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215 <br />proportionality. This means that there must be a linkage between the ability to <br />charge the fee and the amount of the fee. That linkage is the impact the fee has on <br />a service that is being paid for by the fee. When a developer puts up a house, he <br />can be charged for the cost of water and sewer, line charges, and school development <br />costs. Traditionally, this has been done through the development of a trust fund so <br />those fees will be used for specific purposes. That is how the County's ordinance is <br />worded. Fees that are collected in the Orange County school system go into the <br />Orange County trust fund and the same is true for Chapel Hill/Carrboro. The Impact <br />tax can be adjusted but the Impact fee cannot. The County has tried to get <br />authorization to pass a tax and may continue to pursue that option but the County is <br />not in a position to adjust the fee. It is possible to include a portion of the <br />impact fee in the buyers costs. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that both of the systems are incurring <br />substantial costs in meeting the needs of individual children with special needs. <br />This is an issue that needs to be kept in mind while discussing funding. He <br />suggested adding "additional costs school systems face" as a future agenda item. <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked if the school systems were discussing how to assure <br />that similar courses are being offered to students in both systems. <br />Mary Bushnell indicated that because of overcrowding in the Chapel <br />Hill/Carrboro System, the exchange of students between school systems has been mostly <br />those with special needs. They anticipate more cross-over of students when the new <br />high school is completed. <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked if the next meeting would be prior to the budget <br />process. He requested a report from the school systems on the technology programs <br />and where they are with that issue. <br />It was decided by the three Boards to meet again prior to the beginning of the <br />budget process. Chair Carey will discuss possible dates with the Chairs of the <br />School Boards and notify all members of the time and date. <br />The meeting was adjourned. <br />Moses Carey, Jr., Chair <br />Kathy Baker, Deputy Clerk <br />