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-;;* <br /> for the schools. By giving a lump sum a large pool of money is created for the <br /> School Board to work with. They should be able to look at long-term funding and come <br /> up with programs in that way. She stated that she believed the Commissioners should <br /> not be in the "program" business. <br /> Chairman Carey stated that he was interested in what Commissioner Willhoit <br /> mentioned but that he did not believe it should be viewed as a basis for decision <br /> making. He stated that the Board of Commissioners cannot guarantee that even if <br /> programs and staffing is discussed jointly with the School Boards, that the outcome <br /> of the Commissioners decision will have any impact on the ultimate decision made by <br /> the school boards. As elected officials the Board of Commissioners owe it to the <br /> public to set some reasonable goals and provide information that the public can <br /> understand where the county is headed. Also, the School Boards need to know what to <br /> expect. The public will get their information about how the money is spent from the <br /> school boards. He stated that he did not believe they could control any of that. He <br /> mentioned that requesting the data implied that the Commissioners would have some <br /> influence over how the money was spent and that is not true. <br /> Commissioner Willhoit stated that he agreed that the Commissioners could not <br /> control how the money is spent but they could help the citizens become better <br /> informed. He also felt that this information would help them know what the goals are <br /> so that they could better justify making those expenditures. <br /> Commissioner Marshall indicated that she felt this kind of discussion should be <br /> an internal one between the School Boards and their Administration. <br /> Commissioner Hartwell referred to the Social Services budget and noted it has <br /> increased almost 20% this year. The budget that can be controlled has increased <br /> approximately 4%. A great deal of effort was made in DSS to hold that to 4%. The <br /> remainder of the increase is outside of the control of DSS. Medicaid reform is the <br /> largest factor in this increase. With reference to the Department on Aging budget, <br /> the increases were primarily in the category of transportation. He felt that the <br /> transportation provided serves a broader function than just for the Department on <br /> Aging. The role that transportation is playing in the county appears to be <br /> undergoing a big increase. He feels that the Board of Commissioners need to think <br /> about what role transportation should play. How should it be administered? He asked <br /> that there be meaningful discussion of where transportation should be within the <br /> county budget because it does not automatically belong in the Department on Aging's <br /> budget. <br /> Commissioner Marshall asked for a brief explanation of why the estimated <br /> expenses in many of the budgets are higher than what was budgeted. <br /> Ms. Liston stated that the original version of the budget is used in these <br /> figures. In actuality, the budgets have been amended throughout the year. <br /> There being no further items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. <br /> Moses Carey, Jr. , Chairman <br /> Beverly Blythe, Clerk <br />