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<br />Orange County <br />Board of Commissioners <br />Action Agenda Item Abstract <br />Meeting Date: February 29, 2000 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. g-e <br />Subject: Personnel Ordinance Revision -Tuition Refund Program <br />Department: Personnel Public Hearing: Yes No X <br />Budget Amendment <br />Needed: Yes No_X- <br />Attachment(s): <br />1 -Tuition Costs at Local Colleges <br />and Universities <br />2 -Tuition Refund Employer Survey <br />3 -Draft Personnel Ordinance <br />Revision -Tuition Refund Program <br />Information Contact: <br />Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director <br />Extension 2550 <br />Telephone Number: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968501 _ <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 227-2031 <br />Purpose: To consider an update to the Orange County Personnel Ordinance to increase <br />the tuition refund amount for eligible County employees from $300 to $600 per fiscal year. <br />Background: In 1988-89 Orange County established a tuition refund program for County <br />employees. At that time, the County set the tuition refund amount at $300 per fiscal year. <br />Under this program, an eligible employee may receive reimbursement for tuition, fees and <br />books far a course that helps the employee improve skills in his or her current job ar to help <br />prepare for another County position. Participation is voluntary and courses are taken on <br />non-work time. <br />The County tuition refund amount of $300 has not changed since originally established in <br />1988-89. Due to rising educational costs in the Triangle Area, the County's Employee <br />Relations Consortium has asked that County consider updating the tuition refund amount. <br />Attachment 1 shows the tuition costs at area community colleges, colleges and universities. <br />These average $605 for an undergraduate course and $830 for a graduate course. <br />Attachment 2 is a survey of tuition refund programs offered by area public employers. <br />Based on the tuition casts at area educational institutions and the employer survey <br />information, staff recommends the tuition refund amount be increased to $600 per fiscal <br />year. <br />Attachment 3 is the draft update to the Orange County Personnel Ordinance reflecting the <br />increase in the Tuition Refund Program from $300 to $600 per fiscal year. (The full <br />Personnel Ordinance section is attached. The only change is that found in Section 16.1.4.) <br />