Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
in August or September. He reminded the Board that two years ago they delayed filling some <br />positions based on negotiating with department heads. He is not calling it a freeze, but using a <br />natural process of some positions not being advertised and others being delayed. <br />Commissioner Brown asked John Link if he supported the reduction in the budget at this <br />time. John Link said that he would carry out the action of the Board. He has no idea haw the <br />cuts will look and whether what he recommends will be acceptable to the Board. He said that <br />legally, the Board would have to cut $400,000 out of one function in order for the budget to be <br />legal and during the course of the summer, the cuts would be applied equitably from the other <br />functions. He would recommend taking the $400,000 out of the first function, governing and <br />management. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that John Link would not come back with proposed savings <br />balanced on the back of the very young or the very old or the very weak and ones that cannot <br />fend for themselves. He would not support something that would balance any cut on the backs <br />of those that can least afford to carry it. He has faith in the Manager to look at the least onerous <br />way to accomplish this. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he has concerns about this process. He has confidence <br />in the Manager's ability, but the Board should give him the flexibility on all line items instead of <br />just one. He will support this, but he wants to register his concerns about the process. <br />John Link said that this would not and could not include any cuts in education. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this motion is with the understanding as outlined by the Manager <br />as to where the money would come from. <br />VOTE: Ayes, 3; Nays, 2 (Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Gordon) <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to: <br />1. Adopt the 2004-05 Orange County Budget Ordinance to include a Countywide tax <br />rate of 88 cents and a Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District Tax of 20.0 cents. <br />2. Amend the Classification and Pay Plan to: <br />- Add the new class of Parks Conservation Technician II at salary grade 14. <br />-Change the title of the existing class of Parks Conservation Technician at salary <br />grade 12 to Parks Conservation Technician I with no change in salary grade. <br />3. Authorize a 2.0 percent cost of living increase for permanent employees effective <br />October 11, 2004. <br />4. Adopt the County Fee Schedule <br />5. Approve the County and School capital project ordinances for fiscal year 2004-05. <br />6. Approve the County grant project ordinances for fiscal year 2004-05. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />i. Budget Amendment #14 <br />The Board considered approving budget, capital project, and grant project ordinance <br />amendments for fiscal year 2003-04. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that this was something that was just received and she <br />asked for a review. <br />Budget Director Donna Dean said that this includes: <br />^ DSS -received an additional $3,000 <br />^ Department on Aging -received an additional $7,000 from the Home and Community Care <br />Block Grant <br />^ Equipment and Vehicle replacements - on May 18th, the Board approved an equipment <br />financing plan for solid waste equipment and emergency management ambulances <br />^ County-wide -puts some functions in the correct areas after switching to a new financial <br />system, MUNIS <br />^ Governing and Management Nan-Department -allocating the health insurance increases <br />and equity retention fund <br />