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the County Commissioners want to cut the tax increase, other cuts will need to be made. He listed his suggestions as stated on his handout, "2002-03 Budget Discussion". Commissioner Gordon asked about the need for a generator at the Southern Human Services Center. It was answered that the key thing is that this was identified as a need by those departments housed in the Southern Human Services Center and would be used to take care of medicines and other items that need to be refrigerated. John Link said that if this were something the County Commissioners want to delay, the County would work with the school systems to use their generators in case something happens where electricity is lost far an extended period of time. There are enough portable generators in the County that could be used. Commissioner Carey asked about the Old Courthouse project and said that he thought that only $25,000 was needed to coincide with the timing of Hillsborough's efforts to make improvements and repairs. Rod Visser said that $50,000 is needed for the brickwork at the Old Courthouse and $25,000 is needed to take care of moisture problems. These two projects really need to be done. Commissioner Carey made reference to the hiring freeze of staff positions and said that he feels we should consider a six month freeze on positions as opposed to four or five months. This would lower the tax increase a little bit and help the citizens in the County. The County Commissioners have already indicated to the County Manager that essential functions must be continued. This gives the County Manager the flexibility he needs to maintain the service levels necessary for Orange County. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a meeting with Person County and said that other counties are laying off people. This hiring freeze will guarantee the present County employees their jabs. He agrees with the six-month hiring freeze. Commissioner Gordon asked what the figure would be for a freeze for six months and Personnel Director Elaine Holmes said it would be $740,000. Commissioner Brawn said that she is not sure she is supportive of the $10,000 needed for part-time Aging positions. Jahn Link said that they have asked all County departments to cut temporary personnel monies. He said that he would not know how much of the safety net monies they would need for at least two months. This could be funded from those monies because it is a human service issue. Commissioner Brown asked that the County Commissioners consider raising the subsidy that the County pays for health insurance for employees from 40% to 50°~. No adjustments were made to the individual capital project allocations that were proposed on the two sheets. 4. Potential Hiring Freeze and Other Employee Pay & Benefit Matters Chair Jacobs said that there is a proposal to make the hiring freeze for a period of six months. Also, there is a recommendation to change the 40% health insurance subsidy to 50°~. Commissioner Gordon said that the problem this year is that this is going to cost employees their compensation. It also is a policy change. She wonders if we can keep our policy the same at 40°~ and alleviate the situation this year and have a lump sum of money to hold people harmless. Elaine Holmes said that the impact of the 50% would hold people harmless. John Link said that this could be addressed through a 1-1/4 increase in the in-range salary increase, which would apply to all employees but would diminish the impact of the health insurance increases. John Link stated that there is $145,000 budgeted far meritorious service awards and the cost of the in-range increase is $174,000 so an additional $29,000 would be needed.