Orange County NC Website
one. There are six FTEs under the Sheriff's Department with $100,000 in offsetting revenue <br /> from grants for two positions. He is fine with the two positions, but he thinks that the rest of <br /> them should be cut. <br /> Commissioner Foushee agreed with Commissioner Nelson, but she did advocate for the <br /> new Assistant Fire Marshal because the new facilities that the County is adding is too much for <br /> one Fire Marshal. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that he does have a concern with cutting four positions out of <br /> the Sheriff's six positions since the County has not added positions in the Sheriff's Department <br /> in many years and the demand for services has gone up considerably in recent years. He said <br /> that it appears that the County is gravitating toward adding positions that only have offsetting <br /> revenue, and that is a pattern that is not sustainable since the County is a service-oriented <br /> organization. He would rather provide people than additional vehicles. <br /> Commissioner Foushee suggested also looking at the overtime budget and a way to <br /> offset some of this with what is proposed in overtime. The proposed increase in overtime is <br /> almost 50% over the current fiscal year. <br /> Sheriff Pendergrass said that he has not requested any positions since 1996 and he <br /> absolutely has to have more personnel out in the field to protect individuals and property. He <br /> asked for ten positions because he needs ten positions. He has never come before the Board <br /> to ask for anything that was not needed. He said that everyone is stretched. He has to have <br /> these positions. He said that he did not spend any overtime last year. He distributed a handout <br /> to this effect. He said that last year he asked the Board to approve an overtime budget of <br /> $130,000 and the Board approved it. In that overtime budget, there was also offsetting revenue <br /> of$30,000 for Chapel Hill events at UNC. The department only spent $11,863 in overtime. <br /> Regarding Temporary costs, $77,295 was gained and the budget was $280,000. He does not <br /> know how to do it any better than he is doing it right now. <br /> Commissioner Foushee agreed with the Sheriff. <br /> Category 5: <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the Emergency Services position is greatly needed with <br /> the addressing process. This also has offsetting revenue. She said that the Solid Waste <br /> position is not an urgent position and she is not in favor of it. <br /> Chair Jacobs went back to the beginning and listed the changes. Category 1 — one <br /> person spoke about adding one position in each of the three areas to address new facilities— <br /> Veterinary Health Care Technician, Parks Conservation Technician I, and the Building <br /> Maintenance Technician. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that unless the Board does not fund a substantial number of <br /> these new positions, it will be very difficult to get the tax rate under $1. <br /> Commissioner Nelson agreed with Commissioner Gordon and said that he did not want <br /> to approve positions without offsetting revenues, but he agrees that it is not sustainable. <br /> However, he agrees with points made about opening new facilities. Regarding parks, he asked <br /> what the two positions were for. Laura Blackmon said that they were for West Ten and <br /> Northern. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked about delaying opening of the parks and how much it <br /> would save. <br />