Agenda - 05-30-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• APPROVED: 8-1-89 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 1989 BUDGET WORK SESSION The Orange County Board of Commissioners met May 30, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom, Hillsborough, NC, for the purpose of holding a budget work session on the Manager's proposed 1989-90 budget. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners John Hartwell , Stephen Halkiotis, Shirley Marshall, and Don Willhoit. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoff Gledhill STAFF PRESENT: Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly Blythe, Finance Officer Ken Chavious, Assistant County Manager Albert Kittrell, County Manager John M. Link Jr. , Finance Director Ellen Liston, MPA Intern Beth McIver, Department on Aging Director Jerry Passmore, Budget Analyst Donna Wagner, and EMS Director Nick Waters. Commissioner Carey opened the meeting. He indicated to the citizens that this was not a public hearing. A public hearing is scheduled for the middle of June. He asked the EMS volunteers present to select someone to speak on their behalf. He indicated that that person would have an opportunity to speak after the Manager made his presentation. Commissioner Willhoit suggested that a special meeting be scheduled so that the issue of charging for EMS services could be discussed. County Manager John Link began his presentation by thanking Finance Director . Ellen Liston and her staff for their help in preparing this budget. The entire budget team worked diligently to pull the budget together. He indicated that the budget team has dedicated their endeavors to the memory of William T. Laws, former Assistant County Manager. The total recommended budget in the general fund is 42.2 million dollars. The total budget, including the special revenue and enterprise funds, totals 45 million dollars. There is a recommended tax increase from 64.5 cents to 70 cents, or a 5 1/2 cent increase. He stated that 3. 1 cents of that increase is for debt service created by the bond referendum and 2.4 cents is for other operating costs. The school funding equity issue is being addressed in this budget. The recommendations from the User Fee study will net an additional $485,000 in county revenue. Three of the goals and priorities that have been established during the year are: (1) Improved communications and accessible service delivery (2) Solid waste collection and disposal (3) Efforts at diversification and expansion of the county's revenue sources. Link indicated that progress has been made in communication through the Public Information/Public Relations (PIPR) Committee. The results of this committee have been the Report to the People, and improved signage for directing citizens to County buildings. Internally, better communication is being encouraged between department heads. Additional time has been set aside for department heads to work together during the coming year. The addition of a Management Analyst in the Manager's department will help to improve communications. This person will coordinate Youth Services and respond to citizens concerns and questions in identifying the barriers to accessibility to county services. They will recommend solutions to those barriers. This position will also help in providing information to the public.