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' w <br /> 2 <br /> (from 15.7 million to 16.8 million) <br /> COLA for County Employees and Revised Merit 2% <br /> 17 new permanent full time positions <br /> Establishes General Fund Property Tax Rate at 83 .0 cent <br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 9,599,940 <br /> Orange County Schools 7,240,520 <br /> (Allocation based on projected student population) <br /> In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit about the Assistant <br /> Fire Marshall position, Mr. Link stated that the amount does include a new <br /> vehicle. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the four new positions being requested <br /> for the jail and asked for a report on the revenues being generated by the <br /> jail. Mr. Link explained that, although they have no way of knowing, he feels <br /> that the six (6) new time-limited positions in public works will be paid for <br /> from the amount they will save from tipping fees, fuel, and maintenance <br /> because of less solid waste going to the landfill. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a trip that he and Commissioner <br /> Insko made to Johnston County last year to look at their jail facilities and <br /> see their 911 operation. He was intrigued because the populations are similar <br /> and yet they have fewer people working at their 911 center. He would like to <br /> be assured that the County is not person-heavy at the County's 911 Center. <br /> He would like to know how many people are working there compared to other <br /> similar counties, why is there an 11$ increase in calls, what kind of calls <br /> are coming in, have the citizens been educated as to when the citizens should <br /> be calling 911, and how efficient is this County in this operation. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the library positions. John Link noted <br /> that these are only new positions in that the library is now a County <br /> department with the revenue staying the same. The figures for library funding <br /> includes state funding and not just County funding as shown in the past. No <br /> new positions have been added. <br /> Mr. James Goldstein asked about the additional protective services <br /> position since the case load has decreased this year from previous years. John <br /> Link stated that there are significant initiatives being pursued by the <br /> General Assembly and the Governor to reduced case loads for protective <br /> services because it is evident that case loads are too high and social workers <br /> are not able to do a thorough job because they do not have enough time to <br /> investigate all the cases assigned. <br /> IMPACT FEES <br /> Chair Carey noted that two public hearings have been held on the impact <br /> fees proposal. He asked that the Board give the County staff some specific <br /> direction on the major points they want considered in establishing a system <br /> of impact fees to finance public school facilities in Orange County. <br /> The Board agreed that the impact fee should be collected at the time at <br /> which the Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Commissioner Willhoit stated <br /> his support for collecting an average fee per residential dwelling unit of <br /> $500 and his preference for not basing this on the number of bedrooms. <br /> Commissioner Gordon stated that she supported going with the $750 fee and <br />