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MINUTES 211 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO SCHOOL BOARD <br />AND <br />ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD <br />FEBRUARY 9, 1995 <br />WORKSESSION <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board <br />and the Orange County School Board met on February 9, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the <br />Government Services Center, 200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina, for <br />a joint work session. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners <br />Stephen H. Halkiotis, Alice M. Gordon, Don Willhoit and William L. Crowther. <br />CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Kenneth Touw, and <br />members Sue Baker, Mary Bushnell, Mark Royster, Elizabth Carter and Superintendent <br />Neil Pedersen. <br />ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Robert Bateman, and members <br />Keith Cook, Susan Dovenberger, Larry Haverland, David Kolbinsky, Delores Simpson and <br />Ralph Warren. <br />Chair Moses Carey convened the meeting. He mentioned that the agenda includes <br />all items suggested by both staff and elected officials. The meeting will be <br />adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Items not covered will be considered at the next meeting of <br />this group. <br />1995-1996 SCHOOL BUDGET FORMAT <br />Ralph Warren made reference to the school budget and asked what caused the most <br />confusion/concern to County staff and the Commissioners. <br />Chair Carey indicated that definitions of the terms "continuation", "additional <br />continuation" and "expansion" remain confusing and need further clarification. <br />John Link said these terms were more clearly defined several years ago. The. <br />definitions at that time were: <br />Continuation - continuation of operations/programs from the previous year. <br />Additional continuation - increase for expenses resulting from <br />student increase. <br />Expansion - new programs and initiatives. <br />These definitions have been helpful by giving focus to the budget discussions. <br />However, additional requests have been made for information about specific programs. <br />It would be helpful to the budget process to know which programs have achieved their <br />goals, etc. This would be an excellent time to review and make further improvements <br />that would add clarity. The real issues are what has changed programmatically in <br />each system and the expected outcome of that programmatic change. <br />Larry Haverland indicated that adopting zero-based budgeting would require <br />programs to be re-evaluated on a yearly basis, and would answer the questions <br />surrounding "expected outcome". <br />Mary Bushnell agreed and stated that the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board has <br />also discussed zero-based budgeting. However, it is a radical change from the <br />present system and will take much effort and continued planning to reach that goal. <br />Neil Pedersen, Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Superintendent, stated that there is <br />not sufficient information to put together a zero-based budget at this time. He <br />indicated that he hoped to receive guidance about the fiscal picture for the County <br />and what the school systems might expect in terms of funding for the upcoming year. <br />