Minutes 06-03-2021 Virtual Business meeting

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8 Bonnie Hammersley said the Commissioners will now describe the amendments they submitted. She said there are some staff amendments, which Paul Laughton, Deputy Financial Services Director, will review. Chair Price requested for staff to prepare an example of what the three-cent tax increase would look like for homes of different values, in order to better demonstrate what the actual change would be. Bonnie Hammersley said staff would do that before the end of the meeting. Chair Price asked if American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds could be used to cover the $50,000 for Durham Tech's Back to Work Initiative. Bonnie Hammersley and Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, said yes. Commissioner Dorosin referred to Slide #13 about fire districts, and asked if the entire requested tax rate increase is being recommended. Bonnie Hammersley said yes. Commissioner Dorosin clarified for the public that this is an additional tax increase on top of the countywide increase for people who live in these districts. He said it would be helpful to see how many people live in each district to demonstrate why the rates are so different. Bonnie Hammersley said Commissioner Dorosin is correct, and noted that each district generates different tax rates because of that. Commissioner McKee said some fire departments cover larger areas, may have a main station, and at least one substation. He said most departments have some paid staff and the volunteer pool has decreased over time. He said the number of homes, area covered, facilities, equipment, etc. creates the wide range of tax rates. Commissioner Dorosin said that information is good for people to know generally. Commissioner McKee agreed, because otherwise the tax rates look unequal. Gary Donaldson answered Chair Price's question about the real example of how the three-cent tax increase would affect homes of different values. He said a $225,000 would see an increase of $67 on property tax bill from last year, and a $450,000 house would see an increase of $135. Chair Price said these examples are helpful for people to understand the potential impact. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) presented its budget amendments: Commissioner Greene explained she was persuaded by the presentation from Durham Tech, and believes the County could do a much more effective job supporting small businesses in Orange County with funding for the Small Business Center. She requested the center be fully funded with ARPA money. Commissioner Dorosin asked if staff could clarify what it means for an amendment to utilize ARPA money. Bonnie Hammersley said the Deputy County Manager will present the ARPA recommendations after the Public Hearing. She said FY 21-22 budget has $3.2 million of ARPA money in it, which does not account for all of the ARPA funding the County will receive. She said Commissioner Greene's recommendation is to use an additional $70,000 of ARPA money. She said staff has prepared three approaches of how to spend the ARPA money, which will be discussed later in the evening. Chair Price added Orange County will receive a total of $28 million in ARPA funding and will get half this year and half next year. She said the Manager's current recommended use of $3.2 million, within the recommended budget, is coming out of a total of $14 million that will be available for FY 21-22. Commissioner Dorosin asked if that means there is $9 million that is unallocated from which the Commissioners could ask for money to be pulled for an amendment.