Orange County NC Website
Housing (p. 51): <br /> Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that most of the <br /> programs in Housing are non-mandated with discretionary funding. She explained the Housing <br /> programs. The following are the budget impacts: <br /> 2009-2010 Budget Impacts <br /> - Reductions in the Urgent Repair Program will prevent one less elderly/disabled <br /> homeowner from receiving urgent repairs <br /> - Federal funding for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and the <br /> HOME Investment Partnership Program is expected to remain constant in the <br /> next fiscal year. No new funds will be available for these programs from the <br /> recently passed Federal Stimulus Bill. <br /> - The Stimulus Bill does provide the State of NC approximately $15 million in <br /> additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for small cities <br /> and counties in the state. There is no news regarding how the State plans to <br /> allocate those funds. Traditionally, CDBG funds have been the revenue source <br /> for the County's housing rehabilitation programs. <br /> Library (p. 80): <br /> Library Services Director Lucinda Munger reviewed budget impacts as follows: <br /> 2009-2010 Budget Impacts <br /> - Open a new library facility for main with three access points on two floors. <br /> - Implement new user fee for Inter-library loans from outside of the region ($1 per <br /> loan) <br /> - Replacement of 6-year old server for Hyconeechee Automation System. The <br /> server cost is shared one-third by the regional counties. Orange's cost is $5,604. <br /> - Recommendation to provide quality versus quantity by reducing services and <br /> reallocating staff and resources in order to maintain quality services in two <br /> locations. <br /> - As an applicant for Library State Aid, the main facility must remain open to the <br /> public at least 40 hours per week. <br /> - When reducing the main library from 64 to 54 hours, management took into <br /> account the usage statistics of patrons. Hours of operation would be Mon —Wed <br /> 10-8 p.m.; Th-Sat 10-6 p.m. These hours similarly reflect public service hours of <br /> Chapel Hill Public Library. <br /> These cuts will be a challenge when taking into account that a new facility will be <br /> opening. There were seven scenarios on page 81 about how to balance the twin objectives of <br /> cutting the budget and opening a new facility. Scenario#1 is the only one that does not take <br /> into account any reduction. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that if a library has to be closed, then it should be the <br /> McDougle library, since the Cybrary is used constantly in a different way. He said that he would <br /> go to the mat to keep the Cybrary open. <br />