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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2025-022- Approval of Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Ordinances and County Fee Schedule Attachment 2 ORD - 2025 - 022I' (P - 61 LO O/df i Fiscal Year 2025 =26 Budget Ordinance Orange County , North Carolina Be it ordained by the Board of Commissioners of Orange County Section 1 . Budget Adoption There is hereby adopted the following operating budget for Orange County for this fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 and ending June 30 , 2026 , the same being adopted by fund and activity , within each fund , according to the following summary : Current Interfund Fund Total Fund Revenue Transfer Balance Appropriation Appropriated General Fund $298 , 315 , 586 $665 , 729 $7 , 056 , 130 $ 306 , 037 , 445 Emergency Telephone $3651006 $ 0 $54 ) 056 $419 , 062 Fund Employee Health and $ 15 , 724 , 204 $3 , 674 , 204 $ 0 $ 19 , 398 , 408 Dental Fund Fire Districts Fund $ 1110171785 $ 0 $ 75 , 000 $ 11 , 092 , 785 Housing Choice $ 8 , 636 , 500 $0 $0 $ 8 , 636 , 500 Voucher Fund Visitors Bureau Fund $2 , 8387666 $0 $482 , 444 $3 , 321 , 110 Solid Waste Operations Enterprise $ 11 , 343 , 931 $ 0 $2 , 351 , 917 $ 13 , 695 , 848 Fund Sportsplex Operations $ 5 , 720 , 578 $ 0 $0 $ 5 , 720 , 578 Enterprise Fund Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools District $29 , 557 , 658 $ 0 $0 $29 , 557 , 658 Tax Fund Parks Capital Reserve $ 10 , 500 $0 $ 0 $ 10 , 500 Fund OPC Retiree Health $ 18 , 000 $ 0 $0 $ 18 , 000 Fund DSS Trust Fund $260 , 000 $0 $0 $260 , 000 Jail Inmate Trust Fund $ 315 , 000 $0 $0 $ 315 , 000 4- H Fund $ 34 , 200 $ 0 $3 , 306 $37 , 506 Debt Service Fund $ 753 , 825 $32 , 331 , 700 $ 1 , 672 , 832 $ 34 , 758 , 357 ORD - 2025 -022 Inspections Fund $ 1 , 349 , 341 $335 , 774 $ 0 $ 1 , 6853115 Community Giving $90 , 000 $0 $0 $90 , 000 Fund Total $ 386 , 350 , 780 $ 371007 , 407 $ 11 , 6951685 $435 , 0531872 Section II , Appropriations That for said fiscal year, there is hereby appropriated out the following : Function Appropriation General Fund Community Services $ 16 , 8971564 General Government $ 13 , 5401083 Public Safety $4315921203 Human Services $ 55 , 5901648 Education $ 116 , 537 , 541 Support Services $ 18 , 002 , 857 Transfer to Other Fund $41 , 8763549 Total General Fund $306, 037, 445 Emergency Telephone System Fund Public Safety $419 , 062 Total Emergency Telephone System Fund $419y062 Employee Health and Dental Fund Support Services $ 19 , 398 , 408 Total Em /o ee Health and Dental Fund $ 19, 398, 408 Fire Districts Cedar Grove $429 , 321 Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District $ 312 , 077 Damascus $ 1551598 Efland $ 1 , 178 , 086 Eno $ 1 , 277 , 588 Little River $4661751 New Hoe $ 113941288 Orange Grove $ 1 , 144 , 337 Orange Rural $2 , 425 , 395 South Orange Fire Service District $ 834 , 673 Southern Triangle Fire Service District $420 , 868 White Cross $ 1 , 053 , 803 Total Fire Districts Fund $ 11, 092, 785 Housing Choice Voucher Fund Human Services $ 8 , 636 , 500 Total Housing Choice Voucher Fund $8, 636, 500 Visitors Bureau Fund Arts and Tourism $ 3 , 082 , 110 Transfer to Other Funds $239 , 000 Total Visitors Bureau Fund $3, 321, 110 2 ORD- 2025 - 022 Solid Waste Operations Enterprise Fund Community Services - Solid Waste/Landfill Operations $ 11 , 742 , 062 Transfer to Other Funds $ 1 , 953 , 786 Total Solid Waste Operations Enterprise Fund $13, 695, 848 S orts lex Operations Enterprise Fund Community Services $4 , 468 , 240 Transfer to Other Funds $ 1 , 252 , 338 Total S orts lex Operations Enterprise Fund $5, 720, 578 CHCCS District Tax Fund Education $29 , 557 , 658 Total CHCCS District Tax Fund $29, 557, 658 Parks Capital Reserve Fund Community Services $ 10 , 500 Total Parks Capital Reserve Fund $ 10, 500 Oran e- Person -Chatham Retiree Health Fund Support Services $ 18 , 000 Total Oran ge =Person -Chatham Retiree Health Fund $ 18, 000 DSS Trust Fund Human Services $2603000 Total DSS Trust Fund $260, 000 Jail Inmate Trust Fund Public Safety $315 , 000 Total Jail Inmate Trust Fund $315, 000 4 -H Fund Community Services $37 , 506 Total 4-H Fund $37, 506 Debt Service Fund Debt Service $34 , 758 , 357 Total Debt Service Fund $34, 758, 357 Inspections Fund Community Services $ 1 , 685 , 115 Total Inspection Fund $ 1, 685, 115 Community Giving Fund General Government $90 , 000 Total Community Giving Fund $90, 000 Section III . Revenues The following fund revenues are estimated to be available during the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 and ending June 30 , 2026 , to meet the foregoing appropriations : Function Appropriation General Fund Property Tax $212 , 852 , 374 Sales Tax $44 , 145 , 403 Licenses & Permits $242 , 000 intergovernmental $22 , 313 , 927 3 ORD - 2025 - 022 Charges for Services $ 16 , 005 , 107 Investment Earnings $ 1 , 800 , 000 Miscellaneous $956 , 775 Transfers from Other Funds $6653729 Appropriated Fund Balance $7 , 056 , 130 Total General Fund $306, 037, 445 Emergency Telephone System Fund Charges for Services $ 365 , 006 Appropriated Fund Balance $54 , 056 Total EmeTenqy Telephone System Fund $419s062 Employee Health and Dental Fund General Government Revenue $ 15 , 724 , 204 From General Fund $ 316741204 Total Employee Health and Dental Fund $ 191398, 408 Fire Districts Property Tax $ 11 , 000 , 685 Interest on Investments $ 171100 Appropriated Fund Balance $ 751000 Total Fire Districts Fund $ 11, 092, 785 i Housing Choice Voucher Fund Intergovernmental $81628 , 000 Interest on Investments $ 8 , 500 Total Housing Choice Voucher Fund $8, 636, 500 Visitors Bureau Fund Occupancy Tax $2 , 363 , 229 Sales & Fees $274 , 536 Intergovernmental $95 , 956 t General Government Revenue $ 104 , 945 Appropriated Fund Balance $482 , 444 i Total Visitors Bureau Fund $3, 321, 110 Solid Waste Operations Enterprise Fund Sales & Fees $ 1017057231 Intergovernmental $4401000 Miscellaneous $631700 Interest on Investments $ 135 , 000 Appropriated Fund Balance $21351 , 917 Total Solid Waste Operations Enterprise Fund $ 13, 695, 848 's S orts lex Operations Enterprise Fund Charges for Services $ 5 , 720 , 578 Total S orts lex Operations Enterprise Fund $5, 720, 578 3 Chapel Hill -Carrboro City Schools District Tax Fund Property Tax $29 , 557 , 658 Total Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools District Tax Fund $29, 557, 658 Parks Capital Reserve Fund Miscellaneous $ 10 , 500 Total Parks Capital Reserve Fund $ 10, 500 4 ORD- 2025 - 022 Oran e= Person -Chatham ( OPC ) Retiree Health Fund Interest on Investment $ 18 , 000 Total OPC Retiree Health Fund $18, 000 DSS Trust Fund General Government Revenue $260 , 000 Total DSS Trust Fund $260, 000 Jail Inmate Trust Fund Miscellaneous $ 315 , 000 Total Jail Inmate Trust Fund $315, 000 4=H Fund General Government Revenue $ 19 , 200 Charges for Services $ 15 , 000 Appropriated Fund Balance $3 , 306 Total 4-H Fund $37y506 Debt Service Fund General Government Revenue $410 , 816 Intergovernmental Revenue $ 343 , 009 From General Fund $32 , 331 , 700 Appropriated Fund Balance $ 1 , 672 , 832 Total Debt Service Fund $34, 758, 357 Inspections Fund Charges for Services $ 1 , 349 , 341 From General Fund $ 335 , 774 Total Inspections Fund $ 1, 685, 115 Community Giving Fund Donations $90 , 000 Total Community Giving Fund $g0, 000 Section IV, Tax Rate Levy There is hereby levied for the fiscal year 2025-26 a general county-wide tax rate of 65 . 59 cents per $ 100 of assessed valuation . This rate shall be levied in the General Fund . Special district tax rates are levied as follows : Cedar Grove 7 . 54 Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District 11 . 50 Damascus 10 . 20 Efland 8 . 38 Eno 8 . 71 Little River 5 . 35 New Hope 12 . 50 Orange Grove 7 . 00 Orange Rural 9 . 21 5 ORD - 2025 - 022 South Orange Fire Service District 8 . 17 Southern Triangle Fire Service District 10 . 20 White Cross 14 . 00 Chapel Hill - Carrboro City School District 14 . 79 Section V. General Fund Appropriations for Local School Districts The following FY 2025-26 General Fund Appropriations for Chapel Hill -Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools are approved : a ) Current Expense appropriation for local school districts totals $ 111 , 328 , 011 and equates to a per pupil allocation of $5 , 877 . 