Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

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6 1 Commissioner Bedford said NCACC provides an opportunity to work across the 2 aisles, and this group directly benefits counties. 3 Commissioner Greene said Attorney General Stein was approached about the 4 opioid legislation, and any possible payout, he approached the NCACC for ideas and 5 partnership. She said there is value in this membership. 6 Commissioner Marcoplos pulled the amendment. 7 8 Amendment: 011 -TJCOG 9 10 Commissioner Marcoplos pulled the amendment. 11 12 Amendment 012/013— debt service 13 Travis Myren said these amendments are revisions of staff expectations, and the 14 County is enjoying lower interest rates than expected. 15 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the allocation of these saved funds could be 16 identified. 17 Travis Myren referred to the bottom of the pink sheet, and said the balance 18 would be $191,140. He said if these funds remain undesignated, the default action 19 would be to reduce the amount of general fund being used to balance the budget. 20 Commissioner Dorosin said the County would take less out of the fund balance, 21 as opposed to having an extra $191,140 to use for other things. 22 Travis Myren said there is this additional funding should the BOCC choose to 23 allocate it. 24 Bonnie Hammersley said it is the fund balance, and not the reserve. 25 26 A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner 27 Price to approve this amendment. 28 29 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 30 31 Amendment 014 32 Chair Rich said the County is not delivering the sound basic education to all of 33 the students in the County, and one example is lack of Internet. She gave examples of 34 how remote learning has not worked for many students. She said the Article 46 sales 35 tax revenue will be reduced, so there will not be as much funding available for 36 technology. She said minority communities will be most affected by this, and the Board 37 of County Commissioners (BOCC) should help, in order to hold the schools harmless as 38 they determine how to navigate these unusual times. She said the schools have 39 provided the devices in many cases, but this equipment is useless without access to the 40 Internet. She said without this fund, the BOCC is doing a disservice to the community, 41 and is not providing an equitable education to all in the County. 42 Commissioner Price asked if anyone will be accountable for this funding, and if 43 there is a reason that the monies are not going directly to the schools. She said she 44 does not see how this will help, and if students do not have broadband, this funding will 45 not provide broadband. 46 Commissioner Price said the Board does need to review its agreement with the 47 library, but she does not want to cut the funds to the Chapel Hill Library as the funding is 48 for the programs. She said libraries were one of the first steps to desegregation, and 49 libraries continue to give access to all, and are the hub of equity. She said she does not 50 see the point in the amendment, and will vote against it. She said additional funding will 51 be needed by the schools, and hot spots are a very expensive band aid. 52 Chair Rich said the emergency education fund is to help with broadband, and is 53 for the County to help the schools for additional technology needs. 54 Commissioner Price said the County cannot lay broadband lines.