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The Board indicated their intent to remove some unfilled positions, including the Cooperative Extension position and others. Laura Blackmon said that when the pay and classification study is done, she would like to look at the temporary title that is used. She said that some of the temporary positions are part-time and some are seasonal. Some of the positions are truly temporary. She said that using the temporary category as acatch-all phrase for these types of positions is misleading to a certain extent. She does not think it is fair to some of the employees who have part-time, permanent positions. She would like to look at these positions and redefine the use of the temporary positions. Commissioner Faushee asked far information on the number of temporary employees in each department. She has been asking for this information for two years. Laura Blackmon said that some of that is a snap-shot. She wants to keep a true accounting of this temporary work force. Commissioner Jacobs said that there need to be standards and definitions for temporary employees. Regarding overtime, Laura Blackmon said that this is being revamped to follow the federal guidelines. There are overtime issues in some departments. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the $1.3 million savings for budgeting 96°~ payroll. He said that he heard $1.2 million and also $1.5 million and administrative costs. He would like specific numbers on what the 96°~ is going to save versus what 120 days is going to save. Chair Carey said that if there are specific changes that the Board wants the staff to incorporate, then it should be clear at each work session. Problems and issues should be raised at each meeting and not all at the end. Laura Blackmon said that she would like to have budgeting policies for positions. ~. Workers Compensation Rod Visser said that this is a follow-up from the discussion at the work session on May 17t". In recent years, Orange County has experienced a pattern of substantial increases in annual premiums for Workers Compensation insurance. As recently as 2001-02, the County's premiums were around $250,000 a year. The recommended budget for 2007-08 is over $1 million for this. The County's insurer has urged the County staff to look at the current policies and practices related to administering this program to see if there are measures that could be taken to reduce some costs. The basic requirements of the State of North Carolina's Industrial Commission are that employers have to insure that employees injured an the job receive medical treatment without cost to the employee, employees are paid 2/3 of their salary for all time lost beyond seven days, treating providers have to follow the direction of the plan's manager, and employers will not retaliate against employees who file workers compensation claims. Orange County's practices over the years have evolved so that it is much more generous in some areas than the minimums from the State. Orange County pays people who go on workers comp 100°~ of salary as opposed to 2I3. He understands that Orange County is the only county in the State that does this. All of the benefits continue to accrue while someone is out on workers comp. There is a provision for providing light duty, but it is very difficult in many departments to find something that is light duty. The insurers have said that the County has to demonstrate before the end of the fiscal year that it is trying to take active steps to change the practices and rein in the costs. The staff will try and prepare an agenda item before