Agenda - 03-23-2000 - 4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT SCHOOL FUNDING OPTIONS TASK FORCE MEETING SUMMARY February 28, 2000 ■ County explanation that BOCC interest in school funding parameters does not stem from interest in APFO, and recognition that a considerable amount of public education will be required if an APFO is to succeed — nothing the County proposes would preclude using "sound reasoning and good judgement" • Concerns expressed as to whether CHCCS would have been able to meet mandates without increases in the district tax. Discussion about potential lawsuits, different interpretations of what is a mandate, and that there may be ways to spend less on some mandates and still meet them, leaving more money for other choices. • Comments that other jurisdictions could learn from the good relationships in Orange County between school boards and County Commissioners, which have facilitated schools achieving some striking results. • County view that we're not moving away from sound reasoning and not relying just on history, or we wouldn't have had three bond issues. Schools need to be part of the equation and everything must be on table in evaluating needs. • OCS provided a review of 5 -year history of mandates or "non- negotiables ". OCS has same concerns as CHCCS that when required expenditures for capital and debt go up, that would reduce the amount of funding for operating, perhaps when its most needed. ■ Differing perceptions between school and County representatives as to whether increased school funding in recent years reflects stagnancy and allows schools to merely maintain, rather than to grow. ■ CHCCS pointed out anticipated budget pressures for next year with 600 more students than were projected for this year (that would cost $1.5 million more without covering mandates) and expectation that the final year implementation of the Excellent Schools Act will require $1.5 mil just for salary increases. ■ Discussion about how other school systems fund mandates, and differing definitions schools and County think of in considering what a mandate is. For the County, we tend to view it as something that will cause the County to get sued by the federal or state government, or where if we don't fund a certain program, they take our money away. ■ County circulated a list of points /questions that BOCC constituents might be expected to ask or be interested in (attached). Discussion about school responses to some of those points.