Agenda - 06-15-2010 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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� 1 elsewhere. He thinks that this needs to be a priority— increasing the sales tax by increasing 2 economic development. 3 Frank Clifton said that he did move the Arts function to be funded under tourism 4 because it is a steady source of revenue and it is tied to overnight stays. There is a close 5 relationship between the Arts function, economic development, and tourism in Orange County. 6 Also, the tourism function has two taxes—the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County. The 7 County dedicates 100% of tourism revenues to the tourism function and the Town of Chapel Hill 8 designates 15% of its coflections. Theoretically, Orange County could move 85% of those 9 revenues out of tourism and into some other County function. He would like to continue to have 10 dialogue with the Town of Chapel Hill about how it might participate at a higher level toward the 11 promotion of tourism within Chapel Hill and Orange County. Also, there was a reserve fund set 12 up a while ago in the tourism budget in the amount of about $200,000, so it has been moved 13 back to Economic Development for small business loans. 14 Frank Clifton made reference to ways of further reducing the budget and said that 15 roughly 50% goes to education and that leaves 50% for County functions. Of that 50%, 16 probably 25% of the 50% would be federal or state dollars being passed through to supplement 17 services delivered under federal and state guidelines. The remainder of it is property tax, sales 18 tax, and fees for service. He said that they have wiped out County budgets this year and there 19 is no capital except for minor things. He said that there are only four new employees and they 20 are for EMS. There was also some restructuring done in EMS and he eliminated six middle 21 management positions. These are now paramedic slots. � 22 Frank Clifton said that there are no salary or cost-of-living increases. There will be an 23 increase in health insurance of about $200,000. Retiree insurance is going to increase by 24 $250,000 and there was a mandated increase in retirement benefits. The living wage has been 25 maintained at $10.12/hour. 26 Frank Clifton said that this was one of the most difficult budget cycles that he has had 27 to deal with. He said that Orange County does more for its residents than any local government 28 that he has been associated with. It is very difficult to balance the budget without affecting 29 people in a dramatic way. 30 31 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the 48.1% for schools included the $1.8 million for non- 32 mandated safety net and Frank Ctifton said no. He said that the Board has had a chart every 33 year. He would like to request this chart to have total County effort toward school funding that 34 includes capital debt and per-pupil compared to other counties in North Carolina. 35 Commissioner Jacobs said that when the Board had the retreat about advisory boards, 36 it talked about hearing from advisory boards before any decisions were made about the 37 dissolution or changing of boards and commissions. He said that he is fully supportive of the 38 concept of the Arts Commission moving under the Visitor's Bureau, but he thinks that those 39 respective boards should discuss this before the budget is adopted on June 15tn 40 Frank Clifton said that he made no assumptions that these boards would not continue 41 to meet as they have. There is no reduction in funding, but it is just an assignment of that cost 42 to tourism dollars. 43 44 PUBLIC COMMENT: 45 Kristin Miller spoke on the importance of the Orange County Health Department. She 46 said that she was raised by a single mother with limited income. If they needed health care, 47 they went to the Health Department and she continues to go there even as an adult. There are 48 many hard working residents like her and she cannot imagine what they would have done 49 without this state-supported option.