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7 <br /> The Board considered eliminating currently vacant positions and creating permanent <br /> personnel service cost reductions in the FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11 Budgets. <br /> Frank Clifton said that the Board of County Commissioners has directed the staff to <br /> balance the general fund budget this year without proposing an increase in property taxes. He <br /> said that the hole has gotten deeper and sales taxes have fallen lower than expected. He said <br /> that he is eliminating vacant positions and he might have to look at RIFs (reduction in force). <br /> He will be bringing forth a policy to give staff to make some personnel decisions. He said that <br /> every department head is aware of the possibility of this reduction. <br /> Human Resources Director Michael McGinnis went through Attachment 1, Proposed <br /> Positions for Elimination. <br /> Frank Clifton made reference to the public comment earlier from the Solid Waste staff <br /> person and said that Solid Waste disposal depends on the general fund in the amount of <br /> about $2 million a year. Part of the budget process will be to evaluate whether County <br /> government should look elsewhere for those services in order to save some of that $2 million. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that there are more vacant positions than this and she <br /> asked when these would be considered. <br /> Frank Clifton said that there will be more review of positions. He is looking at the <br /> retirement incentives. He wants to avoid as much direct impact on services as possible. He <br /> said that the Board will have some difficult decisions to make during the budget process. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked about the Public Works Director position and who would <br /> take care of these duties. Frank Clifton said that some other positions will probably be <br /> restructured. <br /> Michael McGinnis said that the function is being handled currently by the Director of <br /> Asset Management and Purchasing. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked about the Visitor's Bureau position and if Orange County <br /> would be using 100% of the occupancy tax for the Visitor's Bureau if this position were <br /> eliminated. <br /> Frank Clifton said that 100% of the occupancy tax would be used for the Visitor's <br /> Bureau and County functions. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that this is a good first step towards making up the shortfall, <br /> but there will be a reduction in all services that the County provides and funds. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Gordon <br /> to approve eliminating the 21 positions identified in Attachment 1. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Frank Clifton pointed out that this is roughly a savings of $1.2 million. <br /> f. Adjusting the Limits on the Manager's Contracting Authority <br /> The Board considered information regarding the contracting authority of county <br /> managers in various North Carolina counties in order to compare the information to Orange <br /> County and, if appropriate, adjust the Manager's contracting authority. <br /> John Roberts said that shortly after he got to the County they discussed efficiencies in <br /> the county attorney's office. He gave a suggestion to increase the limits of the Manager's <br /> contracting authority from $5,000 and the Board of County Commissioners did increase it up to <br /> $25,000. He said that Frank Clifton's probationary status is over now and he recommended <br /> that his authority be increased. <br /> Frank Clifton said that the Manager cannot sign a contract for any amount of money <br /> that is not budgeted and approved by the Board as an authorized expense. He said that he <br />