Orange County NC Website
Graph 11 shows the projected sales tax revenues and also, because of Medicaid <br /> relief/sales tax swap, the sales taxes will start to go down next year. <br /> Graph 12 shows the annual sales tax collections by component (Articles 39, 40, 42, and <br /> 44). Graph 13 also shows the County's reliance on property taxes. Sixty-nine percent of the <br /> total general fund revenues are property taxes. If nothing else changes, if there are no new <br /> local revenue options approved and if sales taxes continue the way that they are, in five years, <br /> 76% of the total general fund budget will be made up of property taxes. <br /> Graph 14 is a comparison of growth in the annual general fund budget and real property <br /> valuation. <br /> Donna Coffey made reference to the goldenrod sheet, which listed the preliminary <br /> budget drivers for 2008-09. Some of the cost projections were not complete. Of those that <br /> were complete, they totaled $18.6 million, which is 14.4 cents per $100 valuation. She reviewed <br /> each line of the handout. <br /> Laura Blackmon asked if the Board had things to add to the list. Commissioner Gordon <br /> said to add any operational increases in facilities in the County. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said that she would like to get some idea of GASB 45 <br /> implications and Donna Coffey said that the staff is looking into that. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that there has been discussion recently about dissolving <br /> some properties the County owns and Laura Blackmon said that the staff is compiling a list. <br /> She said that some buildings are still occupied, and the only facility that is vacant is the old ABC <br /> store on Highway 49. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to some county buildings that are vacant or may <br /> become vacant, including the Valley Forge site, Northside, Purchasing, and Whitted. She asked <br /> for a list of properties that have the potential of being disposed of. She referred to the space <br /> study in 2001 that had lists and pictures of all county facilities. She said that it would be helpful <br /> to have this list updated and asked staff to provide an updated list of county facilities.. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the list could be ready for the next budget work session, March <br /> 12th. Chair Jacobs asked that this be plugged into the budget process. <br /> 2. 2008-18 Proposed County and Schools' Capital Investment Plan — Unfunded <br /> Needs <br /> This was Attachment 4. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that on the unfunded needs for the next ten years, there is a <br /> shortfall. She wants to talk about the potential for funding these shorttalls. <br /> Donna Coffey made reference to the back side of the first page and said that line 21 <br /> should read, "Total Unfunded County Projects Costing Less than $5,000,000" and not $500,000. <br /> Everywhere this is referenced in the document should have $5,000,000. This was an oversight. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the staff thought it might be a useful exercise to see if pay-as- <br /> you-go funds could be used for unfunded projects costing less than $5 million. This is just an <br /> exercise for discussion. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the Board already went through the list of projects and <br /> flagged some for consideration for unfunded projects. Laura Blackmon said that the process <br /> was very hurried, and she would like to have a more methodical approach. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked Laura Blackmon how she envisioned that the previously flagged <br /> projects would fit into her scenario. Laura Blackmon listed some of the ones that were flagged: <br /> Twin Creeks at $9.6 million, Smith Middle School, Carrboro High School additions at $13 <br /> million, Culbreth Middle School science labs at $3.5 million, and Elementary#11 at $30.8 <br /> million. <br /> Donna Coffey said that there were other comments made by the Board of County <br /> Commissioners and the staff would handle those comments, once the Board adopts the CIP, <br /> and the changes could be made. <br />