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51 <br />Potential Resources Required Related to Two Specific Initiatives <br />(Expanded Wastewater Treatment Program/Innovation and Efficiency) <br />1. Expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Management Program <br />In 1998, the Orange County Board of Health formed an ad hoc committee to develop a <br />proposal to expand the current Wastewater Treatment Management Program. The current <br />program focuses on monitoring alternative on -site wastewater treatment systems and does <br />not include conventional septic systems. <br />In October 1998 the ad hoc committee forwarded a proposal for an expanded Wastewater <br />Treatment Management Program that would include conventional septic systems to the <br />Board of Health. In November 1998 the Board forwarded the adopted proposal to the Board <br />of Commissioners. On March 8, 1999, the Board of Health and the Board of Commissioners <br />discussed the proposal in a joint work session. <br />The proposal includes a three- pronged approach of education, inspections, and homeowner <br />incentives. It.proposes to start the inspection phase of the program in the water quality <br />critical areas of the watersheds and move outward from there. The funding mechanisms for <br />the program were proposed to be a combination of fees and County general fund support. <br />At the March work session, the Commissioners agreed in principle that this is an important <br />40 The to consider for protecting the health of the public and for protecting the environment. <br />The Board asked the Health Department to start this program with a more fully developed <br />educational plan. This would specifically target educating current homeowners about <br />maintenance of their septic systems and raise general public awareness about safe drinking <br />water. Funding needs and strategies for the remaining portion of the program also would be <br />more fully developed in the first year. <br />The Health Department is in the process of recalling the ad hoc committee for additional <br />work on the education plan and will return to the Board of Health in June and to the Board of <br />Commissioners in August with a fully developed educational plan. It is expected that a <br />request for a new environmental educator position will be made at that time for the remainder <br />of the 1999 -2000 budget year. <br />In the 1999 -00 budget process, the Health Department is requesting that two- thirds of the <br />environmental health educator position's cost and associated costs for implementing the <br />educational plan be placed in reserve for potential implementation in 1999 -00. If the position <br />were approved effective October 1, the estimated 1999 -00 cost is as follows: <br />Annual Position <br />Annual <br />One Time <br />Offsetting <br />Net 99 -00 Position Cost <br />Costs (Salary/ <br />Operating <br />Start Up <br />Revenue or <br />(prorated for 10 /1 date) <br />Benefits) <br />Cost <br />Cost <br />Budget Savings <br />and Start Up Costs <br />$44,550 <br />$15,350 <br />$3,292 <br />$0 <br />$48,217 <br />• 2. Innovation and Efficiency <br />During discussions of proposed goals for 1999 -2000, the Board of Commissioners has <br />indicated its desire to reconstitute the Innovation and Efficiency Committee. In April 1996, <br />