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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 13, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. :~ <br />SUBJECT• Discussion of Recommended 2008-18 County Capital Investment Plan <br />DEPARTMENT: Budget Office ~ PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Donna Coffey, Budget Director <br />PURPOSE: To offer the Board an opportunity to exchange ideas about and provide direction <br />to staff on the Recommended 2008-18 County Capital Investment Plan (CIP) prior to the <br />November 15, 2007 public hearing and planned December 3, 2007 adoption of the long range <br />plan. <br />BACKGROUND: .Each year, Orange County invests considerable financial resources in <br />acquiring, constructing, maintaining, operating and paying debt for School, County and Town <br />capital facilities that meet a variety of past, current and future community needs. Given the <br />significant investment that Commissioners devote to these expenses, it is critical to have solid <br />planning tools in place that provide the foundation for making sound informed decisions for the <br />future. <br />The CIP as A Planning Tool <br />The proposed 2008-18 CIP identifies aten-year span of funded and unfunded County and <br />School needs necessary to continue delivery of services to our community. It is a financial plan <br />that adheres to the County Capital Funding and Debt Management Policies. <br />~k Comprehensive Financial Plan -Planning for future investments should be strategic <br />and encompass a "big picture" approach meaning that in addition to initial capital outlays <br />to acquire, construct or develop the project itself, consideration must be given to the full <br />financial impact of the project including the on-going costs that occur after <br />construction/development is complete. On-going costs, including staffing, annual <br />operating and maintenance as well as repayment of debt, will affect future County annual <br />operating budgets and tax rates. In years where there are a number of projects coming <br />on-line at one time, these costs can be substantial. <br />Over the last few .years, the County has seen fiscal constraints mount. While the <br />County's tax base remains stable, community demands for services continue to grow. In <br />addition, the State financial support has diminished in spite of increased mandates that <br />