Orange County faces an $8.7 million revenue shortfall next year, the Orange County commissioners heard last night.
The shortfall is about 5 percent of this year's $183 million general fund revenue and represents about 7 cents on the county property tax rate. (If memory serves, each penny on the current 99.8 cent per $100 valuation tax rate generates about $1.3 million.)
"This is not unexpected,' Commissioner Mike Nelson said. "It's still pretty stunning."
One immediate consequence: Service cuts. The county began reviewing proposed spending cuts last night. County Manager Laura Blackmon said the 10 percent cuts she ordered will not be enough. She also said not all departments will have to cut their spending the same. Some provide more mandated services than others, and some have revenue streams that help pay for the programs they deliver.
But it looks like Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Superintendent Neil Pedersen may have to revise his recommended budget. He has proposed nearly $1 million in cuts, assuming the distric would get the same funding as this year. (It was the first time in his 17 year he had submitted a plan without a spending increase.)
But Thursday night, county staff suggested a decrease in per pupil funding to the county's two school districts. A report prepared for the meeting shows what it would cost to fund the school system's with 48.1 percent of the county's anticipated general fund revenue. The county has a goal of spending at least 48.1 percent of the budget on education, but in fact has spent slightly above that.
If the county holds school funding to the minium goal, the per pupil appropriation would drop from $3,200 this year to $3,011 next year.
Comments
Amazing
Sat, 03/07/2009 - 20:09 — elvisboy77A lot of the cuts seem to be in free car rides to different places.
Didn't know our tax dollars were going to a taxi service.
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/0903051b.pdf
Read it and weep. I have a hard time believing that most taxpayers have any idea that this is where their money is going.
And keep in mind this is but a small piece of the overall budget.
I would love to see the calculation that supports EMS response will go from 17 to 20 minutes. Sounds like fear mongering to me. Sad.
The election cycle is starting. Don't forget this when you go to the polls. Wake up, BOCC!
nice interpretation
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 11:55 — tbuckner"free car rides to different places"
Helping people live independently and/or stay in their homes is a waste of tax dollars? This is like complaining about the high cost of health care while opposing universal health insurance.
Huh?
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 14:49 — elvisboy77What are you talking about?
Here is your chance
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 04:46 — TBlakeEB. Become a volunteer medical first responder (seriously). Help pick up the slack. You'll help the community and it will make you feel good.
I did
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 17:53 — elvisboy77Volunteer for several years as a volunteer fireman and a first responder. Once I started having kids it became too difficult. But I still volunteer in the community in numerous ways.
How about you Tblake? Where have you given back to your community?
Or you, Tbuckner, where have you volunteered and actually made a difference? I have many, many stories of times I have made a difference in my community, and NONE of them have to do with posting a comment on this site.
So???
I am
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 18:58 — TBlakecurrently a volunteer firefighter, first responder and serve on the BoD. I have helped write several successful FEMA grants and managed them. We have recently reduced our ISO rating for our fire district, saving each home owner and average of $200.00 per year on fire insurance.
Your "fear mongering" comment is what caused me to suggest it..
I would have thought that a person that was aware of the state of EMS in this county would know that the response times are probably accurate and not "fear mongering". IMO Orange County EMS is under funded.
There are a lot of dedicated people, both volunteers and county EMS employees who make a difference despite, not because of the funding situation.
I agree
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 05:42 — elvisboy77People aren't in it for the money. I think you missed my point.
I have a hard time believing that it is possible to calculate "if you cut x dollars from the EMS budget then you will add y minutes to the response time" That is the part I consider untrue and thus fear mongering.
In reality, such basic services should not be cut- police, fire and EMS. Another example of poor judgement on the part of our leaders not to see that.
In corporate
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 21:54 — TBlakeparlance, they are "exceeding expectations" and therefore deserve a bonus.
And so it appears that the
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 13:08 — cantaloupeAnd so it appears that the alleged "revenue neutral" tax rate is unlikely.
And what kind of fiscal management is it to publicly state that you are going to spend "at least" some percentage of your budget on a particular service? That is an invitation to pad the budget. Have you ever heard of ANYONE, being given a minimum spending limit, ever spending LESS?