Minutes - 19770511 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ti~~ 3 for 1977-78 proposed $7,000 from the County. Dr. Martin stated that if the budget was recuded $6,000 he would be forced to terminate services. He stated that he had gone to private sectors in search of funding and did hope to receive some support from the United Fund. He stated that the Federal Government was insisting that local support be continued in order to receive the same amount of money as in the past. However, if the money which is cut is diverted to other programs far the elderly, there would be no decrease in the monies received from the Federal grants. Discussion ensued regarding the transportation of clients of Council on Aging. Commissioner Gustaveson spoke of a need far total county coordination of County vehicles. He asked Dr. Martin if he was limited to categorical use of his vehicles. Dr. Martin stated that there would be no way.to organize coordinated transportation in his program. He stated that his buses were used full time and were used for specific purposes. Commissioner Gustaveson asked that Dr. Martin submit .a breakdown of the gas mileage per day, number of trips to different locations per day, andthe number of gallons of gas used per day. He stated that Triangle ,7 had conducted a study of Orange County which showed that there were enough vehicles available to provide a mjaor transportation system. He suggested further that the Council on Aging Board begin thinking about this in long range planning. Dr. Martin stated that restrictions on usage of his vehicles were that occupants be 60 years or older, handicapped, and then if space is available, anyone else may ride. The Board of Commissioners suggested that Dr. Martin go back to the Town of Chapel Hill to attempt to seek additional funding. Mental Heatlh was the last budget reviewed by the Commissioners. Chairman Whined introduced William Baxter, Area Director of Orange- Person-Chatham Mental Health. Rolfs Pinkerton, Coordinator with the Mental Health Center and Frank Abbott,Finance Officer for the Mental Health Center. Mr. Baxter distributed to members of the Board a new Mental Health budget format which had been adopted by the N. C. Division of Mental Health Services. He stated that the new format was an effort to try to arrive at a cost benefit accounting approach. This is the fizst effort instituted to define programs in terms of cost and revenue, so that eventually, the administration will be able to center on the effectiveness of programs and the services which are being provided and their cost. The formulation process was to ask the various directors to recommend specific recommendations for the budget. He stated that everyone knew that this budget would be a status quo budget, therefore, budget requests were worked up and submitted to the Fianance Officer, who compiled the budget. The budget was then submitted to the three mini-boards of the three counties for a review. The Finance Committee of the Area Board reviewed the budget, and finally, the Area Board reviewed and approved the budget which is being presented tonight. This budget was transmitted to the Regional Office in Winston Salem in April. Mr. Baxter stated that the Orange County,por.tion of the budget, the -- summary cost sheets identified na.ne cost centers. Some are identifiable programs in geographical settings and others are contracts for services. These nine cost centers represent far fiscal year 1977-78, an expenditure of $831,331. Orange County is being asked to put in $165,000 in terms of general funds. He added that this was a 19.8 percent investment. There are no increases in the OPC Mental Health budget this year. One change does center around the Life Enrichment Center. The source of funding has been transferred from Title XX to Medicaid and should be a self-supporting program: There is an increase in the cost of utilities, but no increase of personnel, no merit increases, as all increases are frozen and will remain frozen throughout this fiscal year. Commissioner Walker asked that since the local share was increased if this increase addressed the deficit of the Mental Health Center.