Agenda - 09-05-2023; 8-a - Minutes

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7 1 President Buxton said rather than asking for dedicated space upfront, the agreement 2 with UNC Chapel Hill is to see how that program goes and if it works, pursue dedicated space. 3 Commissioner Hamilton said the 203 Project will have a Skills Center, and asked if there 4 is space there for Durham Tech programming. 5 Travis Myren said the Nursing Tech Program, GED Program, and ESL will move from 6 the Europa Center to the 203 Project. 7 Commissioner Hamilton said the 203 Project is geographically close to UNC, and asked 8 if space could be made there rather than paying more at a different location. 9 Travis Myren said it was not originally programmed for it, but staff can look. 10 Commissioner Fowler asked if there was room to rearrange current staffing for a 11 permanent officer on the Orange County Campus. 12 Andrew Kleitsch said current the force is currently understaffed for the facilities that are 13 covered. He said in order to better serve the Orange County Campus they really need officers 14 for two shifts, and the first shift officer would provide some consistency in security for students. 15 Chair Bedford said the Innovation Hub and the $50,000 increase in Back to Work 16 Scholarships are covered by Article 46. She said the County Manager is recommending a 10% 17 increase to current expenses, and that could absorb the apprenticeship coordinator and 18 recruitment and retention. She said she feels they could get some more mileage from the 19 County Manager's Recommendation. 20 President Buxton said the Durham Tech Promise is a reimbursement in Orange County, 21 so they do not have that money to put toward other expenses. 22 Chair Bedford said she understands that, but there is a recommended 10% increase in 23 current expense that is higher than inflation, and some of the additional items can be covered. 24 She asked how many serious security incidents there have been. 25 President Buxton said he does not have that number right now but there have been 26 some significant issues that have shown a sworn officer is important. He said some incidents 27 have been difficult ones and security personnel are not as well trained as a sworn officer. He 28 said this request puts the campus in the best position to protect and serve. He said as far as the 29 other requests go, he focused on areas where Durham is picking up 80-90% of the cost and 30 would like Orange County to consider the 10-20% in partnership. He said the 10% increase in 31 current expenses is certainly generous and the college will do what it can with that funding. 32 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if there is also an officer at the Innovation Hub. 33 President Buxton said Durham Tech will be a tenant there and not responsible for 34 security. 35 36 2. FY 2023-24 Fire Districts' Tax Rates, Pgs. 151-155 37 The Board reviewed and discussed the FY 2023-24 fire districts' tax rates, including tax rate 38 increases recommended for nine (9) fire districts. 39 40 BACKGROUND: Nine (9) fire districts have requested tax rate increases for FY 2023-24. As in 41 the past, fire districts requesting tax rate increases present their needs for a tax increase to the 42 Board during a budget work session. Staff have invited representatives from these districts to 43 the work session to answer any questions and/or provide additional information to the Board 44 regarding the proposed increases. 45 46 Attachment A provides information regarding tax rate requests from all twelve (12) fire districts 47 and/or fire service districts in Orange County for FY 2023-24, and the amount of funds one cent 48 on the tax rate generates. Information regarding all fire districts is located in the Fire District 49 section of the FY 2023-24 Manager Recommended Budget beginning on page 151. 50 51