HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda -11-06-2008 - 4gORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 6, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. J
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Orange County School Board Reconsideration of Rental
Fee for KidSCope at Hillsborough Elementary
DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gwen Harvey, Assistant Manager,
245-2307
PURPOSE: To adopt resolution asking the Orange County School Board to reconsider its
decision to charge rental fees to KidSCope for space traditionally occupied at Hillsborough
Elementary
BACKGROUND: The BOCC decided in the FY08-09 Budget to hold all outside agency grant
requests to their FY07-08 approved levels due to fiscal constraints. As a result, KidSCope
received an appropriation of $89,000, their historical, base amount. At one of the last budget
work sessions, KidSCope appealed to the BOCC to provide an additional $25,000 because they
needed this amount to make an annual rent payment to Orange County Schools. BOCC
approval would have raised the appropriation to a total of $114,000. Because the BOCC was
not able to meet this request given considerable financial constraints, KidSCope has continued
to indicate concern for this "unfunded liability". As anon-profit struggling to survive under the ill
effects of mandatory mental health reform, KidSCope would appreciate any assistance or
support the BOCC could provide in seeking relief for increase in annual expenses.
The BOCC is asked to adopt a resolution requesting the Orange County School Board to
reconsider its decision to charge KidSCope rent for the space they have traditionally occupied
at no cost at Hillsborough Elementary. This request is made in the interest of helping stabilize a
long-standing non-profit partner whose mission is to provide vital services to youth with special
needs. A proposed resolution is attached.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No fiscal outlay is involved in adopting the resolution encouraging the
Orange County School Board to eliminate this. expectation of KidSCope.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
resolution on behalf of KidSCope and forward to the Orange County School Board.
Orange County Board of Commissioners
RESOLUTION
Requesting the Orange County School Board Reconsider
Requiring KidSCope to Make Annual Rent Payments at
Hillsborough Elementary and Recommit to
Rent free Occupancy
WHEREAS, KidSCope is an early intervention program created in 1988 by a coalition
of professionals and child advocates to address a documented need for specialized
services to young children experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, and
WHEREAS, KidSCope is comprised of a number of specialized components; i.e.,
parent-child therapies, technical assistance and training for child care providers, and
customized counseling and education for families, but community outreach remains its
core service, and
WHEREAS, in 2005 KidSCope was divested from the OPC Area Program as required under
statewide mental health reform and became a program of the Chapel Hill Training and
Outreach Program, and
WHEREAS, statewide mental health reform as mandated has created untold financial
stressors and strains on a severely weakened local provider network; and
WHEREAS, KidSCope continues to receive funding from the NC Division of Mental
Health, Orange County government, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the
Children's Trust Fund, and to a larger part, as allowable, Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 after an 11-year agreement to allow KidSCope to occupy a building
on the Hillsborough Elementary campus rent-free, Orange County Schools requested rent
payments in the amount of $25,200 annually, thereby placing KidSCope in an
increasingly fragile financial position; and
WHEREAS, Orange County government due to considerable financial constraints has
been unable to provide supplemental funding to KidSCope to relieve the non-profit of
this major expense;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Board of County Commissioners
request the Orange County School Board as a show of support for services to children
with special needs, respectfully reconsider its decision to charge KidSCope annual rent
for space occupied at Hillsborough Elementary, and recommit to allowing KidSCope to
provide these vital services in existing space rent free.
Adopted on this day November 6, 2008
Barry Jacobs, Chair