.0 cents Recommended Budget Initiatives • Maintain the Social Justice Fund • Increase Child Care Funding • Fund the Family Success Alliance • Develop an Affordable Housing Plan • Support the Community Centers • Improve Voting Equipment • Eliminate the 6-month Vacant Position Hiring Delay • Implement Salary Savings Appropriation • Restructure the Employee Classification and Salary Plan • Create a Community Relations Department Recommended CIP FUNDING • County Capital Projects o Southern Branch Library Planning • Cedar Grove Library Kiosk • Jail — Conceptual Design Phase • Environmental and Agriculture Center— Design Phase • Historic Rogers Road Infrastructure— Design Phase • Upper Eno Nature Preserve — Public Access Area • Soccer Center Phase II • New Hope Preserve/Hollow Rock Public Access • River Park Phase II • Little River Park • 911 Back-up Center Conservation Easements (+$250,000) • Facility Infrastructure Upgrades • Information Technology Upgrades • Register of Deeds Automation Affordable Housing Land Acquisition/Banking and Development Program Recommended CIP FUNDING • Special Revenue Projects o Article 46 Sales Tax ■ Economic Development ■ Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) ■ Orange County Schools (OCS) • Proprietary Capital Projects • Water and Sewer Utilities ■ Efland Sewer flow to Mebane ■ Utility Extension Projects ■ Hillsborough EDD ■ Eno EDD • Solid Waste ■ Recycling Operation o Sportsplex ■ Major Expansion Phase 2&3 • School Capital Projects o Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools ■ Pay-As-You-Go Funds - $2,274,765 ■ Lottery Proceeds - $835,626 ■ Preliminary Planning Funds - $750,000 o Orange County Schools ■ Pay-As-You-Go Funds - $1,450,084 ■ Lottery Proceeds - $520,736 ■ Preliminary Planning Funds - $478,000 Public Hearings and Work Sessions • Public Hearings ■ May 21: Richard Whitted Meeting Facility, 300 W Tryon St., Hillsborough ■ May 28: Southern Human Services Center (SHSC), Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill • Work Sessions • June 4: SHSC, Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill • June 9: Richard Whitted Meeting Facility, 300 W Tryon St., Hillsborough • Work Session/Intent to Adopt: June 11, SHSC, Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill • Final Adoption: June 16, SHSC, Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill Document Availability • Clerk to Board of Commissioners • County Finance & Administrative Services Office • Orange County Library • Chapel Hill Public Library • Carrboro/McDougle Branch Library • Orange County Website— http://orangecountync.gov/ Conclusion Orange County exists to provide governmental services requested by our residents or mandated by the State of North Carolina. To provide these quality services efficiently, we must; • Serve the Residents of Orange County— Our Residents Come First; • Depend on the energy, skills, and dedication of all our employees and volunteers; • Treat all our Residents and Employees with fairness, respect, and understanding. Orange County Residents Come First Commissioner Rich said will the budgeting be done based on the prior year if the charters schools are not counted as part of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Paul Laughton said the DPI numbers received this year are 322 students less than last year. He added that the numbers from DPI show the seats that are filled in the schools while there is a separate number for the Charter Students. He said the County budgeted according to the March 2015 numbers and then looked at the enrollment numbers for the Charter Schools. He added that the Charter Schools must supply their numbers to the DPI. Paul Laughton referenced page 145 which showed the enrollment projections. He said the chart showed that the total number of projected students for both school districts in 2015- 2016 is 19,729. He said the number of students that are out of district, which is 220, is then subtracted, and the number of Charter School students, which is 531, is added in for a grand total of 20,040 students. He said the charter schools must give enrollment numbers to the School Districts on a monthly basis and the current number of charter students enrolled in Orange County Schools (OCS) is 475 and in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) is 217. Commissioner Rich asked if Paul Laughton is comfortable with the numbers and how they will be achieved. She asked if there is any concern that the student numbers may be incorrect resulting in the Charter Schools receiving too little or too much money. Paul Laughton said he is very comfortable with the numbers as the numbers are given by the Charter Schools to the State as well as reported to both school districts on a monthly basis. 3. Public Comment Chair McKee briefly reviewed the procedures for Public Comment. He emphasized that typically the Commissioners do not comment at Public Hearings. He said this lack of response does not mean that the Commissioners are not listening but rather it allows the public the maximum opportunity to speak. Commissioner Price asked the public to give a specific explanation of how their requested funds will be used. She further requested that staff keep this information available for future reference in the budget. Dorothy Johnson said she is here on behalf of the Fairview Community Watch requesting $4000 to support their summer monitoring program at the Fairview County Park. She said the funds would be used for an adult monitor and a youth assistant to work in the park for 18 hours a week, for 8 weeks from June to August. She said the monitors assist in distribution of games and such to attendees and are a friendly presence to oversee activity and monitor unwanted behavior. She said the program was started in 2012 with a grant from the New Hope Presbyterian Church. She said the program has been a great success, and it is hoped that it will continue to grow from year to year. She added that raising funds has been a struggle and last year the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) saved the program. She said the neighborhood is of low income and would like for the BOCC to consider making this program an annual part of the County's budget. She concluded that Fairview Park is vital to the success and safety of the neighborhood and she commended the BOCC for all that it does for Orange County. Sharon Freeland is the Executive Director for Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM), and she thanked the Board for partnering with OCIM for almost 35 years. She said there are hunger issues in Orange County. She said she is a native of Orange County and she has seen hunger even with her former classmates. She said over the last three years, the OCIM food pantry has seen an increase of over a thousand individuals each year, adding that last year, 8900 individuals were served, of which 4500 were children. She said it is a privilege to OCIM to take the gracious bounty, and to share with OCIM clients. She said notepaper