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APPROVED 10/20/98 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL JOINT MEETING FEBRUARY 2, 1998 The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Chapel Hill Town Council met for the purpose of discussing various issues of common interest. This meeting was held on Monday February 2, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. at the Homestead Community Center, Homestead Road., Chapel Hill, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairwoman Margaret Brown, and members William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Moses Carey, Jr. CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Rosemary Waldorf, and members Julie Andresen, Flicka Bateman, Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Pat Evans, Kevin Foy, Lee Pavao & Edith Wiggins. CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT: Mark Chilton ORANGE COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser and Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker. Other staff will be identified as necessary below. County Commissioners Chair Brown convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. She mentioned that this was the first joint meeting between the governing boards of Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill. This meeting is intended to foster useful dialogue between elected officials. Other meetings of this kind will be scheduled in the future. This is an opportunity to receive reports, share information and communicate in a way that is usually not available. Introductions were made and the agenda was reviewed. The following items were added as possible topics for discussion: Update on Proposed Budget; Update Wildlife Corridors; Update on Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Merging Chapel Hill/Orange County Planning Departments. BRIEF REPORTS FROM ORANGE COUNTY County Financial Status and Budget Proiections (1998-99) - County Manager John Link reported that Orange County is in a very strong financial position as measured in the most recent audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 1997. Cash and investments were approximate $12.9 million which is an increase of $2.2 million from June 30, 1996. The General Fund undesignated fund balance was $9.3 million as of June 30, 1997. This is an increase of $1.7 million from June 30, 1996. He also reported that the fund balance was 11.8% of 1997 expenditures and the County bond ratings are AA+ (Standard & Poor's) and Aa1 (Moody's). He also reviewed assumptions for major revenues and expenditures as well as operational issues for 1998-1999. The projections indicate a possible increase of between $.03 and $.05 cents on the projected tax rate for 1998-1999. In response to a question, he indicated that the County would not be issuing Bonds for school construction during the next fiscal year. Regarding the Recreation & Parks bonds, he mentioned that discussions would begin soon regarding possible specific locations for park lands. He indicated that the sales tax revenue is not sufficient, nor intended, to pay debt services. Debt service is paid through property tax. He mentioned that one penny ($.01) on the tax rate is approximately $640,000. Council member Capowski indicated that the Town has received an unusually high number of human service funding requests. He felt that the County might anticipate a higher than normal number of requests for the year as well. New Tax Bill Design - Ginger Rolfe, Orange County Tax Collector and John Smith, Orange County Tax Assessor presented information regarding the proposed redesigning of the current Property Tax bill format. The new format will allow the tax bill to communicate additional information to citizens. They both indicated that this is a much improved document which presents information in a readable and understandable format. This new document will produce a cost savings to County departments while at the same time be more useful to citizens. Approximately 66% of the citizens pay by mail and 34% pay in person. The Town Council decided by consensus that the Town Manager would meet with the County Manager to discuss how Chapel Hill could be included in this revised tax bill project.