Minutes - 19990603 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The budget presented stresses the following County overall priorities: ? New positions address increased level of service to citizens and community; ? Support Board of County Commissioner goals; and ? Maintain current County facilities County Human Service priorities include Healthy Carolinians, offering mental health crisis programs, and a wastewater treatment management (WTMP) program. The Manager is recommending two (2) additional staff members for the Healthy Carolinians program, to aid in combating a number of physical ills experienced by County citizens. Mental Health resources have experienced a crisis in the past year due to reduced Medicaid and State funding, so the Manager has recommended higher than normal budget increases to compensate for these severe reductions in funding. The Wastewater Treatment Management Program (WTMP) is a 3-pronged approach of education, inspection, and homeowner incentives for extending the life of current septic systems, as well as protecting both the ground and surface water supplies in the County. There is a reserve fund within the budget which may be used throughout the fiscal year to aid the implementation of this program. Public Safety priorities are: ? COPSFAST and Domestic Violence Assistance program positions being converted from grant to County funding; ? Additional resources for Emergency Medical Initial Response Program; and ? Joint effort with all law enforcement agencies for a new firearms training facility Solid Waste priorities include the transition from the Town of Chapel Hill to Orange County which is anticipated during fiscal year 1999-2000. All transition implementation costs will be addressed through the Landfill Fund. As to employee pay and benefits, the following recommendations are made: ? Cost-of-Living Adjustment of 3.5 percent, effective July 1, 1999; ? In-Range Salary Increase of 2.5 percent for employees whose work performance is proficient or higher, effective with annual performance review; •3 Meritorious Service Awards of $1,500.00 for exceptional service and $750.00 for superior service; and ? Implementation of a 401(k) plan The budget stresses innovation and efficiency by addressing reactivation of the Board-appointed citizen Innovation and Efficiency (I&E) Committee, and evaluation of the County's building space needs for the next ten to twenty years. On the horizon, the budget provides for debt service, the landfill budget, and school start-up costs. For Debt Service: Expect the first sale of general obligation bonds from the 1997 bond referendum to occur in early 2000; Bonds will be sold for schools, recreation and park projects, affordable housing, and sewer expansion Expect to pursue AAA bond rating to lower debt service costs For the Landfill Budget: ? Fiscal year 2000-2001 brings a full year responsibility for developing, implementing, and administering the landfill ? Important decisions in the coming year on siting and construction of major solid waste facilities, including a C&D waste facility For School Start-up Costs: ? Start-up costs for Scroggs Elementary and East Chapel Hill High School addition are addressed with the district tax in 1999-2000 ? Start-up costs for Orange County Schools' elementary and high school to be addressed in future years through the use of their non-appropriated fund balance