Minutes - 19890530 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

301 County Subsidy of Volunteer Services $105,000 County Subsidy of Daytime Services 613.000 Total $718,000 Tax Rate Equivalent 2.1 cents Link indicated that the revenue from fees would generate $244,000 for the first year. The approach recommended would reduce the amount of tax burden to $519,000. Most of the revenue would be produced through private insurance and Medicaid/Medicare. Only a small portion of private citizens would be directly billed and in those cases payment would be based on ability to pay. Some of the EMS volunteers take issue with the study because it does not reflect their contributions and resources to the EMS system. They believe that a complete analysis should reflect their hours of time, training, equipment, and facilities to show what a total EMS system costs. They also take issue with the timing of the study and the implementation, believing that July 1st is too quick for implementation. They also take philosophical issue with charging a fee for volunteer time and use of rescue squad equipment. They believe that fees will cause contributions to diminish. There are other issues, but these are some of the major ones. Link reviewed other increases for the upcoming year. The largest increases go toward schools, and debt service. Other increases are in the areas of human services, public works, public safety, outside agencies, and general administration. Economic Development is a high priority for the county and the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan is being recommended. That will require funds for additional staff to help accomplish those goals. In the Public Works Department recommendations include a solid waste manager, and a building and grounds supervisor, to enhance the solid waste program. At the same time the tipping fees will be increased. In Public Safety the implementation of Phase II of the DARE program, and the addition of a Deputy Emergency Services Director, has been recommended. The Social Services Department is expanding public assistance programs due to mandated program enhancements. Specifically, two Public Assistance case workers, and a nurse supervisor for the in-home care program, are being recommended. These new positions are being recommended for the Health Department. The Animal Control Officer, Public Health Nurse-Family Planning Clinics, and a Social Worker (part-time) to coordinate "baby love" program are also being recommended. Personnel is being recommended for two new positions to assist in the Classification Study and to administer the Employee Training and Development program. In the General Administration the creation of a Budget Office is being recommended. That office will operate as an arm of the Manager's office. The recommendation for the education budgets is for a per student increase from $967 to $1042. This is a 10% increase in county funding for schools current expense. The recommendation also includes using the discretionary capital funds for removal of asbestos in both school systems. The issue of school equity has been studied over the last year. Agreement has been reached on definitions and objectives. A financial model has been reached by county staff and will be presented. The goal is to reach equity within 5 or 6 years. The goal is to reach funding equity only, not programmatic equity. Funding will never be exactly the same and a 4% to 5% variance is thought to be acceptable. In pursuing equity, it needs to be clear that the taxpayers in Orange County will pay more taxes during the course of this effort. That's fair because they will be achieving a greater increase in funding during the same time. A special District Tax could address the question of equity. This tax would be applied to the entire county. The county tax could be raised as the Chapel