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Commissioner Pelissier said that this does not paint a pretty picture about the debt <br /> service capacity. She asked what is now in the CIP that might require issuance of debt. She <br /> would like to see more projections, including some other things that would be anticipated in the <br /> next couple of years. She said that if she tried to make a decision about what she sees in this <br /> PowerPoint, that it might not be the right decision. <br /> Frank Clifton said that the reality is that if the County does not have the debt capacity in <br /> its plan, then it will not be able to build projects as planned. He said that the Board of County <br /> Commissioners needs to revisit those capital plans. He wants the Board to be able to know <br /> what the County can pay for. Even if the public will support a bond issue, the County still has to <br /> pay for the bond issue and debt service. He said that the 15% margin is a market rating guide <br /> and he would not want the County to stay above the 15% for too long. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that she would like to see some of the "nice to do" things <br /> versus the essential things out beyond 2012. <br /> Frank Clifton said that staff can do some of that for the Board. He said that most things <br /> will have to be deferred until the revenue streams change or something of that nature. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she endorsed what Commissioner Pelissier said to <br /> know what is included in the CIP in the longer term. She said that one thing is that there is a <br /> need fora middle school in 2013-14 in CHCCS. Another thing is moving dental clinics to a <br /> permanent location in the Southern Human Services Center, and upfitting that building. <br /> Commissioner Hemminger asked about the fund balance and it was answered 10.5%. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that when he looks at the chart of projected new finance, the <br /> largest numbers come from financing new schools. He said that the County Commissioners <br /> need to go back to the school systems and say that there is a problem financing schools that <br /> cost$31 million. He said that the school systems need to look at ways to reduce these costs. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked that the Board get some information on how a Chapel Hill <br /> Special Use Permit works if a project is initiated within a five-year period. There is a process <br /> going on now for Elementary#11. He would like to know so that an opportunity is not missed. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the debt management policy and said that the <br /> policy was adopted in 1988 and it says that, "the County will strive to maintain its annual debt <br /> service costs at a level no greater than 15% of General Fund Expenditures." It does not say <br /> that this is the limit. He said that the documents say that it is a limit, but it is not a cap. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that there is a big difference between a policy and the credit <br /> rating. Frank Clifton said that he will get some background information on this. <br /> Gary Humphreys said that 15% is the average. Commissioner Pelissier said that the <br /> policy needs to explain this and make reference to this. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked about the budget growth rate in the last few years before <br /> the economy went down. Gary Humphreys said that the budget growth rate has been 7%, but <br /> this has not been done for a couple of years. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that he is not advocating anything but identifying what the <br /> actual policy and then make some decisions. He said that he remembers talking about the <br /> growth rate that should be adopted. He said that the Board talked at one time about going over <br /> the 15% one year and then showing it was an aberration so that it would not affect the bond <br /> rating. He said that the policy should have these stipulations. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz pointed out that a lot of the growth over the y ears has been from <br /> an increase in taxes and the County cannot continue to do this. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the $14.9 million for Hillsborough Commons and <br /> how they arrived at this figure. She noted that this amount was for 10 acres whereas previously <br /> the value on the county tax rolls was $6.5 million for 11 acres. She asked whether the property <br /> was worth $14.9 million now. Frank Clifton said that he would research this. He said that if the <br />