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APPROVED MARCH 19. 1996 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br />FEBRUARY 12, 1996 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session with the Chapel <br />Hill/Carrboro Board of Education on February 12, 1996 at 5:30 p.m. in the Government Services <br />Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners <br />William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis and Don Willhoit. <br />CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS PRESENT: Neil Pedersen, <br />Superintendent, and members Nichols Didow, Mark Royster, Harvey Goldstein, Bea Hughes-Werner <br />and Elizabeth Carter <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager <br />Rod Visser, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Budget Director Sally Kost, Planning Director Marvin and <br />Clerk to the Board Beverly Blythe <br />POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO PERMIT BROADER USE OF DISTRICT TAX PROCEEDS <br />Nichols Didow said that he hopes they can close this meeting with a clear understanding of <br />what happens next and who is responsible. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District could convert the present <br />district tax so it can be used for current expense and capital or they could have a separate <br />supplemental tax earmarked for capital. Having a separate referendum and a separate tax may be the <br />cleanest way of doing it. He has not addressed using the supplemental tax to retire debt but would be <br />glad to explore that possibility. Also, he does not know if capital needs can be funded by private <br />placement financings (PPF) and the debt paid with a supplemental tax. There is a possibility that the <br />General Assembly would give authorization but this is the short session and it is doubtful they would <br />consider it this year because this would be a new district tax. <br />Commissioner Gordon said she favors enlarging the present tax to include capital instead of a <br />new or separate supplemental tax for the current district tax. The maximum tax rate is 35 cents. <br />Commissioner Willhoit noted that the County Commissioners have authorization to raise the <br />property tax to $1.50. <br />In answer to a question from Mark Royster, Geoffrey Gledhill said that a referendum would be <br />needed if the School Board wanted to use their present district tax for capital or if they wanted to <br />pursue a second tax . They have to have a referendum in either case. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Crowther, Geoffrey Gledhill said he was not <br />sure if enabling legislation would be needed to use the supplemental tax to pay for debt service. <br />Mark Royster said that he favors having a separate supplemental tax so the uses are not <br />mixed. Also, this would allow Orange County to continue working toward equity. <br />