1 ) The Current Expense appropriation to the Chapel Hill -Carrboro City Schools is $64 , 752 , 786 , 2 ) The Current Expense appropriation to the Orange County Schools is $46 , 575 , 225 . b) School Related Debt Service for local school districts totals $20 , 840 , 155 , c) Additional County funding for local school districts totals $ 7 , 782 , 006 • School Resource Officers and School Health Nurses Contracts - total appropriation of $4 , 124 , 806 to cover the costs of School Resource Officers in every middle and high school , and a School Health Nurse in every elementary , middle , and high schools in both school systems . • Pay-as -you -go Funding — total pay-as-you -go funding of $ 3 , 621 , 200 to cover recurring capital funding at both school districts and planning and design funds for bond projects . • Enrollment Projections — total funding of $36 , 000 to contract with Carolina Demography to provide enrollment projects for both districts . This is utilized in the annual SAPFO process and is used to guide capital planning . Section VI . Schedule B Privilege Licenses In accordance with Schedule B of the Revenue Act , Article 2 , Chapter 105 of the North Carolina State Statutes , and any other section of the General Statutes so permitting , there are hereby levied privilege license taxes in the maximum amount permitted on businesses , trades , occupations or professions which the County is entitled to tax . 1 I Section VII . Board of Commissioners ' Compensation The Board of County Commissioners authorizes that : • For fiscal year 2025-26 , the approved budget includes a 2 % wage increase and Merit Pay . • The salaries for the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair and Commissioner, including the 2 % wage increase are $31 , 161 , $25 , 975 and $24 , 995 respectively . • Annual compensation for County Commissioners will include the County contribution for health insurance , dental insurance and life insurance that is provided for permanent County employees , provided the Commissioners are 6 ORD- 2025 - 022 eligible for this coverage under the insurance contracts and other contracts affecting these benefits . • Merit Pay for County Commissioners is received as a one-time bonus each year and payable in December. • County Commissioners ' compensation includes eligibility to continue to participate in the County health insurance at term end as provided below : o If the County Commissioner has served less than two full terms in office ( less than eight years) , the Commissioner may participate by paying the full cost of such coverage . ( If the Commissioner is age 65 or older, Medicare becomes the primary insurer and group health insurance ends . ) o If the County Commissioner has served two or more full terms in office (eight years or more) , the County makes the same contribution for health insurance coverage that it makes for an employee who retires from Orange County after 20 years of consecutive County service as a permanent employee . If the Commissioner is age 65 or older, Medicare becomes the primary insurer and group health insurance ends . The County makes the same contribution for Medicare Supplement coverage that it makes for a retired County employee with 20 years of service . o Annual compensation for Commissioners will include a County contribution for each Commissioner to the Deferred Compensation (457 ) Supplemental Retirement Plan that is the same as the County contribution for non -law enforcement County employees in the State 401 ( k) plan . For fiscal year 2025 -26 , the approved budget continues the County contribution of $ 102 per pay period . • Commissioners are eligible for car, phone and internet allowances at $200 , $ 85 and $75 per month respectively . Section VIII . Budget Control General Statutes of the State of North Carolina provide for budgetary control measures to exist between a county and public school system . The statute provides : Per General Statute 115C =429 : (c) The Board of County Commissioners shall have full authority to call for , and the Board of Education shall have the duty to make available to the Board of County Commissioners , upon request , all books , records , audit reports , and other information bearing on the financial operation of the local school administrative unit . The Board of Commissioners hereby directs the following measures for budget administration and review : That upon adoption , each Board of Education will supply to the Board of County Commissioners a detailed report of the budget showing all appropriations by function and purpose , specifically to include funding increases and new program funding . The Board of Education will provide to the Board of County Commissioners a copy of the annual audit , monthly financial reports , copies of all budget amendments showing disbursements and use of local moneys granted to the Board of Education by the Board of Commissioners . 