Minutes - 20061207 - Laserfiche WebLink

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following year, $1,280,000. The percentage increase is about 3%. Over the next few years, the County will probably experience $2.6 to $2.7 million natural growth in the revenue. This does not assume any tax rate increases. The pink sheet was a table of historical general fund information. Donna Coffey went through this table. The dark green sheet provided a few examples of budget drivers, including increased debt service; increasing student membership for both school systems; operational, maintenance, and staffing of new school and County facilities coming on-line; Governor's initiatives related to school funding; full implementation of County Capital Funding Policy {exclusive of accounting for Lottery Proceeds); outcome of Board commissioned studies; and Medicaid. Other possible budget drivers include eliminating the 120-day hiring delay for vacant County positions, Greene Tract payback, elevating per capita funding for Library Services, addressing tang-term temporary employees, and Health Department strategic plan. She said that in January the staff will bring back a more detailed list of budget drivers and the costs. Commissioner Nelson made reference to the green sheet and the student projections. He said that the 10-day membership was almost double the student projections. He asked how the State got it sa wrong. Commissioner Foushee said that the State has been wrong for years and it continues to do this. The County has to act on the State's projections. Donna Coffey said that the State projected that OCS would lase 22 students this year and instead and there was an increase of over 100 students. Commissioner Jacobs said that it is in the legislative agenda to have this changed sa that the funding is not based on the projections from DPI. Commissioner Gordon said that the State calculates the projections in the spring and there is no provision if there is an undercount. The County has its awn methodology for projections. Commissioner Nelson made reference to the first page and the investment earnings and asked about the kinds of investments that the County has. Finance Director Ken Chavious said that statutes define the investments. Most of the investments now are short-term and the County's fund balance is not sufficient enough to venture out into riskier type investments. Chair Carey asked what was saved this year because of the cap on County Medicaid shares and Donna Coffey said probably around $400,000, but she will double check. Chair Carey said that he heard today that one of the legislative committees has recommended continuing the cap on Medicaid. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the unexpected savings and Donna Coffey said that there was about $300,000 in savings for health insurance and the Board requested that this be put back towards employee benefits. The staff will look into this further. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there was enough money budgeted far the necessary renovations associated with moving departments when the new facilities are built for the Justice Facilities expansion. Donna Coffey said that this is included in the CIP in the spring and there is a placeholder in the 2007-2008 budget. Commissioner Gordon asked Donna Coffey to comment on the capital and a general fiscal forecast. Donna Coffey said that the main piece is the capital funding policy and updating the policy to include the lottery proceeds and the CIP. She does not know what the drivers will be for the CIP. She said that the North Carolina Local Budget Conference is going an now, and she hopes to have information from the economists. Commissioner Gordon said that Donna Coffey was going to fill in the maintenance piece and Donna Coffey said that she is working with Jeff Thompson to calculate same ca- efficiencies. She expects this to be part of the CIP that is brought back in the spring. Commissioner Jacobs said that last year there were budget drivers far 11 cents and Donna Coffey said that these drivers are probably in the same neighborhood as last year.