Live at:
2:15 Board agree to adopt the Priority list as follows
1:40 Group agreed to move the combined category called Business Imperatives into Priority Category 3.
1:30 Board talking about whether to consolidate additional items over which the board has little or no discretion. Those items include:
- Debt Service
- Economic/Financial Assistance
- CMS School Funding
- Child abuse/neglect prevention & protection
- CPCC funding
- Transportation
- Community Violence protection & prevention
1:15 Commissioner Cooksey suggest that the eight services listed as "Business Imperitives" should be taken out of the mix because they are items the County has to do and should not be considered with other services. They are:
- Financial Management
- Legal Counsel
- Property/Asset Management
- Employee Resource Management
- E-Government Technology Investments
- Public and Employtee Communication
- IT Resource Management
- Land, Property & Records Management
Commissioner Murrey suggests business imperitives all be placed in a single program category and put the combined item in priority Category 2.
Groups approved combining these categories in a single class called "Business Imperitives." but has not agreed where to put it.
1:05 Board coming back from lunch to consider shifting some programs and services from one priority bin to another.
12:20 Board is taking a break for lunch. Here is how they moved programs around within the priority bins.
Priority Program Placement 2
Budget Director Hyong Yi briefing the board about the process of prioritizing all County services ranking them in 7 categories with priority one being most important as a community need and priority seven being least important.
Yi says the question today is "What are the Board's priorities for FY2010?" Ranking should be based on Community need, Performance and Key Principles.
Preliminary Priority Listing
The Board is now considering which of the seven priority bins each of the County services will fit in. Each priority bin should contain seven programs or services.
Based on the Board's response to staff surveys prior to this conference here is the Board's ranking of services in the seven priority categories. The box at the bottom contains services not yet placed in a category.
Priority Program Placement
11:45 Board still working individually on placement.
Back at 1:00
10:30 back at it
10:05 Taking a 10 minute break
9:40 Commissioner Leake brings issue of teacher supplements using County money for incentives paid directly to CMS teachers. Based on the number of teachers currently in the system, a $1,000 supplement would cost $10.5M. Facilitator suggests that staff look at current CMS budget to see how teacher salaries and supplements are paid. Commissioner Roberts suggests a discussion with Superintendent Gorman to determine how he would prefer to fund supplements. Commissioner Dunlap suggests that the County should not be in the business of telling the school system how to spend money. Commissioner Cogdell says funding should be tied to performance. No decision intended or made. Facilitator suggests more discussions are necessary.
9:50 Commissioner Murrey brings issue of improving low performing schools. Mecklenburg County currently does not require CMS to submit performance reports as a requirement to receive County funding. Suggestion is to increase requirements for CMS performance reporting to the County as a means of improving low performing schools. Commissioner Roberts likes the idea that commissioners are talking about these issues during the budget process rather than after as has been the case in the past. Commissioner Clarke feels the school system has its own elected body and superintendent and the County should not get involved in trying to run the schools. Commissioner James says he is frustrated because the Board discusses issues surrounding school funding every year but never makes any progress in fixing problems.
9:10 Board discussing item brought by commissioners Dunlap, James and Murrey regarding CMS funding guidelines. Commissioner Dunlap suggests that the board consider a funding formula for CMS to help both CMS and the County plan for future needs. Commissioner James wants CMS to provide more accurate growth numbers. Commissioner Murrey suggests that Park and Recreation handle maintenance for some school facilities. Commissioner Roberts raises the issue of funding formulas possibly tying the hands of the board by requiring the board to spend prescribed amounts. Commissioner Leake wants to make sure that whatever County money that goes to the schools be spent to educate children. Commissioner Cooksey notes that the County Commission now has two former School Board members and the school board has two new members - he suggests this is a perfect time to begin a new discussion about this issue. Commissioner Cogdell suggest this is an urgent matter and time for a joint meeting with the School Board to start fresh with a new attitude of cooperation. Manager Jones suggests there might be an opportunity for functional consolidation of some services with CMS to save money and eliminate duplication of services. No action taken. Board will continue discussing this issue.
9:05 Board discussing an issue brought by Commissioner Roberts to increase County support for Green Technology. Discussion surrounds possible incentives to encourage the use of green technology.
9:00 Board is discussing an issue brought by Commissioners Roberts & Murrey to encourage the Board to place a greater emphasis on air quality programs.
