BOCC prioritizes projects reviews county funds

The struggling economy's strain on the budget was highlighted during discussions surrounding the county's capital investment plan Thursday at an Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The board reviewed many of the county's funded projects" prioritizing them and looking at the budget's increase in the previous year. The county has nearly $19 million in unfunded needs.

Commissioner Alice Gordon expressed concerns for limiting the budget.

""When we come to a situation where we're so stressed for finance" we have a budget and we just don't go over it" Gordon said.

I just don't know how desperate we're going to get for money.""

Among the projects discussed were the construction of several buildings" creation of parks and the future uses of some facilities including the Northern Human Services Center.

Because of the lack of funds several commissioners said they will have to prioritize projects.

Chairman Barry Jacobs said the building of parks should be moved up on the list specifically the Bingham District Park and Twin Creeks Park" because the board made a promise to construct them.

""I think we need to put all the parks on one page and look at giving parks a priority" he said. When we've made a promise or commitment that we haven't filled" we might want to move it to a higher priority.""

A review of the county's funds revealed the actual revenues to be $5.9 million less than budgeted revenues.

The shortfall is the result of many factors" including misallocation of previous earnings specific projects being budgeted but never receiving the necessary funds and grant and bond money budgeted but not yet received.

Commissioner Mike Nelson repeatedly asked County Manager Laura Blackmon why the misallocations and budgeting mistakes occurred but did not receive a definitive answer.

No action was taken Thursday to correct the problem but the board will hold a future hearing on the issue. Gordon said procedures need to be put into place to ensure the problem won't happen again.

At the end of the meeting the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' 2009-19 Capital Investment Plan was presented to the board.

The outline highlighted planned improvements to windows roofing and air conditioning at the Lincoln Center the district's administrative building.

The unfunded plans to construct a new central office and to convert the Lincoln Center to an educational facility were scratched from the plan.

The Orange County Schools' Capital Investment Plan prioritized the renovation of several old buildings in the system meant to promote health and safety and to ensure equity among schools in the district.



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