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406 <br /> 2 <br /> raised the Superintendent's requested budget in several areas such as <br /> Supplemental request for teachers, Energy request and Special Education <br /> areas have been raised so that the overall school budget reflects a 12.7 <br /> percent increase. Mr. Kennedy further stated that the capital needs were <br /> great for the Orange County School System, therefore, the amount of money <br /> requested was high. Mr. Kennedy said that asbestos had been discovered in <br /> some of the schools in Orange County and the consulting engineering firm, <br /> Blalock and Martin Consulting Engineers of Raleigh, forth Carolina quoted <br /> the costs of $100,000 to remove or to confine the asbestos. Mr. Kennedy <br /> said the Orange County Board of Education is requesting a special <br /> appropriation in this year to pay for the removal or confining of the <br /> asbestos. Mr. Kennedy asked the Board of Commissioners if they were <br /> willing to provide that $100,000 appropriation at this time. Commissioner <br /> Whitted said the Commissioners recognize the need for the asbestos removal <br /> and that the County Manager had included the money for asbestos removal in <br /> his recommended appropriation for the Orange County Schools. Mr. Kennedy <br /> reiterated that this was an emergency request and is needed in this <br /> current year. Mr. Kennedy continued that if the Board of Commissioners <br /> would not honor the special appropriation request at this meeting, to <br /> please consider three options: (1) the appropriation of $100,000 <br /> immediately (as requested) ; (2) a special immediate funding of $50,000 for <br /> the most critical needs (where the students are in daily contact with <br /> asbestos) and the remaining $50,000 to be included in the current budget <br /> request; and (3) an amendment to the budget as quickly as possible in <br /> order to appropriate the $100,000. Commissioner Willhoit said the <br /> Manager's recommended budget for the Orange County Board of Education <br /> indicated that there was enough money available to put lights on the <br /> football field and that it would be basically a question of priorities for <br /> the Board of Education. <br /> Dr. Mike Simmons, Orange County School Superintendent reviewed the <br /> budget with the Board of Commissioners and noted that the request per <br /> pupil was $655. Dr. Simmons noted those areas that were increased, as <br /> previously specified by Mr. Kennedy, and added that the largest increase <br /> occurs in salaries. Dr. Simmons save the Commissioners a list of <br /> priorities for the Orange County Board of Education: <br /> (1) Asbestos removal or encapsulation; <br /> (2) Renovation at A.L. Stanback; <br /> (3) Roof replacement; <br /> (4) Gym floor replacement; <br /> (5) Complete roofing survey; <br /> (6) Energy Retrofits and Energy Audits; <br /> (7) General Site Development; <br /> (8) Computer Instruction; <br /> (9) Land for new middle school; <br /> (10) Money for new school bus. <br /> Ms. Kathy Battern, Finance Director of Orange County Schools also <br /> made a brief budget presentation to the Commissioners. Following Dr. <br /> Simmons' and Ms. Battern's reviews of the budget requests from the Orange <br /> County School System, Commissioners posed questions. Commissioner Whitted <br /> asked Ms. Battern to explain the single audit concept to which she <br /> referred during her presentation. Ms. Battern replied that, rather than <br /> having individual audits for local funds, the State had requested that one <br />