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34 <br /> 1 Commissioner Dorosin said he is describing it as it is listed in option 1 or 2, to fund <br /> 2 either the current or the expanded district. <br /> 3 Michael Talbert clarified that Board agreed at their last meeting to continue the existing <br /> 4 rural program as it is in place now, with no additional services or expansion. <br /> 5 Commissioner Dorosin asked if this current discussion is envisioning what will happen <br /> 6 on July 1 of 2014-15. <br /> 7 Michael Talbert said that is correct. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> 10 Bonnie Hauser read from a letter the Board received from the Orange County Voice. <br /> 11 Dear Commissioners: <br /> 12 <br /> 13 We are writing to voice our strong, shared support for full funding of schools and setting <br /> 14 Orange County on a path to fiscal sustainability. Immediate priorities for teachers, schools and <br /> 15 social safety nets will require more funding due to state budget cuts. Plus our aging schools <br /> 16 are in disrepair, and will require increased funds and access to debt capacity for the next 5-10 <br /> 17 years. The good news is the county's reserves are well funded which will help with short term <br /> 18 funding needs. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 We believe that better planning, coordination with towns and schools, and improved <br /> 21 transparency over spending and the county's reserves will help meet the county's short term <br /> 22 funding needs, and prepare us for the future. Below are specific actions for you to consider in <br /> 23 the current budget cycle and as you consider options for funding solid waste services. <br /> 24 <br /> 25- Eliminate the general fund subsidy ($1.86 million) to Solid Waste and re-allocate these <br /> 26 funds to schools and social safety nets. You are considering this idea with an offsetting <br /> 27 increase in convenience center fees to fill the gap. After reading your agenda package for June <br /> 28 3rd, we believe that a better option is to cut solid waste spending and use solid waste reserves <br /> 29 to fill any remaining gap. Cost saving ideas include: <br /> 30 • Defer capital spending for rural curbside recycling trucks and roll carts, and for the <br /> 31 Eubanks Convenience center (total $3.3 million) until there's a solid waste plan and a <br /> 32 committed inter-local agreement with the towns. Consider co-locating the Eubanks <br /> 33 Convenience Center with the Chapel Hill Transfer station. <br /> 34 • Substantially cut the budget ($728,000) for rural curbside recycling by limiting service to <br /> 35 existing users. As an alternative, consider outsourcing all or part of the program by <br /> 36 inviting Waste Industries to extend their service area beyond town limits, and provide <br /> 37 weekly service on a subscription basis. <br /> 38 • Invite the department to further reduce costs without impacting service. <br /> 39 • Use solid waste reserves ($3 million) to fill remaining funding shortfalls. <br /> 40 For the long term, we could support eliminating solid waste fees and funding solid waste <br /> 41 services out of the general fund if there were effective controls <br /> 42 over spending and more transparency around costs. Public hearings would be needed as part <br /> 43 of the decision-making process. <br /> 44 <br /> 45- Place a hard moratorium on capital projects for county offices until there is a committed <br /> 46 plan for all facilities, including consolidating offices and leasing or selling unused space. <br /> 47 <br /> 48- Defer spending on new county parks in order to free up funds for schools, and align <br /> 49 park planning with towns, OWASA and community resources. Orange County has an <br /> 50 abundance of delightful parks and recreational facilities that are enjoyed by residents of all <br />