Minutes - 20070830 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

shortfall because the County budgeted $545,000 less than the State estimate for Medicaid casts. The County instead budgeted the same amount as last fiscal year. Commissioner Gordon said that the State taking the public school building funds is really shocking. She said that she heard that the State had a surplus at the beginning of the budget process. Laura Blackmon said that for the first year Orange County will be $522,377 short. In future years, there is no guarantee of the hold harmless funds or Medicaid relief funds. o Reference: Attachment 4-7 -Excerpts from General Assembly Budget (pages 256 through 262 -State Assume Medicaid Responsibilities) Donna Coffey said that this is the portion of the actual Medicaid bill. • Local Revenue Options o Reference: Attachment 4-8 -Excerpts from General Assembly Budget (pages 262 through 264 -Local Option County Taxes) Laura Blackman said that the County will be considering this for the May election. She sent the County Commissioners an updated list of counties from NCACC about this. Chair Carey said that if the County will not proceed in November 2007 far a referendum, then there must be a plan and money. Commissioner Jacobs said that he was disappointed that there was no agenda item this evening on the specific topic of making a decision on the local revenue option because the public had no way of knowing that we might discuss that. He said that the counties that chose not to proceed in November are the big, urban counties and he is concerned about this. He said that Johnston and Chatham Counties are putting it on the November election. He wants to know what is going to be lost by putting this on the November ballot. He thinks that the County Commissioners have been communicating that they need this far priorities in the County and they do not want to have to keep raising property taxes. Commissioner Foushee said that for her, her hesitancy would come with a good education campaign and whether there is enough time to do what is necessary. She thinks that it is incumbent upon the County Commissioners to let the public know what they are lasing after having gained Medicaid relief. Also, the November election is only municipal, and less people would come out to vote. Chair Carey said that he would not want to act on this tonight even if everyone agreed, because it was not put on the agenda and the public did not know about it. He knaves that there is not adequate time for an education plan by November. Commissioner Gordon said that if this is not put on the ballot in November, then it should be put on the ballot in May. Her preference would be the land transfer tax as opposed to the sales tax. She said that even though the County cannot specify on the ballot what the money will be used for, she would like to say that the first year's funds could go to capital or school costs. She said that the public does not realize what has been lost. Chair Carey said that how the money is used always comes up, and delaying until May will allow the Board of County Commissioners to discuss this. Commissioner Jacobs said that there is also the CHCCS Board elections in November, and those are the most motivated people to get the County more money to spend for education. He thinks that the public can be educated in two months. He said that by putting it on the ballot