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lia= L . <br />Date: April 19, 2011 <br />To: Clarence Grier, Orange County Financial Services Director <br />From: Todd LoFrese, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services <br />Re: One Quarter Cent Sales Tax, CHCCS Projects <br />In recent years, the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools have been receiving less and less <br />funding for capital projects due to the economic recession. Reductions in our capital <br />funding has occurred because of the elimination of the Public School Building Fund, <br />reduction in impact fees since there have been few construction starts during the recession, <br />reductions in Lottery Funds as funds have been reallocated for operational expenses at the <br />state level, and transfers of local capital funds to operating accounts in order to balance the <br />budget in the past year. These reductions are making it increasingly difficult to keep our <br />facilities operating effectively and safely and have resulted in us falling behind with <br />respect to keeping our technology current. <br />Our Board supports the 1/4 cent sales tax and is committed to using it to help address our <br />older school capital needs and technology needs. Funding from the 1/4 cent sales tax would <br />be used to support projects such as bathroom renovations at many of our older schools. <br />Some of our older schools also have asbestos floor tile. We would seek to complete these <br />abatement projects and install new flooring at these facilities. Other types of projects <br />would include energy efficient lighting upgrades, repairs and replacements of heating and <br />air conditioning equipment with more energy efficient equipment, and the installation of <br />humidity controls in lower level classrooms. Running track resurfacing at two of our high <br />schools is another type of project that could be supported by the 1/4 cent sales tax. We <br />would also seek to support technology. District technology has been aging as schools <br />adopt a "make do" approach during times of budget cuts. Without funding to support a <br />refresh cycle for new computers, our schools will lag behind in their ability to deliver 21St <br />Century instruction in an effective manner. As you can see, we have many capital needs <br />and additional sources of funding are strongly desired by the school system. <br />Cc: CHCCS Board Members, N. Pedersen <br />