Minutes 01-26-2018 Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

18 • Do you need to prioritize further? If so, do one more round of votes and discuss, as needed and time allows. The conversation continued after the lunch break, as follows: • Mr. Myren presented a slide showing the information requested by Commissioner Rich just before the break. He agreed to distribute the slide to the Commissioners, including information on houses valued at $150,000 and $200,000. • In reply to a question from Commissioner Dorosin, Mr. Myren said that the incremental scenarios would bring in 2.3 cents per $100 valuation more at the end of five years than the one-time tax increase. Commissioner Dorosin said that if we have an amount to cover, then the tax increase should be set to bring in that target amount and not any more. In reply to a question from Commissioner Jacobs, Mr. Myren said that in the years following Year 5, the increase would be “embedded” unless the Board changed the tax rate. The facilitator asked the Board if it was ready to brainstorm specific suggestions for efficiencies, revenues, cuts, and reserves. Commissioner Rich said that it might be premature. We don’t know what the discussions are within each of the Departments, she said. We don’t know what they need to keep services at an acceptable level. Ms. Hammersley said that the Functional Leadership Team will be identifying core functions and mandated services, to clarify the areas in which there is flexibility. We would be interested in hearing today if the Board had specific items or general areas that it would like the staff to look into. Doing it now would give us all more time to investigate our options, she said. And it doesn’t all have to be done today. Board members can follow-up with an email of ideas to me and Mr. Myren, she added. • Commissioner Rich said she wanted the County to continue its commitment to a living wage. I’d like for the people who work for the County to have the opportunity to live in the county, she said. Ms. Hammersley said that the lowest paid non-temporary County employee now makes $15.00/hour. The lowest paid temporary position is at $13.75/hour. Commissioner Marcoplos said that the Orange County Living Wage is calculated on rental housing; it is a “housing wage.” There would be another number for home ownership, he added. • Commissioner Rich said she would like the County to look at how to better address the services for the aged. People providing caretaker services for the elderly need our support, for example opportunities for finding some free time for themselves. • Commissioner Marcoplos noted that 80% of buildings and inspections permitting costs are covered by the consumer, and 20% is subsidized by the County. I don’t think it would unpalatable to most builders in most cases if 100% of the cost were covered by the consumer. Although it is not meaningless, it is a relatively small part of the cost of projects, he said. Commissioner Jacobs said that he thinks the County should charge 100%, now that the County no longer can charge impact fees for housing. • Commissioner Marcoplos suggested that the staff consider the economics of the County running its own solid waste transfer station. • Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the staff look at the Hillsborough circulator for possible cuts. Also, when we meet with Hillsborough in February we might want to raise the idea of the Town participating in the funding. If we’re only seeing a few hundred people a