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Education Funding in Orange County <br />Figure 16. <br />M odel6: Education Funding Increases at County <br />Department Historical Trend <br />$100,000 ' 000 <br />$80,000,000 <br />$60,000,000 <br />$40,000,000 <br />$20,000,000 <br />$0 <br />8 <br />N N N N S C14 N N s s o <br />N N N N <br />Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Special District Tax <br />Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners continue to address increases or decreases in <br />the special district tax each year. Over the past few years, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools have used <br />the district tax mainly to address start up costs for new facilities or new programs. When submitting their <br />annual budget request, the Board of Education should make a separate proposal for use of the district tax <br />proceeds. <br />While this is a suitable use of the special district tax, the Orange County Schools does not have a district <br />tax upon which they can rely. One alternative would be as follows: <br />• For the start-up year, the Board of County Commissioners <br />could chose to increase its General Fund commitment to <br />schools and reduce Chapel Hill - Carrboro's special district <br />tax. While Orange County could use the increase to pay for <br />one -time start-up costs, Chapel Hill- Carrboro could supplant <br />lost district tax revenue with the increased General Fund <br />appropriation. <br />Conclusion <br />As the Board considers future education funding concepts, it is reasonable to look at models that closely <br />align themselves with historical trends. Of the models presented in this report, model four appears to be <br />the formula that keeps public education funding at the high level with which Orange County prides itself. <br />The Board may be aware of other formulas that could be considered <br />Page 9 of 9 <br />E <br />u <br />AM <br />us <br />`:.y` <br />8 <br />N N N N S C14 N N s s o <br />N N N N <br />Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Special District Tax <br />Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners continue to address increases or decreases in <br />the special district tax each year. Over the past few years, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools have used <br />the district tax mainly to address start up costs for new facilities or new programs. When submitting their <br />annual budget request, the Board of Education should make a separate proposal for use of the district tax <br />proceeds. <br />While this is a suitable use of the special district tax, the Orange County Schools does not have a district <br />tax upon which they can rely. One alternative would be as follows: <br />• For the start-up year, the Board of County Commissioners <br />could chose to increase its General Fund commitment to <br />schools and reduce Chapel Hill - Carrboro's special district <br />tax. While Orange County could use the increase to pay for <br />one -time start-up costs, Chapel Hill- Carrboro could supplant <br />lost district tax revenue with the increased General Fund <br />appropriation. <br />Conclusion <br />As the Board considers future education funding concepts, it is reasonable to look at models that closely <br />align themselves with historical trends. Of the models presented in this report, model four appears to be <br />the formula that keeps public education funding at the high level with which Orange County prides itself. <br />The Board may be aware of other formulas that could be considered <br />Page 9 of 9 <br />