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1 <br /> I Attachment 2 <br /> 2 <br /> 3 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 5 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING <br /> 6 May 30, 2013 <br /> 7 7:00 p.m. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Public Hearing on <br /> 10 Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, <br /> 11 N.C. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs and Commissioners mark <br /> 14 Dorosin, Alice M. Gordon, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich <br /> 15 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> 16 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: <br /> 17 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Assistant County Managers <br /> 18 Clarence Grier, Michael Talbert and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members <br /> 19 will be identified appropriately below) <br /> 20 <br /> 21 Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 1. Opening Remarks from the Chair <br /> 24 <br /> 25 Chair Jacobs reviewed the following items at the Commissioner's places: <br /> 26 - Copy of a Statement from Miriam Thompson <br /> 27 - Copy of a letter from CHCCS <br /> 28 - Letter from Chapel Hill Outreach Training Center <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Chair Jacobs said this is a recommended budget only. He noted that the Board of <br /> 31 County Commissioners is not proposing a cut in school funding; but the state legislature is <br /> 32 making cuts to school funding. He said the Board of County Commissioners does not approve <br /> 33 individual programs to the schools. The Board gives a per-pupil amount per school system, and <br /> 34 the school system makes the decisions on how the funding is dispersed to various programs. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 2. Presentation of County Manager's Recommended FY 2013-14 Budget <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Frank Clifton said if the Board of County Commissioners were to decide to increase <br /> 39 funding to the schools or any other county services, there is always the option of raising the <br /> 40 countywide tax rate. He said that each one cent on the tax rate generates $1.6 million. He said <br /> 41 that if this is done, and the money goes to schools, it is split based on the number of schools in <br /> 42 the school systems. He said that the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School District (CHCCS) has a <br /> 43 separate district tax. He noted that the proposed budget has about$650,000 in discretionary <br /> 44 funds. He said that schools may also use a portion of existing school system fund balances. <br /> 45 Frank Clifton noted that there are some debt issuances that lie ahead for the county. He <br /> 46 said the county maintains a funding reserve of 17%. This roughly equates to 3 months of <br /> 47 operating activity within the county. He said this is important, since the state lags 2-3 months <br /> 48 behind, and the county is spending in advance of that. He said the County is near or at debt <br /> 49 capacity. He said the Local Government Commission (LGC) is beginning a process to <br /> 50 standardize the policies and procedures. He said that this will mean a little less discretion on <br /> 51 how the County handles debt. <br /> 52 <br />