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• Orange County's FY 2008-09 General Fund budget following the June 17 work session
<br />totals $183,005,580. This is $5,287,668 less than the recommended FY 2008-09 budget
<br />of $188,293,476.
<br />o The reductions decrease the recommended ad valorem tax rate of 103.8 cents
<br />per $100 valuation by 4 cents to 99.8 cents.
<br />o This is 4.8 cents more than the FY 2007-08 tax rate of 95 cents per $100
<br />valuation.
<br />Commissioners approved the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Special District Tax rate
<br />at 23 cents per $100 of property valuation, an increase of 2.65 cents over the FY 2007-
<br />08 tax rate. Revenues generated by the approved property tax rate are expected to
<br />generate $18.6 million for the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools in FY 2008-09, an
<br />increase of $2.3 million over the FY 2007-08 projected district tax revenues.
<br />o The tax rate increase is directly related to increased expenditures the District
<br />expects to incur with the opening of Morris Grove Elementary School and the
<br />addition of a senior class at Carrboro High School in fall 2008.
<br />Recommended General Fund current expense funding for Chapel Hill Carrboro City and
<br />Orange County Schools was reduced by $1,060,113 bringing the per pupil appropriation
<br />for fiscal year 2008-09 to $3,200, an increase of $131 per student over the fiscal year
<br />2007-08 per pupil appropriation of $3,069. This equates to 20 percent of the total
<br />$5,287,668 General Fund reduction.
<br />o A large portion of the decrease, $660,113, relates to the difference between the
<br />salary increases included in the recommended budget and those being
<br />considered by the General Assembly. At the time the recommended budget was
<br />presented to the Board, it appeared as if the State budget would include a 5
<br />percent salary increase for teachers. However, both the State House and Senate
<br />budgets allow fora 3 percent increase. The difference between 5 and 3 percent
<br />equates to $660,113 for Chapel Hill Carrboro City and Orange County Schools.
<br />o In addition, Commissioners agreed, at the June 17, 2008 work session, to reduce
<br />school current expense by an additional $400,000.
<br />o Annual funding for Chapel Hill Carrboro City and Orange County Schools,
<br />including current expense, short and long range capital, debt service, fair funding,
<br />health and safety resources, totals $90.2 million and equate to 49.3 percent of the
<br />total General Fund budget.
<br />o Current expense funding for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, including ad
<br />valorem and special district tax proceeds, totals $56,056,981 and equates to 96.5
<br />percent of the district's budget request of $58,090,154.
<br />o For Orange County Schools, current expense funding for FY 2008-09 totals
<br />$23,126,430 and equates to 94.8 percent of the district's budget request of
<br />$24,393,193. Orange County Schools does not have a special district tax to
<br />supplement monies received from the County's ad valorem tax.
<br />Recommended General Fund expenses for County departments and outside agencies
<br />were reduced by $4,227,615.
<br />o Commissioners approved a plan to transition 12.75 long-term temporary positions
<br />to permanent staff. The cost of these ad valorem supported positions equals
<br />$138,989. Two additional long-term temporary positions, funded with federal
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