Minutes - 06-01-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the total request of the Orange County school system, and 96°~ of the Chapel Hill/Carrbora school system. The number of new students drives this allocation. If the budget had addressed the total requests of both school systems, there would have been afive-cent tax increase in the County. Affordable Housina The Commissioners have adopted along-term affordability policy for affordable housing. The proposed budget calls fora $250,000 reserve for new affordable housing initiatives. Twa task forces have been set up to address this important issue. Master Aging Plan The proposed budget calls fora $60,000 reserve to address the recommendations of the Master Aging Plan Task Force. General Fund Staff Resources The proposed budget calls far six new positions in the County. These address the needs of the frail elderly, children, and state mandated building inspections. There are also other positions that have been recommended to either have additional County funding or to have increased hours. The proposed budget calls far a 3°l° cost of living adjustment effective July 1, 2000 and the continuation of the in-range salary progression at 2.5% far employees whose work performance is proficient or better. Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Tipping fees generates this fund. The increase in per-ton of $2 is necessary to carry out the functions already in existence. On the Horizon The County anticipates a revaluation of all real property effective January 1, 2001; the final sale of bands far the 1997 band referendum; start up casts for two new schools; program financing far solid waste facilities; a County space study; recommendatiansfrnm the Innovation and Efficiency Committee; and a passible Durham Technical Community College satellite campus. Commissioner Gordon asked if the Board could do the resolution of intent on Thursday, June 15th and then adopt the budget on June 20tH The Board agreed to try to adhere to this schedule. 2. PUBLIC HEARING Bob Schreiner, member of the Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees, thanked the Commissioners for their support of the public library and asked for continued support beyond what is proposed in the budget. He summarized the highlights from the past year. Chapel Hill's Public Library is the state's leader in the number of books borrowed per capita per year for residents. He said that the Chapel Hill Library Board of Trustees created a needs assessment that concluded that if no new services were instituted, the public library would need considerably more resources because of population and cost increases. He asked for increased support for all public libraries in Orange County. He especially asked the Commissioners to develop a plan with the Town of Chapel Hill so that there is not a disparity between the resources allocated to each public library in the County. Paul Farel, member of the Chapel Hill Library Board of Trustees, emphasized the disparity in the funding sources of the library compared to the users of the library. He also emphasized that there are close ties between the schools and public libraries. He showed a series of slides on the patron residency based on registration records. About 44°~ of the patrons of the Chapel Hill public library live in Orange County, outside the Town of Chapel Hill. He showed that only 14°~ of the library funding is provided by County sources. He said that there was a great disparity between the people who use the library and where the funding comes from. He said that the mean percentage of the general fund that the surrounding counties give to their public libraries is 1.65°~ and Orange County only gives .85°~. He said that just as the library plans for the long-term needs for our schools, we should also develop along-term plan for our libraries. He urged the Commissioners to heel the disparity in funding to the libraries. Chair Carey said that as a result of the requests that the County received in the last six months far investing County dollars in new access sites for library services, the Board will appoint a