Minutes 04-26-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 • Board 2016-17 budget assigns $1,868,000 • We estimate that we could appropriate up to $900,000 for 2016-17 budget needs and still maintain the targeted undesignated fund balance of 5.5%. • Ideally this should be used for one-time expenditures Chair McKee asked if the above figures exclude the fund balance that was appropriated in December. Todd LoFrese said that is correct. He said it is a part of the total budget request for balancing the budget. Commissioner Burroughs said she is pleased that the two districts are working collaboratively. Commissioner Burroughs said she is not in a panic yet about the budget requests, and she complimented the Manager on her hires for the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Manager. She said more details will be known about the budget this year, and there may be a little wiggle room. Commissioner Burroughs said there are things that the BOCC can delay in funding. Commissioner Dorosin appreciated the collaboration, and said the goal next time should be to come in with the same per pupil request for both districts. Commissioner Dorosin said it is a mistake to consider these times as a crisis, because this is the current reality, which may last another four years given the issues in the legislature. He said there are also other counties that do not prioritize education. Commissioner Dorosin said the school districts should look at what else goes into recruitment and retention of teachers. He said there are other factors besides pay that drives teachers out of their jobs, some of which are uniquely in control of the BOE. Commissioner Dorosin extended his sincere compliments to OCS for adopting a resolution asking for the repeal of HB2. Commissioner Pelissier said one of her concerns is that less people are going into education training, and therefore there will be less people from which to recruit. She said she wanted to know how many teachers are leaving due to actually leaving the profession. She echoed the compliments to the districts for their collaborative efforts. Commissioner Pelissier referred to the tax issue, and said her real concern is that services continue to increase in cost, and the government needs to be able to respond accordingly to be able to provide services and education. She said there certainly must be serious thought given prior to raising taxes. She said it is a complex topic, and general statements can be harmful. She said a lot is being done for those in need in Orange County. Chair Barrett referred to Commissioner Burroughs comments regarding a state increase in teacher pay, and said the legislature may cut other items, thus eradicating any buffer that may be in place. Chair Barrett said part of the reasons there are cuts in education at the state level is because the income taxes were cut. He said this difference may have to be made up locally. Steve Halkiotis thanked the Board of County Commissioners for what it can do in regards to education. He said it was wonderful to see the two districts work together. He said there is a rise in serious needs amongst the families of Orange County, but he knows the BOCC and the BOEs are going to do the very best with the resources available in these times where education is under attack. Todd Wirt said for years the value of experience within Orange County Schools has been stressed. He said OCS understands that a great number of variables go into recruitment and retention, and commitments are being made to these things when possible. He said he wants higher salaries for the teachers, and he wants TAs, as both are valuable.