Minutes 01-26-2018 Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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19 month and paying six figures for that, then we might want to look at more efficient ways of serving them. • Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the staff look at programs the County has invested in after the recession and after the State cut funding to those programs. For example, the Family Success Alliance. Like the rest of us, he said, I am a “do-gooder” and in general supportive of such investments to keep these programs robust. But, for example, our support to FSA is currently structured as an open-ended cost to us. It is a County function only because we have chosen it to be. I don’t think we should pull the rug out from under the people already hired, but we need to get a handle on future costs. Commissioner Burroughs added that FSA is getting outside grants. Let’s look at programs we have added in the last five or six years, he said. Let’s also look at the percentage increases in per pupil funding, he added, compared to historical averages. The schools should understand that we are looking at everything. I would not deny the schools their due, but we should be trying to keep things in some kind of proportion. Unless we want to cut these other programs so we can give more to the schools, we need to be clear about what we have and what we can invest in. • Commissioner Dorosin said that it will be important to manage expectations, with the schools and with the larger community. Everyone needs to understand that we have a $7 million gap that we have to close. We need to have the conversation with the schools now rather than on May 1 when the budget is released. • Commissioner Dorosin said that the Board also should look at “non-do-gooder” budget items. The universe of things we will be reviewing should be broad, and not limited to items we picked up because of the recession or Legislative cuts. It should include not only cuts, but also delays, reprioritizing, etc. • Commissioner Dorosin said that a tax increase should be the lowest priority across the general options discussed so far at today’s retreat. • Commissioner Dorosin said the County needs to frame a message immediately about how the County has gotten into this fiscal situation, including an explanation of the bond and the education that took place earlier informing voters that the bond would lead to debt and a tax increase. • Commissioner Burroughs said that Family Success Alliance might need about $100,000 more in FY18-19. It is getting outside funding through a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant to Empowerment, Inc. They are working on raising additional non-County funding. • Commissioner Burroughs said that while parks are “super important,” she thinks the County could defer improvements slated in the CIP until the County gets on the other side of the current fiscal squeeze. • Commissioner Burroughs also asked that the County consider what would happen if the $1M subsidy to the solid waste fund were temporarily suspended. • Commissioner Price said that the focus on the Hillsborough circulator should be on efficiency and not doing away with the service. The circulator carries people to Durham Tech and other offices that people need to get to in order to receive essential services.