7 0131) - 2025 - 022 The Board of Commissioners hereby approves the following financial policies : • The County will initiate measures to recoup sales tax proceeds on school capital projects through the conveyance of school property to the County with the school property reverting back to the school districts at the end of the construction period . • The County will ensure that all monthly general ledger postings occur by the 10tn work day of each month . • The County will ensure that monthly financial reports are available by the 15rn work day of each month . • The County will not issue debt for a project until a bid award date and construction start date is established . • Whereas , it is a best practice for governments to account for capital assets separate from their operating funds , and ; Whereas , enterprise funds generally establish Renewal and Replacement Capital Funds to account for the acquisition of capital assets ; Therefore , a . The Solid Waste Renewal and Replacement Capital Fund is established to account for sources of income earmarked to fund the County Capital Investment Plan . Sources of income including debt financing proceeds , pay-as -you -go funds , and any other sources earmarked to finance acquisition of capital assets . b . The Sportsplex Renewal and Replacement Capital Fund is established to account for sources of income earmarked to fund the County Capital Investment Plan . Sources of income including debt financing proceeds , pay-as-you -go funds , and any other sources earmarked to finance acquisition of capital assets . • Whereas , the County intends to undertake Capital Projects as approved in Year 1 ( FY 2025-26) of the Capital Investment Plan , will use its own funds to pay initial Project costs , and then reimburse itself from financing proceeds for these early expenditures . The expected primary type of financing for the Projects is installment financing under Section 160A.20 . The financing may include more than one installment financing , and may include installment financings with equipment vendors and installment financings that include the use of limited I obligation bonds . The Manager and Finance Officer have advised the Board that it should adopt this resolution to document the County ' s plans for reimbursement , in order to comply with certain federal tax rules relating to reimbursement from financing proceeds . • The Community Loan Fund will issue no interest loans to recipients in this program . • The County has adopted a policy to fund no interest loans to Non - Profit organizations that meet certain financial criteria , as adopted on September 20 , 2018 . • The County will include in its Travel Policy that travel expenses for Commissioners and County Staff will include the purchase of carbon offsets for any airfare and the miles traveled by Car Share vehicles . • The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB ) established GASB Statement Number 87 for Leases and GASB 96 for Subscription - Based Information Technology Arrangements (SBITAs) . The purpose of these two statements are to provide uniform accounting and financial reporting on government entities ' financial statements . • To effectively comply with GASB 87 and 96 , the County will establish a capitalization threshold for Leases and SBITAs of $ 50 , 000 or higher . Leases and SBITAs at $ 50 , 000 and higher will be reported on the County ' s financial ? statements to meet the GASB requirements . I i 3 8 ORD - 2025 - 022 Section IX. Internal Service Fund - Health and Dental Insurance Fund The Health and Dental Insurance Fund accounts for receipts of premium payments from the County