Agenda - 06-05-2008-5b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Impact Statements Regarding Possible FY 2008-09 Program Eliminations 06;'02,%OS The Recommended FY 2008-09 fiscal year budget proposed a tax rate of 103.8 cents per $100 valuation, reflecting an increase of 8.8 cents over the FY 2007-08 approved rate of 95 cents. During the FY 2008-09 budget presentation on May 20, 2008, the Board expressed desire to reduce the recommended ad valorem tax rate of $1.038 per $100 valuation to a lower rate. The Board is scheduled to discuss possible modifications to the budget, during its June 5, 2008 budget work session. The attached list is in priority order. The first three sections of the modification list include reductions in expenses, deferral of new programs, efficiency measures and possible fee increases that would have minimal impacts on County services. Section 4 of the spreadsheet proposes elimination of certain County programs and appropriations. Below are impact statements related to items included in Section 4. 4-a. Parks & Recreation -Eliminate County Support to Community Theater ($5,000) Orange Community Players is a community organization that has worked with Orange County Parks and Recreation to put on productions. Elimination of $5,000, the equivalent of 50% of the county's support, for Community Theater would require Orange Community Players to conduct fund raising efforts. This group is in the process of establishing themselves as a 501 c3 organization. County support would continue to assist in the rental of an area school facility, which in the past has cost about $5,000. It is estimated that as many as 40-50 community members have participated in each summer production {on stage and behind stage} with as many as 1,500 spectators attending the four shows each year. 4-b. Parks & Recreation -Eliminate Gospel Festival ($2,000) Elimination of funding for Gospel Festival would impact local groups that perform at the festival, and about 400 spectators who attend the event each year. If no support is provided, the event would most likely be discontinued. 4-c. Health Department -Eliminate Help 4 Kids Program ($11,286) This program has been either fully or partially funded by Smart Start since the early 1990s and has provided a single portal of entry to services for children age 0-5 who are at risk for development delays. Historically, Smart Start has funded the cost of a full-time nurse who coordinates the program. However, over the years Smart Start funding has not kept pace with the changing salaries of the position, and the County has assumed a larger portion of the position cost. In addition, the reporting requirements, both for evaluation and for financial accounting have increased substantially. Two years ago, the state created regional service providers {Child Development Service Agencies} that were intended to provide triage and referral services for the 0-3 population within the region. The Health Department worked with the regional agency {CDSA} to avoid overlapping services and continued to provide birth certificate review and referral services for the 3-5 age population. This year through the allocation process at Smart Start, a recommendation was made by the Allocation Committee and approved by the Smart Start Board to reduce funding for this project to $35,000 from the previous funding level of $56,760. However, program requirements remained the same. The Health Director with the Board of Health's concurrence will discontinue this program as of June 30, 2008. 4-d. Cooperative Extension -Eliminate Breast-Feeding Program ($42,070) In December 2003, Commissioners agreed to fund the Breast Feeding Program after the State eliminated funding for the initiative. The Gounty, in conjunction with Piedmont Health Services, offers education and support services to new mothers regarding the benefits of breastfeeding. Approximately 220 Spanish speaking mothers are expected to receive services this year. The County currently funds one full-time equivalent position for this program. The position is currently filled. 4-e. Cooperative Extension -Eliminate Expanded Faod and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP} ($45,502) The Expanded Foods and Nutrition program has been a part of the Cooperative Extension program since 1971. In 2003, Gommissioners agreed to participate in a cost share arrangement with the State after Page 1 of 3