Agenda - 05-30-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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—mammissai 1995 Orange County would see an increase of 7.2 cents and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school district would see a 2. 1 cent increase on the tax rate. The presentation of the budget was concluded at this time. Link stated that this has been a significant year of achievement. The adoption of a 30 million dollar bond referendum, a five year capital improvement plan, the Economic Development Strategic Plan, a Water and Sewer Policy, and a successful Teen Symposium have been accomplished. He indicated that he was confident that Orange County would meet its new challenges in 1989-90 by working together. He recommended this budget to the Commissioners. Chairman Carey thanked the Manager and his staff. He stated the document is clear and concise. He invited the public to study it. He asked a spokesperson for the EMS to address the Board of Commissioners. Eugenia Smith, a member of the Orange County Rescue Squad since 1981, stated that her personal objection to the fee for service is philosophic. However, since the focus of the meeting is the budget she will focus on the financial aspects. She stated that the volunteer rescue squads have been delivering emergency care, at no charge, to the citizens of Orange County since 1968. The efforts of the volunteer squads have made possible the advanced system which serves the county today. The South Orange Rescue Squad, Inc. and the Orange County Rescue Squad, Inc. feels strongly that the imposition of a fee for their services will lower morale significantly and will damage their fundraising capabilities. The increased stipend mentioned in the proposed county budget will not begin to offset the losses the volunteer squads will suffer through a drop in donations. The citizens of Orange County are fortunate to receive the level of care which is made possible by the joint . efforts of the volunteers, NCMH, and Orange County Emergency Medical Services. It is remarkable that the volunteers have been willing to undergo the extensive training involved in order to achieve and maintain certification. The David M. Griffith and Assoc. study is flawed. It is acknowledged on page 13 of the study that the analysis system used by them is only as valid as the information it processes. The analysis fails to consider the human, capital and financial assets which the volunteer squads provide for the county. This flaw is a result of a critical lack of input from the volunteer rescue squads. These assets total 2.68 million dollars. The rescue squads recognize the county's contribution to their budgets, but hastens to add that this contribution is only a partial reimbursement for the use of the squad's facilities and equipment. The proposed fee violates the long standing tradition of volunteer service in Orange County which is made possible by the generous donations of its citizens. Although the short term gains may appear to be significant, the long term impact will be disastrous. The squads ask the Commissioners to consider their position and to allow them to continue to do a good job of providing free medical service to the citizens of Orange County. The Board of Commissioners scheduled a special meeting for June 12, 1989 at 6:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom, Hillsborough, NC, to discuss the user fee recommendation with the rescue squads. BUDGET WORK SESSION CONTINUES • Commissioner Willhoit mentioned that programmatic school equity is what he hears the public requesting. He hopes that information can be gathered on both systems so that an effort could be made to equalize them. He was not satisfied in setting a specific dollar amount. He asked what the dollars were buying and felt this could be ascertained by comparing what the schools are offering, the number of administrators, etc. Commissioner Marshall stated that she had a real philosophical problem with that approach because the School Boards are elected and how they say they will spend school funds is one of the issues on which they are elected. She indicated that although the Commissioners give a lump sum, the citizens come and ask for specifics