Orange County NC Website
~ - ~3-~0 ~ <br />g; Approval of Fiscal Year 2004-05 Budget Ordinance, Capital Project ~ <br />Ordinances, and Grant Proiect Ordinances <br />The board considered adopting the County's budget ordinance, capital project <br />ordinances, and grant project ordinances for FY 2004-05. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that they have not seen this material and she asked for a <br />brief overview so that she could have time to read it. <br />John Link said that the specific recommendations were on page two, which is to adopt <br />the Orange County Budget Ordinance and the countywide tax rate of 88.4 cents, and the <br />Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Tax of 20 cents. The resolution amends the Classification and <br />Pay Plan to add the new class of Parks Conservation Technician II at a salary grade 14 and <br />change the title of existing class of Parks Conservation Technician at salary grade 12 to Parks <br />Conservation Technician I with no change in salary grade. The Board would also authorize a <br />two percent cost of living increase for permanent employees effective October 11, 2004 and <br />adopt a County fee schedule: Also, in the bright pink packet are the capital project ordinances <br />for CHCCS and OCS and grant project ordinances for Orange County general government. <br />These are projects that are a continuation of projects that have already started. <br />There is also a resolution of intent to adopt the Orange County budget. This is the <br />completed document with the actions taken on Monday evening. It just confirms the actions <br />taken. Also, section two and section three indicate by major function the appropriation for each <br />major function and on the next page are the revenues earmarked for the entire budget. The <br />next page includes the tax rate levies for each fire district. The per pupil appropriation is $2,623 <br />per student, which is an increase`of $3. <br />Donna Dean said that the capital project ordinances for schools and for the County have <br />no new funding but need a deadline extension. It also includes projects receiving new pay-as- <br />you-go money next year. Regarding the 2/3 net debt issuance, Little River Park project needs <br />funds in place to pay the contracts and the new courthouse needs funds for renovations on the <br />exterior. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they did suspend until further discussion any fees for picnic <br />shelters and picnic tables: Donna Dean said that this point is included in the resolution of <br />intent. <br />A motion was made by Chair Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to change <br />number six on page three to reduce the property tax proposal from 88.4 cents to 88 cents, <br />which would be a reduction of $400,000. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the more he thought about it with the solid waste. fee and the <br />revaluation for next year, and the possibility of a countywide supplemental school tax, he <br />believes they should exercise more rigor in reducing the operating budget this year. He would <br />like to exercise more discipline in`reducing the expenditures. <br />Commissioner Brown asked where the cuts would come from. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they would come from the governing and management, general <br />services, community, environment, culture, and recreation funding, which are about $22 million. <br />He will leave it to the Manager to figure out which would be the least painful to cut and to bring <br />back some proposals. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that they did this several years ago and the Manager was <br />able to do it. He thinks it is entirely doable. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he thinks the sentiment is sincere and he agrees with this <br />because raising taxes is difficult. He said that the Board has asked the Manager to find cuts <br />before, and he will support this. motion, but his concern is that they have never done changes <br />like this before on the last night and before they have had a chance to review the reductions. <br />He trusts the Manager, but he is concerned that the cuts the Manager would make might not be <br />the cuts he would make. <br />