Orange County NC Website
5 <br /> 3. Discussion of Budget Amendment List for FY2016-17 Operating Budget and <br /> FY2016-21 Capital Investment Plan <br /> Bonnie Hammersley reviewed the following items, located in a blue folder at the <br /> Commissioners' places: <br /> - Lilac: amendments that came in for additional revenue <br /> - Blue: amendments that came in throughout the County, since the last work session. The <br /> Manager was able to find funding to fund all of these sets of amendments, and thus do <br /> not affect the proposed budget. <br /> -Yellow: outside agency amendments <br /> - Green: education budget amendments <br /> - Salmon: Capital Investment Plan (CIP) amendments <br /> - Pink: other funds budget amendment list <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to <br /> fully fund outside agencies recommended for funding in part 1 — (previously funded agencies) <br /> with the exception of CIS; if the requested increase is greater than a 50% increase then they <br /> will receive 50% increase; (included funds for Food Council - $16,030) and eliminated funds <br /> for Housing for New Hope (-$22,500); that they increase funding for the schools by $1.7 million <br /> (utilize the available fund balance in excess of the 17% fund policy) with $1 million to come for <br /> the plus $700,000 of the $900,000 dollars was above the fund balance (line 1 - $800,000 and <br /> line 3- $1 million). <br /> Amended to $1.8 million - use $800,000 plus $1 million the staff identified from the impact <br /> fees. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said this motion is a step in the right direction and the school <br /> districts asked for over $8 million combined. She said the Manager recommended $2.6 million <br /> and this motion still leaves the schools short by about $3.6 million. She said this means that <br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) teachers will get their raises, since the School <br /> Board has already approved the raises. She said if CHCCS comes up short it will have to cut <br /> positions. She said the Orange County Schools (OCS) have not locked in raises and this <br /> amount that is short of the request, would have gone to teacher raises, and OCS will probably <br /> have to cut positions. She said teachers matter. <br /> Chair McKee said as of now it does leave the BOCC $3.6 million short for the schools <br /> but the discussion has just begun and there may be options as the process continues tonight. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he does not think anyone here sees the schools as a <br /> bloated bureaucracy. He said he has been talking a lot about changing the County fund <br /> balance policy, and he thinks the 17% is too conservative. He suggested taking $1 million out <br /> of the fund balance without changing the fund policy at this time and putting it towards schools <br /> as well. He said to put the fund balance policy discussion on the fall agenda as early as <br /> possible. He proposed this as a friendly amendment. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said to put a motion on the June 21st agenda to make sure this <br /> fund balance policy comes back for discussion in the fall. <br /> Chair McKee asked if Commissioner Jacobs is asking the motion amendment maker to <br /> drop the policy portion of the amendment, with the understanding it will come back on June <br /> 21st. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said yes. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said that would be acceptable. <br />