Agenda - 03-03-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 1 many of the teachers were offended by the actions of the general assembly, and this is 2 something to be cognizant of. He encouraged the Board to consider a tax increase to support 3 the schools. 4 Chair Jacobs said the Board of County Commissioners can fill holes but not craters. He 5 said he will be surprised if the Board can address all of the cuts. He said there needs to be a 6 comprehensive discussion about tax policy in Orange County. He said he would be willing to 7 have another Board of County Commissioners session after the legislature takes its recess. 8 Michael Talbert said the County budget was presented before the proposed senate 9 budget, and the 48.1 percent goal was what was used in preparing the budget. He said the 10 state balanced its budgets by eliminating positions and by moving that money from positions to 11 teacher raises. He said if the Board is going to make up that difference it would be a 12 substantial tax increase. He said Orange County cannot pick up everything that the state cuts. 13 He said out of the $2.1 million from the County schools, $1.7 million was from salaries. 14 Michelle Brownstein said the senate proposal impacts the budget as much as $3.6 15 million, in addition to the $2.7 million shortfall from the County budget. She said that is where 16 the earlier mention of$6 million came from. She said the ripple effect will be catastrophic. 17 Mike Kelly said the total impact of the senate proposal is estimated to be $4.2 million, 18 and $1.7 million of that is from local supplements to offset the teacher salary increases. 19 Commissioner Gordon said it would help for CHCCS to re-send their budget 20 presentations electronically with a summary of the original budget request and the impacts of 21 the proposed senate cuts. 22 Commissioner Gordon said this year is different from other years. She said positions 23 are being cut, and jobs are being lost, and it is hard when experienced teachers are leaving for 24 other states with higher salaries. 25 She said raising teacher salaries at the expense of tenure and teacher assistants is not 26 good. She hopes the Board will do as much as possible in funding both school systems. 27 Commissioner Dorosin said the difference in the requested amount and the 28 recommended budget is $2.7 million. He asked what the priorities will be if full funding is not 29 possible. 30 Michelle Brownstein said the board has tried to prioritize positions based on cuts, but 31 they have not figured out the details yet. 32 Mike Kelly said some of the positions that were discussed in terms of cuts were: gifted 33 education specialists, teaching assistants, stage managers, and foreign language teachers in 34 elementary schools. 35 Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to see that list. He asked if there are priorities 36 within that total list. 37 Mike Kelly said it is not ranked in order, but it is ranked into first and second tiers. 38 Michelle Brownstein said this came from the superintendent's recommendations, but the 39 final decision will be a consensus from the board. She said this level of cuts is unprecedented. 40 Commissioner Dorosin said the reality is that it may not be all or nothing, and it is 41 important to prioritize and to be transparent about this. 42 Michelle Brownstein said the schools try to give the Board of County Commissioners 43 what they need as far as requests and then work things out once the Board has made a 44 decision. 45 Commissioner Dorosin said it would be easier for the Board if there was some 46 designation of the level of urgency and priority assigned to the requests. 47 Michelle Brownstein said CHCCS has submitted a list regarding potential cuts. 48 Mike Kelly said he can communicate what the board has discussed, but there has been 49 no prioritization of needs, because these discussions can be demoralizing to their teachers. He