2006 NS Budget - Agreement with UNC Master of Public Administration Program for Permanent Budget Internship

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i ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 14, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Agreement with UNC Master of Public Administration Program for Permanent Budget Internship DEPARTMENT: Manager/Budget PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: UNC MPA Program Director Letter Rod Visser, 919-245-2308 Donna Coffey,. 919-245-2151 PURPOSE: To consider approval of an arrangement with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under which the County will employ a selected MPA student annually to serve as a Budget intern. BACKGROUND: For many years, the County's annual operating budget has included funding in the Budget.Office for the hiring of an intern to assist the permanent Budget staff in the development and administration of the annual budget and in performing other management- related research and analysis. Budget interns have participated in "budget season" meetings with the Manager, Budget Team, and operational department staff to review and discuss budget requests and recommendations. At times, interns have taken on the same responsibilities for one or more operating departments as permanent Budget Analysts. Interns have come from several different MPA programs in the Research Triangle area, but the vast majority have been members of the UNC MPA program that historically ranks among the top ten MPA programs nationally. Over the years, a number of MPA interns have returned to serve with distinction in filling permanent County positions, having acquired valuable experience during their stints as MPA interns. The proposed arrangement would by no means preclude the employment of other MPA interns (whether from UNC or other MPA programs) in other departments when funds are available and intern skills match work requirements. In 2005, the UNC MPA program director contacted Orange County to request that the County consider making its typical annual hiring of an intern a permanent arrangement. Under the proposal, the Carolina MPA program would select a highly qualified candidate (subject to County staff approval) from the incoming MPA class to work from 10-16 hours per week on Mondays and Fridays in the Budget Office while accomplishing the MPA course of study Tuesday through Thursday each week. The County would have a guaranteed source for a talented budget intern, and the MPA program would have an additional element to present as part of a financial aid package to help attract the best and brightest students who intend to make a career of public service. Details of the arrangement are outlined in the materials from the UNC MPA Program Director.