Agenda - 10-05-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ORANGE COUNTY 3 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action A ends ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No. 's AG Meeting Date: October 5, 1987 SUBJECT: Funding Senior Citizens Arts/Crafts Classes DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC HEARING: Aging/Senior Citizens Board Yes x No ATTACHMENT(8) : INFORMATION CONTACT: Memo - Durham Technical Community College Jerry M. Passmore TELEPHONE NUMBER: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Chapel Hill -- 968-4501 Mebane - 227-2031 Durham - 688-7331 PURPOSE: To consider the Senior Citizens Board's request for County Commissioner emergency funding of five senior citizen arts/crafts classes. This is the result of a change in Durham Technical Community College's regulations and funding formula. The amount of County funds required to continue the classes (3 days a week) beginning October 15 through June 30, 1988 would range from $11,696 to $4,679, depending on the option chosen. Three options seem to be available: (1) to fund the total instructional cost of $11,696. The funds would be distributed to the County and municipal recreation Departments for hiring the instructors and managing the classes, (2) To provide 40% ($4,679). of the instructional cost for the classes through an agreement with DTCC. The balance of the funds would come from DTCC's FTE reimbursement funds, (3) To request each Recreation Department to continue the classes in their service area out of their current budget. This could be either full cost or 40% through agreement with DTCC. BACKGROUND: For over ten years, DTCC has provided craft classes to low income elderly at five senior centers/nutrition sites supported by state funds. In fact, the state pro- hibits, by law, charging elderly students fees for all types of classes. However, two new rules and regulations regarding state support/fundings enacted by the 1987 North Carolina General Assembly and implemented by the State Community College System President have created the following situation: (1) The State F.T.E. (Full Time Equivalency) reimburse- ment rate to DTCC has been drastically reduced to 350 per student hour for avocational classes. (2) All continuing education classes now must also be completely self-supporting from State FTE funds and local reyistraticn fees. (3) Since serior citizens can't pay for classes, the classes are dependent on the FTE fund rate. The Orange County Senior Citizens Board recommended option #1 and also requested the County Commissioners to seek a change in the Statutes governing the way Community Colleges provide services to older North Carolinians. Department on Aging and Recreation and Parks budgets can not support the amount needed to continue services. RECOMNENIDATION(S): As the Board decides. Option Two is recommended by Aging and Recreation Departments. If approved, funds would be expended from commissioners contingency.