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Commissioner Halkiotis indicated that deliberate effort on the <br />part of the school systems will be required to reduce utility expense. <br />A plan needs to be created and teachers, staff, custodians, and <br />students need to be educated. He mentioned that increased technology <br />for new schools makes the achievement of energy efficiency even more <br />difficult. He requested accurate figures from each school system for <br />utility cost and the implementation of an initiative between County <br />government and the two school systems to look at current utility costs <br />and the creation of an incentive program for reduction of these costs. <br />Commissioner Crowther made reference to his list of budget <br />recommendations which differed substantially from those listed on Chair <br />Carey's proposal. He agrees with not raising the district tax and <br />suggested raising the general tax rate 1.75 cents with 1.5 dedicated to <br />the school systems directly. That would be $485,868 to the Chapel <br />Hill-Carrboro district and $347,216 to the Orange County district. In <br />conjunction with the Manager's suggested 4 cent property tax increase <br />the total increase using this plan would be 5.75 cents which he feels <br />is too large an increase. He will support a 2.75 cent tax increase or <br />a 91.25 tax rate. He feels the shortfall could be cut out of the <br />general fund or a 20 across-the-board cut in County expenditures <br />including both school systems. He stated that the County's increase in <br />taxes should not exceed the projected inflation rate for 1995-1996 <br />which is 3.10. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the Citizen Work Group <br />proposed by Chair Carey would be able to identify areas where <br />innovation and more efficient use of resources could occur. This could <br />bring about a real cost savings. <br />Chair Carey commented he felt that the proposal he presented takes <br />care of current needs and allows for a start on trying to address <br />future capital needs which have already been identified. <br />Mary Bushnell mentioned that the current proposal leaves Chapel <br />Hill-Carrboro Schools with no discretionary money whatsoever. They will <br />have no money to complete projects such as an operational analysis. <br />This school system is being penalized because they are growing so fast. <br />She asked the Commissioners to consider her comments in their decision. <br />In response to a comment regarding savings through energy conservation, <br />she mentioned that it was not possible to decrease utility costs and <br />increase facilities at the same time. <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked if the 5o increase in utility costs <br />was for inflation or for new facilities. Superintendent Pedersen <br />indicated that that increase was for inflation. <br />Commissioner Gordon commented that this proposal funds the growth <br />for the school system but does not include anything additional for the <br />Chapel Hill-Carrboro System. She felt that was a hardship for the <br />school system. She agreed with Mary Bushnell's comments. <br />Chair Carey mentioned that he could not support the proposal <br />presented by Commissioner Crowther because it was not possible to make <br />