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Budget Message <br /> revenue,the County will see Medicaid expenses decrease from$2.3 million budgeted in FY <br /> 2008-09 to zero in FY 2009-10. <br /> Secondly, fiscal outlooks anticipate consumer spending will remain slow into FY 2009-10. <br /> For this reason the recommended FY 2009-10 budgets estimates sales tax revenues for <br /> Articles 39,40 and 42 at$585,000 less than the original FY 2008-09 budget. <br /> Charges for Services—Construction and housing markets have fallen victim to our nation's <br /> slowing economy. Building and inspection permit requests have decreased significantly over <br /> the last two years. In addition,transactions related to buying and selling of homes and land <br /> have declined. The impact of this downturn means about$1 million less revenue in FY 2009- <br /> 10 for Planning,Environmental Health and Register of Deeds. <br /> Intergovernmental Revenue — Included in this revenue category are monies the County <br /> expects to receive from state, federal and local governments. The State's fiscal crisis <br /> continues and appears to worsen with time. For FY 2009-10, I believe it is best to remain <br /> cautious until the General Assembly has adopted the State budget. For this reason my <br /> recommended budget does not anticipate receipt of Public School Building Fund monies from <br /> the State. This equates to a revenue loss of$1.4 million for the County. For a number of <br /> years the County has used these revenues to offset school related debt payments. <br /> Repayment of debt is a mandate the County must fulfill. The loss of Public School Building <br /> Funds means the County will have to use other revenues to offset debt repayment. <br /> Funding Highlights <br /> Funding for Local School Districts-The recommended total appropriation to Chapel Hill <br /> Carrboro City and Orange County Schools decreases by $3.1 million for next year-from <br /> $88.5 million to $85.4 million. While this reduction is not as severe as originally projected <br /> earlier this spring, it is still a decrease. Both Boards of Education presented their budget <br /> requests to Commissioners in late April 2009. Their presentations made it clear County <br /> funding reductions, coupled with State revenue decreases, mean both districts would face <br /> program and staffing cuts. <br /> • Per pupil funding for the County's two local school districts equals $3,096, a <br /> decrease of$104 per student from the current year appropriation of$3,200. <br /> • In addition,the recommended budget includes$617,782 to continue Commissioners' <br /> • longstanding commitment to providing school health nurses at each school. This <br /> funding level reflects a $24,586 increase over the FY 2008-09 funding level — the <br /> equivalent of a 4%increase. <br /> • The Sheriff plans to continue providing School Resource Officers to support Orange <br /> County Schools. The estimated annual value of this Board commitment totals <br /> $500,000. <br />