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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 13, 197$ The Orange County Board of Gammissioners met in called session on Tuesday, June 13; 1978 at 7:30 p.m. in the 5uperiox Courtroom of the Court House in Hillsborough. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed 1978-79 budget. Present were Chairman Richard Whitted. Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager; Neal Evans, County Finance Director; Joe Bradshaw, Administrative Assistant and Agatha Johnson, Clerk. Many County Department Heads were in attendance as well as officials from the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Systems. Chairman Whitted stated that the proposed 1978-79 budget was presented to the County Commissioners on June 1, 1978. The proposed budget calls for $1A,251,797 and would require 86-cents tax rate to implement. In addition to the tax rate, the County also assessed fire districts in the County. Cedar Grove - 12 cents, Efland - 4 cents, Eno - 8 cents, Little River _ 10 cents, New Hope - 8 cents, Orange - 4 cents and Orange Grove - 8 cents. The Dogwood Sani- tation District is assessed 16 cents and a special school district tax is 25'~ cents. Mr. Whitted asked the County Finance Director, Neal Evans, to comment about the proposed budget. Mr. Evans stated the proposed budget for 197$-79 recommends a continuation of current operations generally at existing service levels. The primary areas of ex- pansion are, first, those areas for which the County has made prior commitments, particularly in tax collections, animal protection, emergency communications and agency support for human services and, second, those areas for which the County will receive a major portion of the funding from State and Federal sources, specifically Social Services and Child Support Enforcement. There is an equiv- alent of six full-time positions added to the budget. These are 2~ in social services, ~ in child support enforcement, 2 half year positions in emergency communications and 1 clerical employee in the recreation department. Five positions currently funded through a Federal program (CETA) have been recommended for con- . version to full County positions. For all County employees there is a proposed cost of living increase of 6~. The General Fund Budget includes $11,261,853 in program expenditures, the majority ($8,47$,400) in the human services area, particularly for school ($4,617,540). Under Capital Expenditures, funds have bean carried over for the last three years far the building program to renovate the old Grady Brown School and the jail. The budget includes $1,950,000 for the construction. Mr. Evans stated that the budget is a generally "hold-the- line" budget; however, in order to hold the line, it will require a tax rate of 86 cents. Eie stated the intergovernmental revenues have declined this year for the first time. The primary source of revenue that the County has within its own discretion is the property tax. Consequently, declining revenues in othex areas can only be made up from that source. Mr. Evans explained to those present charts defining the percent of the total budget by category of expenditures. The largest expenditure is in human services with 2$~ of the budget designated for schools, current expense. Human services, social services is designated to receive 18~ of this year's budget and 19~ is designated for transfezs.