and its employees , employees for their dependents , all retirees and the payment of employee and retiree claims and administration expenses . Projected receipts and fund reserves from the County and employees for fiscal year 2025 -26 will be $ 18 , 045 , 547 and projected expenses for claims and administration for fiscal year 2025-26 will be $ 18 , 045 , 547 Section X. Other Post Employment Benefits Fund Orange County , North Carolina Other Post- Employment Benefits (OPEB) Investment and Funding Policy • Each fiscal year the County funds its OPEB benefits coming due to current retires on a pay-as—you -go ( PAYGO ) basis from the Health and Dental Fund . • The County recognizes that by setting additional funds from the PAYGO amounts now to pay future benefits , the County can pay a portion of those future benefits from investment earnings on those funds . • The Finance Officer will regularly evaluate the appropriate allocation of such OPEB investments between Equities , Long -term Bonds and Shorter-term investments and make adjustments as necessary . Section XI . Custodial Funds Custodial Funds are used to report any fiduciary activities not reported in Investment Trust or Private- Purpose Trust Funds . In North Carolina , examples of Custodial Funds are the Jail Inmate Fund , and the property taxes collected by the County on behalf of a municipality (the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District Tax Fund ) . Section XII . Encumbrances Operating funds encumbered by the County as of June 30 , 2025 are hereby reappropriated to this budget . Section XIII . Capital Projects & Grants Fund The County Capital Improvements Fund , Schools Capital Improvements Fund , Proprietary Capital Funds , and the Grant Projects Fund are hereby authorized . Appropriations made for the specific projects or grants in these funds are hereby appropriated until the project or grant is complete . a . The County Capital Projects Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $38 , 035 , 068 and project expenditures of $ 38 , 035 , 068 is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . b . The Proprietary Capital Funds FY 2025-26 budget , consisting of Water and Sewer Utilities , Solid Waste , and Sportsplex , with anticipated fund revenues of $3 , 744 , 294 , and project expenditures of $3 , 744 , 294 is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . 9 ORD - 2025 - 022 i . The Solid Waste Renewal and Replacement Capital Fund FY 2025 -26 budget , with anticipated sources of income of $3 , 274 , 294 , and anticipated expenditures of $ 3 , 274 , 294 is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 . ii . The Sportsplex Renewal and Replacement Capital Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated sources of income of $470 , 000 , and anticipated expenditures of $470 , 000 is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 . c . The School Capital Projects Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $33 , 543 , 419 , and project expenditures of $ 33 . 543 , 419 is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . Revenues i Function Appropriation Article 46 Sales Tax Proceeds $311951999 Debt Financing $ 34 , 602 , 947 Debt Financing - Article 46 Sales Tax $ 120 , 000 Debt Financing - Bond Proceeds $ 11 , 4007000 Debt Financing - School Improvements $ 131518 , 312 Debt Financing - Solid Waste $21269 , 432 Debt Financing - S orts lex $400 , 000 j Lottery Proceeds $ 1 , 807 , 908 Partner Funding - County Capital $ 9 , 000 3 Register of Deeds Fees $ 80 , 000 Solid Waste Funds $ 1 , 004 , 862 S orts lex Funds $70 , 000 Transfer from Cardinal Reserve $ 11823 , 121 Transfer from General Fund $ 5 , 0211200 Total Capital Funds $ 75, 322, 781 Appropriations Function Appropriation Count County Assets and Community Centers $ 351588 , 113 Information Technology $ 1 , 133 , 000 Parks , Open Space , and Trail Development $415 , 000 Public Safety $8981955 County Total $389035 , 068 Proprietary Solid Waste $ 3 , 2741294 S orts lex $470 , 000 Proprietary Total $ 3 , 744, 294 School i 10 ORD - 2025 - 022 Chapel Hill -Carrboro City Schools $22 , 3112077 Orange County Schools $ 10 , 732 , 342 Project Management $500 , 000 School Total $ 33 , 543 , 419 Total Capital