Minutes 06-09-2020 Virtual Budget Work Session

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14 Commissioner Price asked if the Board is locked into $26 million. Commissioner Dorosin said the Board just voted to approve it. Bonnie Hammersley said the amount is up to the board. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos to table this item until second meeting in September so this topic can be fully researched. Chair Rich said the Board has passed many of these things. Commissioner McKee said the Board has passed them, but not funded them. Commissioner Dorosin said the Board has already voted affirmatively, and cannot undo that vote. He said the Board can vote against it at the June 16 meeting during the final budget vote. Commissioner McKee said the Board needs to have a much less convoluted process and discussion. He said two different scenarios have been proposed, and the Board is trying to mix and match to find a way to fund these approved changes. He said a Commissioner who voted favorable to move the projects up could make a motion to rescind that vote, thus allowing the BOCC to table to discussion. Commissioner Dorosin said the BOCC would need to revote in order to table the discussion with the delays on year one. He said he would like the Board to review the slide with his proposed cuts, and have the Board vote on each one, up or down. Commissioner McKee said Commissioner Dorosin is pushing an item that does not have a plan to bring it to fruition. Commissioner Marcoplos said he would like to support the Durham Tech expansion, but he wants to understand the implications of each of these cost offsets, and how they will impact the community. He said he would like to review each proposed cut, so that he can be fully informed on the rationale for his vote. He said this will likely take a few work sessions. Chair Rich said the Board already passed pushing this forward, as well as the first year of funding. Commissioner Greene said the question is if the Board has to commit the money now, or can it do so after the budget is approved. Travis Myren said the Board can approve the appropriation of year one, and accept the rest of the plan, which can always be amended in September. Chair Rich said the Board has approved year one to move up, etc. Bonnie Hammersley said the Board has also approved $14 million and $11 million in years two and three. She said if the Board is going to offset these amounts, it needs to do before the County goes out for borrowing, otherwise the rating agencies will see this negatively. She said rating agencies will not be contacted until spring 2021, so the Board could make changes in the fall. She said without these amounts being offset, the rating agencies will expect to see a tax increase in future years to cover the costs. Commissioner Greene suggested holding some work sessions before June 301n the final date by which the Board must have an approved budget. Commissioner Marcoplos said if the BOCC can fund the planning, and defer the cuts, he would be supportive. Commissioner Dorosin said the Board has already covered year one. Commissioner Price asked if the Board could finish years 2 and 3 in September. Bonnie Hammersley said yes, as long as a plan can be in place prior to the County going out for borrowing. Travis Myren said the Board should be mindful that if just the planning is in the budget, the Local Government Commission (LGC) will not allow the County to borrow for just the planning, unless there is a capital project following, so the Board will need the full plan to be resolved in the fall. Commissioner Price asked if the park monies would stay in the budget until next week.