Minutes - 06-15-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Jacobs said that one difference in the two scenarios is that there are two increases in the estimated Emergency Management Services fee collections based on the notion that Orange County would be added to the 85 counties that already have legislative authority to more aggressively seek recovering ambulance fees. Also, there is an estimated increase in Planning and Inspection fees. This is a difference of $100,000 that he thinks will go into the undesignated fund balance. He also looked at reducing the Facilities Care Reserve and the Lawn Mowing Reserve. These reductions would save $40,000. Commissioner Brown asked about the Public Communications study and asked if it was imperative for next year. Rod Visser said that it was important to do the study. The towns are all interested in undertaking the study, but no money has been designated for it. He said that it was not absolutely necessary, but it would be important to set aside the money. This amount was $25,oao. Commissioner Jacobs said that the only other differences in the two scenarios relate to the on-call pay, the COLA, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and the amount to remove from the undesignated fund balance. In regard to the one cent for affordable housing, he suggests that the County allocate one million dollars over three years, which would necessitate adding $83,333 this year from the $250,000 that the Manager recommended. His scenario would cut the rate of the tax increase to one cent. Chair Carey said that he did not support the reduction of the COLA to 2.75. He agrees with eliminating the on-call pay until a clear plan can be developed that is fair. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Commissioners' Contingency and said that he could support it being $150,000 instead of $125,000. Chair Carey would like to leave the Commissioners' Contingency at $175,000, but he would agree to reduce it to $150,000. Commissioners Gordon and Brown do not want to reduce the Commissioners' Contingency. Commissioner Brown and Chair Carey are not in favor of reducing the COLA. Commissioner Gordon said that the COLA needed to be flagged to discuss when Commissioner Halkiotis was present. She is not convinced that the cost of living has gone up that much. Chair Carey thinks that the affordable housing fund is a good start. He said that the $250,000 was a reasonable amount and he supports the Manager's recommendation. Commissioners Gordon and Brown also support the Manager's recommendation for affordable housing. Commissioner Jacobs said that to get dawn to a tax increase of one cent, depending on what is done with the COLA, only $389,000 would be taken out of the fund balance at the mast. Chair Carey verified that the Board would like to instruct the Manager to prepare a resolution that includes aone-cent increase in the tax rate, make the recommended adjustments, and to flag the amount of the COLA, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the OCI M, and the two museums. John Link summarized the changes made: Expense Eliminating new trails position Commissioners' Contingency will remain the same Facility Care Reserve was reduced by $25,000 Lawn Mowing Reserve was reduced by $15,000 On-Call Pay Reserve was eliminated by $44,125 $5,000 was added for La Fiesta Del Pueblo Revenue Increase in ambulance and planning fees of $200,000