Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Orange County <br />Board o~ <br />Education <br />Board Mernbers: <br />Tony I4'I. McKnight, Chair <br />Donna Coffey, Vice Chair <br />Eddie I4I. Eubanks <br />Stephen H. Halkiotis <br />Annc il4edenblik <br />Deborah A. Piscifelli <br />Brenda Stepl-ens <br />G. Patrick tihodes <br />Superintendent <br />200 East King Street <br />Hilisberough, i~`C 27278 <br />Teteptione: 9f 4-732-8I2b <br />FAX: 9 i 9-732-SY 20 <br />Auaa..~s <br />May 18, 20I 1 <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />P.O. Box 8181 <br />Elillsborouglt, NC 27278 <br />RE: Request for Clarification Regarding One-Quarter Cent Sales-Tax and <br />Other School Funding Questions <br />Dear County Cotntnissiotiers: <br />During its May Ib, 2011 meeting, the Orange County Board of Educa#ion discussed a <br />number of topics related to the BOCC's funding of the county school system. These <br />-same topics were also discussed at the May 3, 2011 collaboration wotkgroup meeting <br />attended by commissioner leadership, school board members and county and sel~ool <br />system staff: <br />Ouarter-Cent Sales Tax (Article 461 Refee•endufu <br />Our board recognizes the Coutrty's-need for additional revenues and appreciates <br />Cotntnissiotiers' willingness to make aten-year commitment to splitting anticipated <br />proceeds fiom the proposed Article 46 sales tax revenue equally between the county <br />and local school districts. We also-.commend the County for recognizing how a <br />stronger public edueatiott campaign would benefit the process. Two unanswered <br />questions, however, emerged during our Boatel's discussion. <br />1. The County'-s "Resolution Regarding Uses of the Potential Revenues from a <br />One-Quarter Cent County Sales-and Use Tax" allows for "St?% of the <br />fiordirrg...alloeated irr an equitable nrarrraer beht~eert the corrrrty's t}+o school <br />.ri~rtenrs.... "The Resolution does not include a definition of the tettn <br />"equitable", and our Board would like to luiow how Con~unissioners plan to <br />distributE the Article 46 revenues between the two school systems. <br />2: Would the County use revenues generated by the proposed Article 46 one- <br />quarter cent sales tax to supplant any current revenues available to the <br />schools? -In other words, would the County consider new revenue-from the <br />tax as part of the its current 48.1 % school funding target? <br />The Board of Education respectfitlly requests a tvrittenxespotise from the Board of <br />County Comrnissionet•s and the County Manager to clarify these questions. <br />BOCC Seltaol Funding, Debt Service, and Alternatives to the Cw•rettt 48.1% <br />Funding Goals <br />For several months no~v, the Collaboration Worlcgroup has discussed the <br />Commissioners' school funding target to determine whether there would be a more <br />stable and sustainable alternative to the existing 48.1% goal. For Example, should <br /> <br />