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45 <br /> 1 where possible, with an acknowledgment that some service-level reductions will result. He emphasized <br /> 2 the goal of avoiding a reduction in force affecting occupied positions, while not ruling it out entirely as a <br /> 3 tool of last resort. He also stressed the importance of preserving flexibility during the coming fiscal year <br /> 4 given broader economic uncertainty. <br /> 5 Vice-Chair Fowler asked whether the hiring freeze is generating savings in the current fiscal year <br /> 6 that might be applied toward next year's budget via fund balance. <br /> 7 Travis Myren confirmed that the model already assumes applying approximately$7 million in fund <br /> 8 balance,consistent with prior years,and that the hiring freeze is additionally intended to build up a surplus <br /> 9 at fiscal year-end. <br /> 10 Commissioner Bedford noted that high vacancies in some departments may reflect inadequate <br /> 11 compensation rather than overstaffing, and that eliminating multiple vacancies in a large department may <br /> 12 be more feasible to absorb than eliminating even one or two in a small essential-services department. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Slide#14 <br /> FY 2026-27 Balancing the Budget <br /> User Fees <br /> Why use fees to pay for services... <br /> - Beneficiary Pays: The cost of a service is paid by those who use it,rather than being subsidized by the general public <br /> - Voluntary Access: user fees are generally paid voluntarily by those choosing to use a service <br /> - Equity Consideration: user fees can create barriers to access for residents with lower ability to pay <br /> County fee study provided a framework to calculate cost recovery for services,focusing on Planning and <br /> Inspections, DEAPR,and Emergency Services <br /> Other departments provide nonessential programming with direct benefits to individuals <br /> - Aging <br /> - Arts Commission <br /> - Animal Services <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 14 NORTH CAROLINA <br /> 15 <br /> 16 Travis Myren noted that as property tax revenue is increasingly dedicated to mandated essential <br /> 17 services, user fees will become the only mechanism for sustaining discretionary programs. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 <br />