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APPROVED 3/17/2009 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ANNUAL PLANNING RETREAT <br /> SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER <br /> January 10, 2009 <br /> 9:00 a.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Board retreat on Saturday, <br /> January 10, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North <br /> Carolina. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Valerie P. Foushee, Vice-Chair Mike Nelson, <br /> and Commissioners Alice Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, and <br /> Steve Yuhasz <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geof Gledhill <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Laura Blackmon and Clerk to the Board Donna <br /> S. Baker <br /> Facilitators: Lydian Altman and Donna Warner, UNC-CH School of Government. <br /> Assistant managers and department heads were present from noon to 4:00 p.m. <br /> Retreat Outcomes <br /> 1 . Prepared the board to make budget decisions at the January 29th budget <br /> meeting by reviewing current county functions and services, sharing <br /> historical information about the revenues, expenditures, explaining the <br /> budget process, and providing a list of funding considerations and <br /> guidelines for the FY 2009-10 budget. <br /> 2. Identified priorities for the 2009-2010 budget and created a draft work <br /> plan. <br /> 3. Gained agreement on ways to improve board decision-making by <br /> streamlining county board meetings and agendas. <br /> Highlights from Overview of Revenue Projections <br /> Donna Coffey, budget director, shared the following information: <br /> 1 . As shared with the Board in September, there is about a $10 million gap <br /> estimated between FY 2009-10 projected revenues and expenditures. <br /> 2. Property tax accounts for 70% of the revenues for county operations. It is <br /> likely this source will remain stable for the upcoming year. <br /> 3. Sales tax comprises 10% and is estimated to reduce due to the constraints <br /> on spending imposed by the economic downturn. <br /> 4. Intergovernmental transfers (funds from the state and the feds) accounts <br /> for 10%. The county could experience a decrease in funds from the state. <br /> The feds are considering funding "shovel ready" programs. <br /> 5. Fees for services are 10% and may be reduced. <br /> 6. Working with other counties: The NC Association of County Commissioners <br /> 1 <br />