Funds $75, 322, 781 The County Grant Projects Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $283 , 500 , and project expenditures of $283 , 500 , is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . Revenues Function Appropriation Intergovernmental $ 183 , 500 Donations $ 100 , 000 Total Grants Fund $283, 500 Appropriations Function Appropriation Master Aging Plan ( Department on Aging ) $ 100 , 000 Local Reentry Council Grant ( Criminal Justice $ 150 , 000 Resource Department) Drug Treatment Court ( Criminal Justice Resource $ 33 , 500 Department) Total Grants Fund $283, 500 The Article 46 Sales Tax Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $ 6 , 391 , 998 and project expenditures of $6 , 391 , 998 , is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . Revenues Function Appropriation Sales Tax $6 , 391 , 998 Total Article 46 Fund $6, 391, 998 Appropriations Function Appropriation Transfer to School Capital Fund $3 , 195 , 999 Economic Development $31195 , 999 Total Article 46 Fund $6, 391, 998 The Community Development Fund FY 2025-26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $ 1 , 580 , 263 and project expenditures of $ 1 , 580 , 263 , is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . 11 ORD- 2025 -022 Revenues Function Appropriation Intergovernmental $ 1 , 053 , 286 Transfer from General Fund $ 513 , 671 Program Income $ 13 , 306 Total Community Development Fund $ 115801263 Appropriations Function Appropriation Human Services $ 115801263 Total Community Development Fund $ 15580, 263 The Opioid Settlement Fund FY 2025 -26 budget , with anticipated fund revenues of $ 1 , 019 , 496 and project expenditures of $ 1 , 019 , 496 , is hereby adopted in accordance with G . S . 159 by Orange County for the fiscal year beginning July 1 , 2025 , and ending June 30 , 2026 , and the same is adopted by project . Revenues Function Appropriation Intergovernmental $ 1 , 019 , 496 Total Community Development Fund $ 1, 019, 496 f Appropriations Function Appropriation Lantern Project $201 , 747 NC FIT $74 , 724 Naloxone Distribution $251000 Post-Overdose Response Team $338 , 350 Harm Reduction Coordinator $ 110 , 861 CJRD Clinical Coordinator $ 1081191 Unallocated $ 160 , 623 Total Opioid Settlement Fund $ 1, 019, 496 I 3 Any capital project or grant budget previously adopted , the balance of any anticipated , , but not yet received , revenues and any unexpended appropriations remaining on June 30 , 2025 , shall be reauthorized in the FY 2025-26 budget . Section XIV , Contractual Obligations , Settlement, and Disposal of Property The County Manager is hereby authorized to approve contracts and execute contractual documents and dispose of property under the following conditions : a . The Manager may approve and execute contracts for construction or repair projects that do not require formal competitive bid procedures , and which are within budgeted departmental appropriations , for which the amount to be expended does not exceed $250 , 0004 i I i i 12 I ORD- 2025 - 022 b . The Manager may approve and execute contracts for general and/or professional services which are within budgeted departmental appropriations , for purchases of apparatus supplies and materials or equipment which are within the budgeted departmental appropriations , and for leases of property for a duration of one year or less and within budgeted departmental appropriations for which the amount to be expended does not exceed $ 90 , 000 . c . The Manager is authorized to execute contracts , their amendments and extensions , in amounts otherwise reserved for Board approval and execution by the Chair, up to the Board -approved budgetary amount for a project or service that has been approved by the Board of County Commissioners in the current year budget . This section does not apply to projects in which the Board must approve and award a bid . d . Contracts executed by the Manager shall be pre-audited by the Chief Financial Officer and reviewed by the County Attorney to ensure compliance in form and sufficiency with North Carolina law . e . The Manager may sign intergovernmental grant agreements regardless of amount as long as no expenditure of County matching funds , not previously budgeted