Orange County NC Website
5 <br />APPROVED 3/17/2009 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ANNUAL PLANNING RETREAT <br />SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER <br />January 10, 2009 <br />9:00 a.m. <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Board retreat on Saturday, <br />January 10, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North <br />Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Valerie P. Foushee, Vice-Chair Mike Nelson, <br />and Commissioners Alice Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, and <br />Steve Yuhasz <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geof Gledhill <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Laura Blackmon and Clerk to the Board Donna <br />S. Baker <br />Facilitators: Lydian Altman and Donna Warner, UNC-CH School of Government. <br />Assistant managers and department heads were present from noon to 4:00 p.m. <br />Retreat Outcomes <br />1. Prepared the board to make budget decisions at the January 29th budget <br />meeting by reviewing current county functions and services, sharing <br />historical information about the revenues, expenditures, explaining the <br />budget process, and providing a list of funding considerations and <br />guidelines for the FY 2009-10 budget. <br />2. Identified priorities for the 2009-2010 budget and created a draft work <br />plan.. <br />3. Gained agreement on ways to improve board decision-making by <br />streamlining county board meetings and agendas. <br />Highlights from Overview of Revenue Projections <br />Donna Coffey, budget director, shared the following information: <br />1. As shared with the Board in September, there is about a $10 million gap <br />estimated between FY 2009-10 projected revenues and expenditures. <br />2. Property tax accounts for 70% of the revenues for county operations. It is <br />likely this source will remain stable for the upcoming year. <br />3. Sales tax comprises 10% and is estimated to reduce due to the constraints <br />on spending imposed by the economic downturn. <br />4. Intergovernmental transfers (funds from the state and the feds) accounts <br />for 10%. The county could experience a decrease in funds from the state. <br />The feds are considering funding "shovel ready" programs. <br />5. Fees for services are 10% and may be reduced. <br />6. Working with other counties: The NC Association of County Commissioners <br />