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Also, instead of the proposed five-cent increase, we would like a contribution of about 5% of each person's salary put into the 401 k every year." He said that he speaks on behalf of all of the employees. Judy O'Connell is the Assistant Director and Child Service Coordinator for Kidscope. She spoke on behalf of the Kidscope staff and families of children they represent. She thanked the County Commissioners for their ongoing concerns and support far the children's services of Orange County. She distributed some children's art. She said that last week they promised to return to speak about the impact the OPC's PEO retirement option would have on the Kidscope program. They had not obtained the documents outlined in the PEO option until Thursday, May 26t". She made reference to the emails received from OPC's Human Resources, which were in response to their questions regarding divestiture and what would happen to them as staff. Copies of the emails are in the packets distributed to the County Commissioners. It is clear from the PEO option that the continuation of their program is at risk. Ninety-one percent of their staff falls outside of the PEO retirement guidelines. If only ten of these people are forced to seek employment somewhere else in order to save their retirement, they would lase 45% of their staff. This loss would be devastating with the divestiture. To survive divestiture, they must be sure to have the personnel needed to process billing, maintain medical records, and provide direct therapies. Not one of the employees in these key positions falls within the PEO option. She said that no one was watching out for them as employees. Ta suggest that their program could survive without the skills of the Billing Specialist is ludicrous. In view of what the PEO retirement option will do to Kidscope, they are asking for the County Commissioners' help. Another retirement plan must be made available to the staff. Myra Gwin-Summers is an advocate for Kidscope and services far young children in Orange County. She appreciated Commissioner Jacobs' comment about the State budget, saying that it was crafted in secret. This is her feeling about the OPC Management's proposal for how to handle the retirement program. She has only learned today how this will impact the programs, and she was appalled to learn that there were only two people out of all of the personnel that would qualify and that mare than 90°~ of the staff would essentially be outside of the system. She said that the programs couldn't continue intact if the personnel are lost. She said that there are some options on the table, and the County Commissioners know about these options. She said that it seems obvious from the OPC Management proposal that it is not a priority to keep the programs intact and continue the services. She said that now is the time to act on this. She asked the County Commissioners to consider the options available and help them to make sure that the services are not disrupted. Elizabeth Mitchell is a parent of a child that goes to Kidscope. She said that there are parents here whose children have gone through the Kidscope program and are now in the Orange County School System. She thanked the County Commissioners for giving the needed funding in the past. She said that this staff was one of the most dedicated groups of women that she has come across in a long time. She asked the County Commissioners to support the Kidscope program and work with OPC to keep the staff. Chris Lutes said that he is willing to pay higher taxes for better funding for public schools. He said that if his taxes were increased by 30°l0, he would only be paying another $200 a year. If he had to put his children in private school, it would cast a whale lot more. He said that trained, skilled, knowledgeable employees are worth more in his organization than $200 a year. He said that we are educating the citizens that will help run the country in ten years. He agrees that our schools are well funded in comparison