Agenda - 05-30-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ansmnummesufflim , reflect their hours of time, training, equipment, and facilities to show what a total EMS system costs. They also take issue with the timing of the study and the implementation, believing that July 1st is too quick for implementation. They also take philosophical issue with charging a fee for volunteer time and use of rescue squad equipment. They believe that fees will cause contributions to diminish. There are other issues, but these are some of the major ones. Link reviewed other increases for the upcoming year. The largest increases go toward schools, and debt service. Other increases are in the areas of human services, public works, public safety, outside agencies, and general administration. Economic Development is a high priority for the county and the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan is being recommended. That will require funds for additional staff to help accomplish those goals. In the Public Works Department recommendations include a solid waste manager, and a building and grounds supervisor, to enhance the solid waste program. At the same time the tipping fees will be increased. In Public Safety the implementation of Phase II of the DARE program, and the addition of a Deputy Emergency Services Director, has been recommended. The Social Services Department is expanding public assistance programs due to mandated program enhancements. Specifically, two Public Assistance case workers, and a nurse supervisor for the in-home care program, are being recommended. These new positions are being recommended for the Health Department. The Animal Control Officer, Public Health Nurse-Family Planning Clinics, and a Social worker (part-time) to coordinate "baby love" program are also being recommended. Personnel is being recommended for two new positions to assist in the Classification Study and to administer the Employee Training and Development program. In the General Administration the creation of a Budget Office is being recommended. That office will operate as an arm of the Manager's office. The recommendation for the education budgets is for a per student increase from $967 to $1042. This is a 10% increase in county funding for schools current expense. The recommendation also includes using the discretionary capital funds for removal of asbestos in both school systems. The issue of school equity has been studied over the last year. Agreement has been reached on definitions and objectives. A financial model has been reached by county staff and will be presented. The goal is to reach equity within 5 or 6 years. The goal is to reach funding equity only, not programmatic equity. Funding will never be exactly the same and a 4% to 5% variance is thought to be acceptable. In pursuing equity, it needs to be clear that the taxpayers in Orange County will pay more taxes during the course of this effort. That's fair because they will be achieving a greater increase in funding during the same time. A special District Tax could address the question of equity. This tax would be applied to the entire county. The county tax could be raised as the Chapel Hill special tax is lowered. The Manager's proposal would call for a 10% increase in county..funds each year over the next 5 or 6 years. Mr. Link indicated this was his recommendation and did not necessarily reflect the agreement of the two school superintendents. Ms. Liston provided a more detailed explanation of the Manager's proposal. She also discussed the financial model. The assumptions that were used in this model constantly change and need to be discussed here. One is that the County funding increases at 10% each year and State funding increases at 13% each year. Chapel Hill district tax dollars have been projected to remain constant at 4.2 million dollars for this year and as the tax base increases the tax rate will decrease. It was assumed that Chapel Hill students will increase at a rate of 4% each year and Orange County students will increase at a rate of 2% each year. The assumption also included County and State funds being adjusted by these numbers. Countywide tax increases will be necessary for increases in school funding above and beyond 6%. We have estimated a countywide increase of 10%. This model will need to be constantly revised. The percent increases in school funding per student was discussed. Orange county will receive a greater increase in order to make progress toward equity. By