Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> <br />Commissioner Price referred to the line “investment earnings”, and asked if this could be <br />clarified. She said it looks as if staff was expecting a 100% increase. She asked if staff knows <br />how this will factor in to the year ahead, should a recession occur. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said the County makes earnings on cash on hand, through short- <br />term investments, which have been improving in recent years. She said the interest rates have <br />plummeted, and the County is not longer making any interest. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said everything she is putting in the recommended budget for <br />2020-21 is looking out a full year, and she said there is a hiring freeze in place, which will <br />continue throughout 2020-21. She said staff is also putting together a contingency plan as well, <br />in case things get worse, and she wants to preserve the current workforce. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said staff is working everyday thinking through worse case <br />scenarios, and thus the need for a contingency plan. She said staff is doing everything it can to <br />preserve the services in Orange County. <br />Commissioner Price asked if the $100,000 increase is based on earnings already <br />received. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said the pre-Covid numbers were the expected earnings for this <br />year. <br />Commissioner Dorosin referred to the federal funds, and asked if Bonnie Hammersley <br />presents a budget with $5 million for the Department of Social Services (DSS), and then the <br />federal government gives an additional $5 million (totaling $10 million), can staff move monies <br />to other projects. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said the intergovernmental monies are pass-through funds, and <br />when it comes in it goes to dedicated uses. She said it helps the residents, but the County <br />cannot use these funds liberally for other projects. She said all of these funds come with <br />strings. <br />Travis Myren said the County could not use it to supplant monies in DSS, and it would <br />be an expectation that spending would increase for whatever designated use for which the <br />federal monies were designated. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said staff included the intergovernmental line because it is a <br />revenue source, and it is for services. <br />Chair Rich referred to the $8.3 million, and asked if staff is trying to make this figure <br />zero. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said that is the number that staff has reduced to zero, as will be <br />shown by the balanced budget presented on May 5th. <br />Commissioner Price asked if there will be a revaluation. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said that is next year. <br /> <br />2. Discussion of Manager’s Recommended FY 2020-25 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) <br />for Schools and Durham Tech <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: Each year, the County produces a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that <br />establishes a budget planning guide related to capital needs for the County as well as Schools. <br />The current CIP consists of a 5-year plan that is evaluated annually to include year-to-year <br />changes in priorities, needs, and available resources. Approval of the CIP commits the County <br />to the first year funding only of the capital projects; all other years are used as a planning tool <br />and serves as a financial plan. <br /> <br />Capital Investment Plan – Overview <br />The FY 2020-25 CIP includes County Projects, School Projects, and Proprietary Projects. The