and pencils are kept in the OCIM reception area, in case clients want to leave their thoughts. She read one of those notes to the Board. She explained that the current OCIM policy states that a household may receive a week's worth of groceries six times, in a twelve month period; however, this is often not enough. She said OCIM does as much as possible to meet those extra needs. She is asking for additional funding to allow households two additional opportunities to visit the food pantry. She said OCIM would purchase perishable items and has asked United Way to fund a part time food pantry manager. She thanked the BOCC for their efforts in Orange County. Marci White is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of the Triangle. She said her outside agency request can be found on page 356 of the budget document. She thanked the BOCC for their ongoing support of the Advocacy Network program via County matching funds for State JCPC dollars. She said tonight she is requesting that the BOCC reconsider the staff recommendation to not fund a new and different program called Compeer for Seniors. She said $21,000 is being requested from the County to go towards a part-time position to develop this program. She said this program will target a specific and well documented Orange County need, especially in the outlying areas of the County. Compeer for Seniors will address isolation for seniors at risk of depression and for those in early stage dementia. She said the program will use volunteers to provide long term friendship through which trust and intimacy will occur. She said the Compeer volunteers commit to at least one year. She said the power of friendship is compelling and while the volunteers are not trained medical professionals, they are likely to notice subtle changes in health due to the close friendships established with the seniors. She said her agency works closely with the Orange County Department on Aging and are also a partner agency with the Family Success Alliance, and are the only partner physically located in Zone 6. She said her agency carefully considered the request being made to the County knowing that the County supports many of their other programs. She added that this particular program is necessary as the number of individuals with the aforementioned risk factors is growing. She said her agency is uniquely equipped and situated to deliver a very cost effective and meaningful service to Orange County senior citizens. Elvira Mebane said she is a parent of a child in the OCS, and she supports the budget for OCS. She said she is the President of United Voices of Efland-Cheeks, and is asking for the Board's support of the Efland-Cheeks Community Center. She said United Voices of Efland- Cheeks have been meeting with County staff about upgrades to this Center. She said this Community Center was the first community center in Orange County but has not had any improvements in years. She applauded the Board's efforts to support other County Community Centers. She stressed the Center needs to be upgraded and many community groups are meeting at the center monthly to talk about issues like emergency preparedness. She implored the BOCC to not forget about the Efland-Cheeks Community Center. Laura Nicholson said she is here on behalf of the Compass Center for Women and Families. She said this organization provides self-efficiency programs, domestic violence support, court advocacy, a teen pregnancy prevention program, and other services, including educational outreach. She thanked the Board for its continued support. She said the organization will be celebrating its third anniversary on July 1, 2015. She said in the three years since its inception, the organization has seen more integrated, comprehensive and efficient services that meet client needs. She said there has been over a 40% increase in demand for the organization's domestic violence services since 2012. She said the Board's funding is especially important this year as the State is making funding cuts as well as some changes in funding from partners like the United Way. Manju Rajendran said she works for the Marion Cheeks Jackson Center, and is requesting an additional $4000 in order to meet the growing demand for Fusion Youth Radio (FYR). She said FYR features young people making their voices a part of history through creative, youth-produced media. She said FYR is rooted in the idea that all of us deserve opportunities to tell our stories in our own works and FYR believes young people must work together to take on active roles in shaping the future of our communities. She said the name of FYR honors the legacy of the Fusion movement of North Carolina in the 1890s, a multi-racial coalition that gained power across the State before coming to a violent end at the hands of white supremacists in 1898. She said FYR seeks to bring together youth with many backgrounds to create the sort of community that not even the "Fusionists" imagined. She said since FYR was created four years ago, it has developed partnerships with every school in CHCCS, sustained relationships with Beat Making Lab and Sacrificial Poets to exchange critical media, poetry and beatmaking workshops for the youth members of the united organizations. She said FYR has produced 44 radio shows in partnership with WXYC-Chapel Hill, broadcasting youth voices that would otherwise go unheard. She said FYR has co-created the WUNC Summer Youth Radio Institute. She said this summer there will be a FYR Summer Audio Immersion in collaboration with Beat Making Lab and Sacrificial Poets. She said youth from OCS and CHCCS will be going to the Allied Media Conference in Detroit to meet with media makers from across the United States. She said the additional $4000 would allow the high caliber of work to be sustained. Delores Bailey said she is the Executive Director of Empowerment, Inc. She thanked the Board for their continued support and partnership with Empowerment's affordable rental program. She said Empowerment, Inc., owns and/or manages 45 affordable rental units, throughout Orange County. She said in 2015, Empowerment, Inc., added to its rental inventory by one, and renovated three rental units. She said within the 45 units, 70%of the heads of household are Section 8 or housing voucher holders. She said Empowerment has the proud distinction of being the number one landlord in Orange County that accepts housing choice vouchers and may be the only one that does. She said with 2015-2016 home funds Empowerment will be able to purchase a home in the Northside community and will partner with the Hillsborough Home Depot to renovate a home on Terrell Road in Hillsborough, which will be designated for a Veteran and their family. She said, together, Empowerment and Orange County are doing great things for affordable rentals, for which she is grateful. 4. Adjournment of Public Hearing A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Earl McKee, Chair Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board