Minutes 05-17-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Final Adoption –June 21St at SHSC Document Availability •Clerk to Board of Commissioners •County Financial Services Office •Orange County Library •Chapel Hill Public Library •Carrboro/McDougle Branch Library •Cybrary, Carrboro •Orange County Website •www.co.orange.nc.us Frank Clifton said that the County is operating on $6 million less than it did three years ago and the budget is focused on the Board of County Commissioners' priorities—schools, increased paramedics, economic development, and building a positive financial basis and stable fund balance. The fund balance continues to rise and the goal is to get it to 17%. Some issues left out of this presentation are that there is no proposed tax increase and no employee compensation adjustment other than consideration of a %2% increase in the retirement expense, and somewhere between a 2-4% increase in health benefits. Frank Clifton cautioned the Board that the County most likely will be facing a tax increase in coming years due to projects like the Efland sewer project that will require proceeding forward to start paying the debt. He said that human services will be affected unless there are additional revenues in the coming years. He said that the County is now at 859 budgeted staff positions. There are about 40-50 positions vacant. The policy is to keep positions vacant for six months except public safety and law enforcement and a few critical positions. This savings is $2,000,000 annually. Frank Clifton said that the '/4-cent sales tax referendum in the fall will help fund economic development if it passes. If it does not pass, the Board of County Commissioners will need to make some tough decisions. Clarence Grier thanked the budget staff for their dedicated work on the budget. He introduced a new staff person, Budget Analyst, Lisa Henty. b. Proclamation Desiqnatinq June 4, 2011 as South Oranqe Rescue Squad � The Board considered approving a proclamation recognizing South Orange Rescue Squad's 40th Anniversary and designating June 4, 2011 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in Orange County and authorizing the Chair to sign. Matthew Mauzy, Chief of SORS, read the proclamation. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to approve the proclamation recognizing South Orange Rescue Squad's 40th Anniversary and designating June 4, 2011 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS