Minutes 06-04-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Jacobs asked if the expense to the counties to add the Presidential Primary is known. Tracy Reams said in Orange County the estimate is between $107,000 and $117,000. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the cost for the State primaries is known. Tracy Reams said it is in the millions, and she would get the exact figure to the Board. • Child Support Enforcement, Pg. 98 Christal Sandifer reviewed the following information: Budget Highlights The FY15-16 Manager's Recommended Budget includes: ■ Economic recovery has not reached most of the families we serve and therefore affect collection rates. Our collections ($5,255,000) provide acutely needed income to Orange County families ■ Revenue Increases: Federal Support Enforcement ($45,000); IV-D Refunds ($3,075) • Community Relations & Tourism, Pg. 101 Christal Sandifer reviewed the following information: Budget Highlights • The FY15-16 Manager's Recommended Budget includes: • Occupancy Tax Rates and Revenue: Occupancy Tax revenues continue to increase due to strong travel economy. In FY14-15, Orange County's 3% Occupancy Tax collections have increased an average of 14% each month; year-end revenues are expected to exceed the original budget by 10% ($107,940). • Fund Balance Appropriation: Available fund balance totals $354,000. In FY15-16, the Visitors Bureau will appropriate $90,000 from fund balance, a decrease of$102,000 from the current year. Next year's appropriation will fund several additional marketing and community engagement initiatives, including: food focus on area's pasture to plate scene; LGBT weddings; and kiosk for UNC Hospital in Hillsborough. These proposed initiatives have received support from the Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. • Town Contributions: The Town of Chapel Hill's contribution will remain the same at $200,000 ■ Position Reclassification: Increase $11,096, reclassification of Visitors Bureau Director position (1.0) FTE, to Community Relations Director position (1.0) FTE. The position is responsible for direct oversight of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the Orange County Public Affairs division. This position is housed in Chapel Hill, at the Visitors Center and supervised the Hillsborough-based Public Affairs Director, as well as the five member Visitor Bureau staff. • Position Reclassification: Decrease $2,476, reclassification of Sales Manager position (1.0) FTE, to Social Media/Database Administrator (1.0) FTE. The position will develop proactive alignment of all social media and database content. Sales leads will be coordinated through a vendor. Laurie Paolicelli, Director of the Visitors Bureau, said the past two years have been record breaking for occupancy revenues and guest to Orange County. She said revenues were up 17 percent which boosted the fund balance substantially. She said her Board requested to use these funds for two major initiatives: marriage equality campaign and promoting local farm-to-fork tourism draws. She said due to these two initiatives the fund balance looks low.