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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING <br /> JUNE 14, 1989 <br /> The Orange county Board of Commissioners met on June 14, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in the <br /> Superior Court Room, Hillsborough, NC for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing on the <br /> budget. <br /> BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners Steve <br /> Halkiotis, John Hartwell, Shirley Marshall and Don Willhoit. <br /> STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Assistant County Managers Ellen Liston <br /> and Albert Kittrell, Clerk to the Board Beverly Blythe, Budget Analyst Donna Wagner, MPA <br /> Interim Beth McIver, Personell Director Addie Wright-Turner, Finance Director Ken <br /> Chavious, Purchasing Director Pam Jones, EMS Director Nick Waters, and Social Services <br /> Administrative Officer Rick Poole. <br /> Chairman Carey opened this Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. <br /> County Manager John Link made a presentation as contained in the recommended budget <br /> document. <br /> Commissioner Marshall asked Mr. Link to breakdown the increase in positions <br /> according to those positions that come from mandated needs, such as Social Services, and <br /> those positions that come from county priorities. <br /> Commissioner Hartwell stated that Orange County is estimated to have spent 134 <br /> million dollars on military for the last budget year. That is 3X's the county budget. <br /> He pointed out that as a nation our priorities are out of order. <br /> THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS <br /> Dr. Bill Hollister, a member of a voluntary citizens organization associated with <br /> Orange Pearson Chatham Mental Health Center, stated that the is understaffed in the area <br /> of child mental health. He also mentioned that he outpatient clinic size and operation <br /> is still at the 1985 level, although there is a 42% increase in the number of citizens <br /> asking for services over last year. He asked for a explanation for the fact that the <br /> Mental Health staff have a 16% lower average income than the county employees in <br /> comparable positions. <br /> Mr. Ralph Warren, a member of the Orange County Board of Education, spoke in favor <br /> of granting the Superintendent's request for supplements for the certified and <br /> classified staff. <br /> Ms. Caroline Karpinos, President of the Frank Porter Graham Elementary School PTA, <br /> spoke in favor of approving the portion of the budget which affects the expansion <br /> programs of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school district. She stated that this funding is <br /> important. If the funding is not approved there may be problems with the fiscal <br /> implementation of transferring 6th and 9th graders to new schools. She requested that <br /> the Special District Tax not be fazed out. Chapel Hill/Carrboro citizens are willing to <br /> pay this tax and she feels it is needed. <br /> Ms. Sarah Stewart, Co-President of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Federation of Teachers, <br /> thanked the Board of Commissioners for their support of the schools over the years. She <br />