Agenda - 03-27-2000 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Eyffl REPORT FROM ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL FUNDING OPTIONS TASK FORCE March 23, 2000 Introduction Attachment la In considering their goals for the 1999 -2000 fiscal year, the Orange County Board of Commissioners recognized the importance of striking the appropriate balance between many worthy, competing needs for County funding in future annual operating budgets. The Commissioners' 1999 -2000 goal for "Effective and Efficient School Funding" included the task of preparation by staff of recommendations for "parameters that can be established to guide development of school current expense budgets for FY2000- 2001 and beyond ". The Budget Director researched this topic and presented a report (Attachment 1) in August 1999 which outlines a number of models the Board of Commissioners might wish to consider in providing guidance to the County Manager concerning school funding for the 2000 -2001 budget. The options developed by County staff were discussed in December 1999 in a joint meeting between the Board of Commissioners and the two school boards. School board members suggested convening a work group composed of school board members and Commissioners to review those options and to make recommendations to the Commissioners. In January 2000, the Board appointed a short- duration School Funding Options Task Force, consisting of two members each of the Board of Commissioners, the Orange County Board of Education, and the Chapel Hill - Carrboro Board of Education. The County Manager, the Orange County Schools (OCS) Superintendent, the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Superintendent, and appropriate staff provided support to the Task Force. The Task Force met twice in February 2000. Major Points of Discussion A wide range of issues was identified during the two task force meetings. A number of points of disagreement were not resolved, and not all views were mutually held, but all were aired in an atmosphere that was attentive, constructive, and respectful of other participants. Following is a list of the most significant points of discussion: 1. School representatives expressed the school systems' appreciation for past support from the BOCC. 2. All parties agreed that education has historically been the highest priority in Orange County. 3. School representatives have concerns about the impacts of mandates and fear some kind of cap would have an adverse impact on their responsibility to meet them. Schools and the County have different definitions of what constitutes a mandate. The County tends to view a "mandate" as a program or function that is required by state or federal law; failure to provide such a program or function engages penalties or sanctions. School board representatives recognize legal mandates but also speak of mandates that, from their perspective, are required to carry out their charge to best serve the students of the school system.