and approved by the Board , is required . Subsequent budget amendments will be brought to the Board of County Commissioners for revenue generating grant agreements not requiring County matching funds as required for reporting and auditing purposes . f. Upon the Manager' s determination that certain property is surplus the Manager may dispose of County personal property consisting of one item or a group of similar items having a value of less than $ 30 , 000 . In disposing of the property the Manager may utilize any lawful method of disposal including and not limited to private or public sale , exchange , auction , etc . The Manager shall seek fair market value for the property . Consideration may consist of items and things other than currency . The Manager shall keep a record of all property sold under this section and that record shall generally describe the property sold or exchanged , to whom it was sold , or with whom exchanged , and the amount of money or other consideration received for each sale or exchange . g . The Manager is authorized to approve and execute leases of County property for a term not exceeding one year. Such leases of County property may not be extended beyond one year except by action of the Board of Commissioners . h . The County Manager is authorized to accept personal property donations to the County valued at $ 10 , 000 or less without requiring Board of Commissioners approval . Donations exceeding this threshold shall be reviewed and approved by the Board . i . The Manager may approve and execute the settlement of lawsuits , claims , and legal disputes having a dollar value that does not exceed $25 , 000 . The Manager may , with concurrence of the County Attorney , approve and execute the settlement of lawsuits , claims , and legal disputes having a dollar value between $25 , 000 and $ 100 , 000 . If the County Attorney does not concur with any settlement the County Attorney and County Manager shall consult with the Board of Commissioners on such settlements . Regardless of the preceding delegation of authority , the Board of Commissioners reserves unto itself the exclusive authority to settle any action having a dollar value in excess of $ 100 , 000 . 13 ORD - 2025 -022 Section XV. Micro - purchase Threshold a . In accordance with 2 C . F . R . § 200 . 320 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( iv) and the applicable provisions of North Carolina law , the County hereby self-certifies the following micro- purchase thresholds , each of which is a " higher threshold consistent with State law" under 2 C . F . R . § 200 . 320 ( a) ( 1 ) ( iv) ( C ) for the reasons set forth in the recitals to this resolution : 1 . $ 30 , 000 , for the purchase of " apparatus , supplies , materials , or equipment" ; and 2 . $30 , 000 , for the purchase of " construction or repair work" ; and 3 . $ 50 , 000 , for the purchase of services not subject to competitive bidding under North Carolina law ; and 4 . $ 50 , 000 , for the purchase of services subject to the qualifications-based selection process in the Mini - Brooks Act ; provided that such threshold shall apply to a contract only if the County has exercised an exemption to the Mini - Brooks Act , in writing , for a particular project pursuant to G . S . 143-64 . 32 . If the exemption is not authorized , the micro- purchase threshold shall be $ 0 . b . The self-certification made herein shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall be applicable until June 30 , 2026 . c . In the event that the County receives funding from a federal grantor agency that adopts a threshold more restrictive than those contained herein , the County shall comply with the more restrictive threshold when expending such funds . i d . The County shall maintain documentation to be made available to a Federal awarding agency , any pass -through entity , and auditors in accordance with 2 C . F . R . § 200m334w f e . The Chief Financial Officer of the County is hereby authorized to revise the Purchasing Policy of the Unit to reflect the increased micro- purchase thresholds specified herein as necessary , and to take all such actions to carry into effect the purpose and intent of the foregoing resolution , i i 3 t 33 1 14