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26 <br /> Commissioner Greene agreed with Commissioner Bedford and said the County Manager <br /> presented as bare bones of a budget as he could. She asked if debt makes up .85 cents out of the 3.75 <br /> cents recommended increase. <br /> Travis Myren said it was debt and pay-go. <br /> Commissioner Greene said it is remarkable that he got the increase down to .85 cents. She said <br /> further reductions are the Board's job. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler agreed with Commissioner Greene and Commissioner Bedford. She said she <br /> would not like to lose staff to other communities. <br /> Chair Hamilton said there will be other opportunities to discuss the budget. She clarified that the <br /> amendment process will still happen, but the request is for staff to use their expertise to create scenarios <br /> of lower and no tax rate increases, and what the tradeoffs are. She said the scenarios give the Board <br /> information, but they would still be making any changes. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler said the Board should lead on where those cuts should come from. She said the <br /> County Manager has already made choices on what was best for the budget. <br /> Chair Hamilton said she felt this was an appropriate request of the County Manager. She said the <br /> Board can develop their own scenarios in the form of amendments. <br /> Commissioner McKee gave his reasons for requesting the scenarios from the County Manager. He <br /> felt this situation will repeat itself in future years. <br /> Chair Hamilton asked how many commissioners supported a scenario showing zero cents and a <br /> scenario showing 2 cents. Commissioner McKee,Commissioner Carter,Chair Hamilton,and Commissioner <br /> Portie-Ascott supported both scenarios. <br /> Travis Myren said he could bring back packages of the cost of things that equate to the reductions. <br /> He said that at the end of the day,this will come back down to what the Board values,and he cannot make <br /> those value judgments for the Board. He said it will be a reduction in services. <br /> Chair Hamilton reviewed the budget calendar. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said that commissioners should submit budget amendments before the <br /> final budget public hearing. <br /> Chair Hamilton suggested that the Board submit amendments by Tuesday, May 26, 2026. <br /> Commissioner Bedford requested by 10 am on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked how the County Manager would create a package of cuts. <br /> Travis Myren said he would put together groups of discretionary spending for the Board to review. <br /> Commissioner Greene clarified that the amendments would be to the County Manager's <br /> recommended budget. <br /> Commissioner Bedford asked if school funding would be on the table. <br /> Travis Myren said his assumption is that current expense is on the table. <br /> Chair Hamilton said everything can be there and the Board will decide. <br /> Commissioner McKee said this will be a difficult process, but their job is to make hard decisions, <br /> whether or not they are popular. He said it's important to keep Orange County as a place where people <br /> can afford to live. <br /> S. Public Hearings <br /> a. Public Hearing on the Financing of Various Capital Investment Plan Projects <br /> The Board conducted a public hearing on financing contracts for up to approximately$60.8 million to pay <br /> for capital investment projects and equipment for the fiscal year, and consider approving a related <br /> resolution supporting the County's application to the Local Government Commission (LGC)for its approval <br /> of the financing arrangements.The financing and transaction costs will be included in the loan amount. <br />