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APPROVED 9/1/2015 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Budget Work Session June 9, 2015 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Thursday, June 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C. Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. He noted the following items at the Commissioners' places: - North Carolina Forest Service 2014 Summary of Accomplishments in Orange County - White sheet— County Debt Service and Debt Capacity (General Fund only) Revised FY2015- 20 - PowerPoint slides for item 4 — Pay and Benefits for Employees and Retirees Commissioner Jacobs suggested a moment of silence for the former Mayor of Chapel Hill Jonathan Howes, who recently passed away. 1. FY2015-16 Fire District Tax Rates, Pg. 286 Paul Laughton, Orange County Finance Administrative Services, said each year during the budget process fire districts that have a requested tax increase are brought to this meeting. He said the Fire Districts requesting tax rate increases in FY 2015-16 are as follows: • Damascus Fire District and Southern Triangle Fire Service District (Pages 287 and 290) Increase of 1.50 cents, going from 8.80 cents to 10.30 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The North Chatham Fire Department will continue to contract with Orange County to provide fire services to the residents in both the Damascus Fire Protection District and the Southern Triangle Fire Service District within Orange County. The increase will be used to help cover increased personnel and operating costs associated with the opening of 2 new stations in FY 2014-15, replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus, and to help cover costs associated with fire engine replacements. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a specific process for notifying residents when Fire Departments raise taxes. Paul Laughton said residents are notified as part of the County tax bill. Commissioner Rich said this practice informs residents after the change has been made and said she is concerned about the lack of communication. Commissioner Jacobs said this issue has come up before without any resolution. Commissioner Dorosin suggested when there are requests for increases in particular fire districts perhaps the Manager could include them as a part of her recommended budget message. Bonnie Hammersley said she would follow up. • Orange Rural Fire District (Page 290) Increase of 1.00 cents, going from 7.36 cents to 8.36 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The increase is to cover the replacement of air packs that no longer meet the current NFPA standards, to help cover funding to equip a replacement engine, and due to a decline in volunteers; the department has added three new positions and is planning to add three additional positions in the coming year.