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18 <br /> 1 Travis Myren explained that the undesignated fund balance is always available for <br /> 2 emergencies, and following the January audit presentation, additional funds above the 16% fund <br /> 3 balance may be available. <br /> 4 Commissioner McKee said $50,000 could be taken from the Social Justice Fund, and the <br /> 5 remainder could be picked up by the fund balance. He said he would like to leave something in <br /> 6 the Social Justice Fund. <br /> 7 Vice-Chair Fowler said if there is a true emergency in the future, staff can still take money <br /> 8 from the fund balance. She asked about the county capital reserve. <br /> 9 Travis Myren said the reserve was created a couple years ago, and can be used for <br /> 10 operating or capital purposes. <br /> 11 Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the other option is the undesignated fund balance. <br /> 12 Travis Myren said yes. <br /> 13 Commissioner Bedford argued for using the full $76,000 from social justice for easier <br /> 14 accounting. She noted the capital reserve had $41,196 currently but expected additional monies <br /> 15 after the audit, possibly almost a million dollars. She wanted to make a motion to reach 25% using <br /> 16 whatever combination the manager deemed best, acknowledging it could be slightly higher since <br /> 17 final approval numbers weren't known. She suggested funds might initially come from the fund <br /> 18 balance with a budget amendment after the audit. <br /> 19 Commissioner Carter supported increasing the program while questioning whether 25% <br /> 20 was the right objective. She asked if they'd always had that goal and what was magical about <br /> 21 25%. <br /> 22 Travis Myren said that is just what was done last year. <br /> 23 Commissioner Carter suggested this broader question about what the goal should be <br /> 24 might be appropriate for budget discussions. She also asked about distribution across <br /> 25 municipalities, particularly since Chapel Hill and Carrboro had contributed funds. <br /> 26 Blake Rosser said he is planning to come back in February with that sort of information. <br /> 27 He said Chapel Hill pitched in more than anticipated this year (almost $87,000) and Carrboro <br /> 28 joined in for the first time. <br /> 29 Chair Hamilton asked if the Towns' monies are going straight to their residents. <br /> 30 Blake Rosser said it is applied to the Town portion of the bill for their residents. <br /> 31 Commissioner Greene said she supports reaching 25% by any combination of funds staff <br /> 32 chooses. <br /> 33 Vice-Chair Fowler responded to Commissioner Carter's question about goals, explaining <br /> 34 the program started 4-5 years ago with the 2021 revaluation also catching people off guard. The <br /> 35 original idea was to offset that increase rather than pay the whole bill. <br /> 36 Chair Hamilton added that it started with just a dollar amount that the Housing Department <br /> 37 had to spread across all needs and evolved over time. She agreed with Commissioner Carter's <br /> 38 point about discussing this in the full budget context. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, to <br /> 41 reach the 25% allocation like last year and to defer to staff to bring a formal proposal as to how <br /> 42 that allocation will occur. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 45 <br /> 46 b. One-Year Pilot Implementation of Fare-Free Fixed Route Transportation Service <br /> 47 The Board approved fee changes to implement a one-year pilot program, making Orange County <br /> 48 Public Transportation (OCPT) fixed routes fare-free. <br />