ORD-2004-057 - Central Elementary Renovations Orange Co Schools Capital Project Ordinance

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Commissioner Gordon said that this last minute change wreaks havoc with the budget process. She thinks this has been an especially chaotic process already. She agrees with Commissioner Carey's sentiment about the process. She said that the County Commissioners are becoming very unpredictable and people cannot count on the process to be followed. She will vote against this change, even though she agrees with the sentiment of lowering taxes. Chair Jacobs agreed that they need to look at the process. He thinks that Orange County is getting to be a bigger and bigger government with more functions and staff and it is more difficult to go back and challenge the funding levels that they have always had. He thinks that the process is, that until they adopt the budget, they can change the budget. The Board did not adopt the budget on June 21St. He said that he did mention to the Manager that he was going to do this, and the Manager has-had time to think about it. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thinks they will survive this. He said that Chatham County and Hillsborough are holding their tax rate. Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and OIIVASA are raising their rates, and the solid waste fee will be implemented. There are a lot of unhappy people. Commissioner Brown said that it is surprising to bring this up at this time so late in the process. She said that she could not support decreasing the Human Services budget at all. John Link said that if the'~Board were to pursue this motion, he would recommend that all seven of the major functions be addressed -governing and management, general services, community and environment, human services, public safety, culture, and recreation. He thinks it will take all seven of these to come back with a plan. He said that any actions to cut or reduce budgets would not occur until the Board acts on the budget amendments that would come back in August or September. He reminded the Board that two years ago they delayed filling some positions based on negotiating with department heads. He is not calling it a freeze, but using a natural process of some positions not being advertised and others being delayed. Commissioner Brown asked John Link if he supported the reduction in the budget at this time. John Link said that he would carry out the action of the Board.. He has no idea how the cuts will look and whether what he recommends will be acceptable to the Board. He said that legally, the Board would have to cut $400,000 out of one function in order for the budget to be legal and during the course of the summer, the cuts would be applied equitably from the other functions. He would recommend taking the $400,000 out of the first function, governing and management. Commissioner Halkiotis said that John Link would not come back with proposed savings balanced on the back of the very young or the very old or the very weak and ones that cannot fend for themselves. He would not support something that would balance any cut on the backs of those that can least afford to carry it. He has faith in the Manager to look at the least onerous way to accomplish this. Commissioner Carey said that he has concerns about this process. He has confidence in the Manager's ability, but the Board should give him the flexibility on all line items instead of just one. He will support this, but he wants to register his concerns about the process. .John Link said that this would not and could not include any cuts in education. Chair Jacobs said that this motion is with the understanding as outlined by the Manager as to where the money would come from. VOTE: Ayes, 3; Nays, 2 (Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Gordon) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to: 1. Adopt the 2004-05 Orange County Budget Ordinance to include a Countywide tax rate of 88 cents and a Chapel Hilt-Carrboro City Schools District Tax of 20.0 cents. 2. Amend the Classification and Pay Plan to: - Add the new class of Parks Conservation. Technician I I at salary grade 14.