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7 1 on the tax and the media would expand on this topic. 2 Commissioner Marshall noted that the citizens desire to have 3 increased programming in the schools is something the Board should 4 respond to and she supports a November vote. 5 John Link stated that the last possible time to vote on a 6 referendum and have the tax included in the budget for 1991-92 would be 7 March. 8 Commissioner Halkiotis expressed concern about some of the 9 strategies that the politicians may use for winning in November. He 10 feels it may be better to wait until March and have a special election. 11 County School Board member Kay Singer expressed her concern 12 for holding the referendum in November. Among other things their school 13 system will be interviewing for a new superintendent which will take a 14 lot of their time. They are willing to work hard to promote a district- 15 wide tax in March. 16 Chairman Carey indicated that if the referendum is delayed, 17 a decision needs to be made within the next few weeks about the March 18 date. He previously favored putting it on in November but felt that to 19 some extent that might have an adverse effect on the outcome. 20 Commissioner Willhoit stated he is not opposed to the county- 21 wide district tax but he is opposed to the process. He feels that the 22 use for the money must be defined before the tax can be promoted and 23 explained to the people. He stated the possible outcomes of the 24 election and emphasized the need to be ready to respond to that outcome. 25 He questioned if this is an attempt to phase out the district tax over 26 time by shifting funds to a county-wide tax. He asked if the expansion 27 items in next years budget would become continuation items in the 28 following years budget. He feels there needs to be a determination on 29 how the tax will be managed and the purpose defined. After, these 30 questions are answered, he would approve a special referendum in the 31 spring or in November, 1991. 32 Commissioner Halkiotis emphasized the importance of having 33 the support of the teacher associations for both school systems. 34 Commissioner Marshall noted that the Board has been talking 35 for several years about multi-year budgets from the school boards, 36 particularly on expansion programs. If the County Commissioners and the 37 School Boards could agree on some management policies, it would help in 38 knowing what continuation money would be necessary for a three year 39 period. 40 Commissioner Willhoit stated he feels the question is how to 41 move forward with two school systems -- whether it is toward equal 42 County funding, equal total funding of State, Federal and County, or 43 whether it is toward merger. 44 It was the consensus of the Board to wait until the spring 45 to put the referendum on the ballot. 46 A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by 47 Commissioner Marshall to work everything out within the next four or 48 five weeks to put the referendum before the people in early March. 49 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 50 51 NOTE: COMMISSIONER JOHN HARTWELL WAS EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING 52