Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner Gordon asked if they could agree that they want to do a referendum either in <br />May or November, 1996. <br />Commissioner Crowther said that the Board of County Commissioners need a request from the <br />Chapel Hill/Carrboro Board of Education. His support is contingent on the majority of the school <br />board supporting this referendum. <br />Nick Didow said he feels that they can be a better steward of County funds if they are not <br />always faced with imminent new construction. They can get better bids if they can go ahead and plan <br />now for this new construction. He feels a referendum would pass in May or November and that either <br />date would give them the flexibility they need. <br />Neil Pedersen said that one thing that is critical is that when they begin the design of an <br />elementary school, it would be helpful if they had access to funds during 1996 and 1997 to help with <br />this design cost. That is their most pressing need. They don't have sufficient funds to move forward <br />at the pace they would like to in order to open the elementary school in 1999-2000. <br />John Link said he will work with Neil Pedersen on getting some funds for design costs during <br />1996-97. He feels that waiting until November would allow them to confirm the needs they have <br />identified and also they will know what the State may do to address school needs. This also gives the <br />County more time to address other unfunded capital needs in the County, some of which apply to <br />schools and some do not. Also, it will give them more time to find out what the Orange County <br />Schools may need. <br />In answer to a question from Commissioner Crowther, Geoffrey Gledhill said that a bond issue <br />can be for the acquisition of land for recreation and schools. <br />Mark Royster asked if they could determine their needs and go for a bond issue. <br />Chair Carey said that the difference between going for a bond issue and going for a referendum <br />for a supplemental tax is that the supplemental tax will give a source of money for a long time whereby <br />a bond issue would take care of the needs for a few years and that is all. <br />Commissioner Willhoit said he is not opposed to a vote in November to changing the utilization <br />of the district tax. He feels May could be too soon. He likes the district tax route because it is a way <br />to meet short-term and long-term needs. Also they can look at creative ways to meet the school <br />needs. <br />Commissioner Gordon suggested that they agree to a referendum in November, 1996 on the <br />district tax. She would like to know the amount and a comprehensive plan for how the money will be <br />used and what fraction of the overall plan the County will fund. She asked Geoffrey Gledhill to let <br />them know if debt service can be paid with the district tax. <br />It was decided that Neil Pedersen and John Link will meet to talk about design funds for this <br />year. <br />Commissioner Willhoit suggested that they get a dollar amount in terms of what is needed for <br />both school systems and how much it would take per year to fund that and then look at how they want <br />to apportion that between general fund and district tax. <br />