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APPROVED 9/8/2011 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION June 9, 2011 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on Tuesday, June 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Barry Jacobs, Pam Hemminger, Earl McKee, and Steve Yuhasz COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey, Interim Assistant County Manager Michael Talbert and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker (All other staff inembers will be identified appropriately below) 1. FY2011-12 Fire Districts' Tax Rates Frank Clifton introduced Paul Laughton, Budget Analyst that worked closely with the fire districts this budget season. Four departments have requested a fire tax increase. He made reference to Attachment 1 and the shaded tax rates, which were the four that have requested an increase. These are New Hope, Orange Grove, Orange Rural, and White Cross. New Hope: Will Bernard, Board of Directors President, said that this increase would generate an additional $110,000 for the district. The request is in response to a $200,000 deficiency and this is due to about a $50,000 loss of annexation funding. The second component of about $51,000 is an increase in operating expenses, which includes a $30,000 increase in total personnel costs. He said that the fire department made a commitment to fund two full-time paid staff at the station 24/7, 365 days a year. A large portion of the increase is due to overtime payments. Commissioner Hemminger asked if the other districts are keeping full time staff around the clock. She said that Orange County has one of the higher tax rates. Fire Chief Mike Tapp said that there is a combination of staffing throughout the County. Some departments are volunteer departments and some departments are a combination of paid staff and volunteers. Commissioner Hemminger asked what would happen if they did not get the increase. Mike Tapp said that they would have to cut back on operational costs, which would be very difficult because of inflation of fuel and vehicle maintenance. He said that he is hesitant about reducing the work force because there are only two people at the station during the day for 24 hours, supplemented by the volunteers. Commissioner Yuhasz asked how much of an impact covering I-40 had on this department. Mike Tapp said that interstate calls are usually 1-3 hours and this puts a strain on the department.