ORD-2004-019 - Zoning Ordinance Amendment Wireless Element of the Master Telecommunication Plan

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i • an entire package and how to finance as many schools and address the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance as efficiently as possible and stay within the County's debt requirements. There are five elements in considering this proposal, as follows: 1. There is need for additional high school space based on projections of future student membership 2. Comparison of CHCCS High School #3 scenarios 3. April 24, 2003 CHCCS presentation on funding High School #3 4. Unfunded County and Schools capital needs for 2003 -2013 5. Constraints on County borrowing Budget Director Donna Dean explained why there is a need . for a third high school based on student projections. According to projections, by 2004 -2005, the district will surpass the 110% level of service. The addition of the 1,000- student high school that CHCCS has proposed is reflected in 2006 -2007, which will bring the number of available seats to 4,035 with a level of service at 4,439. Assistant County Manager Rod Visser spoke about the Rock Haven Road site and compared it to the Orange County school construction standard model. The Board of County Commissioners is basing its funding decisions on this model. He said that the County Commissioners adopted school construction standards in 1999 for high schools. This occurred following a recommendation from a task force comprised of representatives of the County Commissioners and the two school boards. The total square foot range for a 1,000- student high school is from 151,000 - 182,000 square feet. The bottom line cost ranges from $24.7 -29.9 million. The total price tag for this site is $33.8 million. The school system is contemplating an off -site athletic facility, which would be an additional $660,000. Donna Dean spoke about moving the bond funds from Elementary . School #10 to High School #3. The total funding from the original scenario was $27.8 million. The CHCCS is recommending that the County consider borrowing an additional $6 million for High School #3. John Link said that the County also has other unfunded needs that it must fund — Elementary School #10, a new central office for the CHCCS, renovations at Hillsborough Elementary School (Orange County Schools), a new animal shelter, renovations at the Northern Human Services Center, and the 9 -1 -1 communications plan. The Board of County Commissioners indicated that at some point during the 2006 -2007 fiscal year, the County would not be able to address these unfunded projects without making some hard decisions. Rod Visser spoke about the County's debt capacity. The County Commissioners' approved debt management policy from May 1998 states that the County will strive to spend no more than 15% of its general fund expenditures in any given year to retire debt on previously issued bonds, alternative financing, etc. Orange County has an excellent bond rating. This benefits all taxpayers. He said that the additional $6 million would not cause the County's projected expenditures to go above the 15% level. However, with all of the additional unfunded needs, including the additional $6 million for the Rock Haven proposal as submitted by the CHCCS Board, it becomes a problem.