Agenda - 06-28-1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�7� . ~ 8��^ �-` 13' Commissioners took exception to Mr. Schwartz's percentages, noting that there were accounting changes and debt service from the school bond issue which were not strictly comparable through those years, Mr. Schwartz responded that it was not his intent to misrepresent any figures. He noted that the schools funding request had increased by $600,000 over the previous year (1981-82). Mr. Schwartz said that the Orange County Board of Education wanted more capital funds appropriated, it needed more and the needs were well documented. Mr. Schwartz said the School staff had examined the County budget picture and had found that revenue projections were under- estimated by "at least *190,000"; he suggested that amount be "given to the Orange County Schools" for capital needs. Following some discussion on oversight procedures for school projects; Commissioner Whitted returned to Mr. Schwartz's revenue projections. He said the property tax collection rate would not necessarily increase this year, as the collection rate was very high for the previous year; for the sales tax figure he said with the recession we are currently in, it is not "prudent" to project an increase in revenues from that sources; for the software fees, Commissioner Whitted said that money had been committed during the budget session and thus is not available for other expenditures. Commissioner Whitted said the County was aware of some decisions which had been made that the school staf may not have known when examining the County budget; he thanked the school for their comments on the County budget and added that County staff had done a very good job of estimating revenues. He said the Board of Commissioners would "be very reluctant to go in and second guess a lot of projections and detail work" on the part of County staff in order to allocate $190,000 for a one time expenditure and he felt that such an action would be fiscally unsound, Mr. Schwartz said that this was not a one time need; "you can pay us now or you can pay us later" he said to emphasize his point. Commissioner Whitted said he appreciated Mr. Schwartz's comment but that it was fiscally unsound management to increase projections just to fund a one time expenditure. Commissioner Whitted said the revenue projections were care- fully. ' examined by both the County fiscal staff and the Board in order to fund an entire budget "not just one item." Commissioner Nillhoit also pointed out that the sales tax projection figure was provided by the State and he felt the County should not project higher.