ORD-2008-101 - Fiscal Year 2008-09 Budget Amendment #2

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Miscellaneous 7. A technical amendment is necessary to re-classify an expenditure and a revenue into their correct budgetary functions. This amendment reclassifies Board approved reductions in annual operating expenditures associated with the opening of Hillsborough Commons from the General Services function to the Human Services function. In addition, this amendment reclassifies a $56,000 Board approved reduction from the Charges for Services category to the Property Taxes category.. There is also a need to reflect correctly the budgeted transfer from Orange County Schools Construction Impact Fee fund to the General Fund. The budget ordinance had a typo on the first- page -the approved budgeted transfer totals $2,190,000 instead of the stated $2,070,000. This amendment transfers currently budgeted monies between functions and does not increase or decrease the Board approved FY 2008-09 General Fund budget. (See Attachment 1, column #7) Orange Soil and Water Conservation 8. Orange Soil and Water Conservation has received notification of the receipt of a Water Quality Grant totaling $7,010 for the Stillhouse Creek and Public Market site. The department plans to use the funds to install storm water best management demonstration practices such as a rain garden, rain barrels, pet waste receptacles, an educational sign detailing the project, and a split rail fence along the Stillhouse Creek stream buffer and the Market site. In accordance with the grant agreemeht, the County must expend these project funds no later than September 30, 2008. The required County match will come from staff time including personnel costs associated with planning, design, and oversight of the project. This budget amendment provides for the receipt of these grant funds. (See Attachment 1, column #8) Revenue Department 9. Currently Orange County has approximately 250 properties with outstanding multi-year taxes owed. Revenue staff has exhausted all regular collection options, and as a last resort to collect the monies and ultimately return these properties to a current tax paying status, the Revenue .Director recommends In Rem foreclosure. This method of collection requires extensive title search work to be completed. The projected cost of paralegal services associated with title searches of these properties totals $15,000. Based on staff analysis, it is believed that the $15,000 investment will yield at least $50,000 by June 30, 2009 followed by an additional $50,000 within the first six months of FY 2009-2010. This amendment budgets $15,000 in anticipated revenues generated by this initiative to cover the cost of title searches. Monies collected, above the $15,000 cost for legal services, -will revert to the County's fund balance. (See Attachment 1, column #9) FINANCIAL IMPACT: Financial impacts are included in the background information above. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve the budget, grant project ordinance amendments, and amend the County Fee Schedule for fiscal year 2008-09.