Minutes-06-08-2023-Budget Work Session

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8 to have a work session in the fall to see how the County Manager's new recommended fund balance policy would work. A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Chair Bedford, to approve budget amendment OPER-008. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Bedford explained OPER-009, which she sponsored. She said she likes the outside agencies funding process the County Manager has implemented overall. She said she would like to remove the funding target for outside agencies in order to provide more flexibility based on county needs. A motion was made by Chair Bedford, seconded by Vice-Chair McKee, to approve budget amendment OPER-009. Commissioner Greene said she is fine with seeing how this goes. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Fowler asked if the Board should make budget amendments on outside agency funding recommendations based on the change in state law last year, and asked if staff gives feedback to applicants who were not funded. Bonnie Hammersley said staff shares the scoring matrix with outside agencies that applied which tells the applicant what they can do better. Chair Bedford said none of the commissioners serve on the boards for the outside agencies, but they might need to ask the County Attorney. Bonnie Hammersley said since none of the commissioners are on the boards for the outside agencies,they are welcome to make amendments. She said if they want to make a budget amendment on the outside agency recommendations, she would encourage them to review the scoring matrix to understand why recommendations were made. Vice-Chair McKee said previous Boards were given $500,000 and there was on-the-fly negotiating to allocate funding to agencies. He said he likes this policy better. He said some agencies have called him upset, and he understands, but the scoring is done through a matrix by individuals with knowledge of the agency's work. Commissioner Greene said there were times when an agency would come to the Chapel Hill Town Council when she served and ask for the money, and she said it becomes very politicized. She said the Board has the final say, but this process is rational and thorough and involves people who know what the needs are. Commissioner Richards said she supports this process, but her concern was how the process is made available to new agencies that haven't received funding before. She said she has since had a conversation with the County Manager about how that process works. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if there is a list of the outside agencies in the budget. Bonnie Hammersley said if the Board hears from outside agencies, to direct them to her and she will be happy to meet with them. Travis Myren said the specific outside agency list is not in the budget, but he can send that. Chair Bedford said the outside agency list was included in materials for the first budget work session. She added that there are thousands of non-profits that do great work, but like the County Manager said, their work needs to complement the county's work and responsibilities to receive this specific funding.