Minutes 06-11-19 Budget Work Session

Browse Search

12 Amendments # 7 (Increase the ad valorem tax by 1.066 cents for education allocated by ADM) and # 8 (Increase Current Expense Allocation to Schools by ADM CHCCS - $1,202,852 and OCS - $797,132 Commissioner Bedford said she is proposing 1.066-cent increase to the ad valorem tax to fully fund OCS budget request. She said the state is not going to do a 3% salary increase for classified staff, but rather is offering 1% or $500, whichever is greater. She said the BOCC has done all it can to support education in Orange County, but the recession and changes in the GA have lead to the state leading an intentional decimation of public education. She said 2 years ago, OCS cut 29 positions, 19 of which were to balance the local budget and class sizes in grades 4-8 were increased to 1:27 students. She said OCS office staff was also greatly reduced at that time. She said OCS is about to embark on some equity training, but the classified staff not being paid for teacher workdays seems counter intuitive. She said her proposal will not allow for CHCCS to meet its continuation budget, but it is a step in the right direction. She said she recognizes that it is still a tax increase, and does not want to unduly burden residents, but feels this will be money well spent. Commissioner McKee asked if the Manager's recommended amount for OPED could be identified. Bonnie Hammersley said she is recommending adding $250,000 to OPED. Commissioner McKee asked if Commissioner Bedford would be amenable to transferring the OPED monies to the schools, instead of increasing the tax. Commissioner Bedford said every bit helps. Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated this proposal, and if the goal was to help OCS then his amendment would have done that. He appreciated Commissioner Bedford's analysis, but this problem is about getting all of the schools more money not just OCS. Commissioner Marcoplos said he could support Commissioner McKee's recommendation. Commissioner McKee said it would amend the amendment to distribute $250,000 from OPED allocation to distribution on the ADM for the school districts. He said it would not be an additional cost to the budget. Commissioner Greene said Commissioner Bedford's amendment would yield about $2 million, and Commissioner McKee's would be $250,000. She said these two numbers are not even close, and she does not get the rationale. Commissioner McKee said Orange County is 7I" highest taxing county in the state, and this is driving many residents out, and not just low-income residents. He said he is adamantly opposed to continuing to add tax, on top of tax, on top of tax, as the residents cannot sustain it. Commissioner McKee said until, and unless, these school boards address the disparities and outcomes and the flight in OCS to charters, he may well stop supporting any more funding to the schools. He said CHCCS has the highest disparity in the nation, and OCS has 10% of children in charter schools. He said he is too old to care if he is re-elected, but he is not too old to care about these kids. Commissioner Greene said she appreciated his sincerity, but the $250,000 does not seem the way to go here. She said she knows that OPED is an issue, and that is not the best use of these monies. Commissioner McKee said he agreed, and he has opposed using OPED monies for 9 years, until tonight. Commissioner Price said she knows Commissioner Bedford is trying to fully fund one budget, and asked if she would consider a lower amount. Commissioner Bedford said what about a '/2 cent increase for the ADM, yielding about $938, 500, which is a per pupil increase equivalent of$46. He said this would give CHCCS $564,000 and OCS $374,000.