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Chair Pelissier said that the Board of County Commissioners adopted a '/4-cent sales <br />tax resolution last week and it is different than last year's resolution. She highlighted that the <br />commitment is for aten-year period and not afive-year period. The other thing is that it 50% <br />for schools and 50% for economic development. It is also, "including, but not limited to facility <br />improvements at older schools and the procurement of technology." She said that they <br />wanted to have a conversation with the school boards about the anticipated needs. <br />Interim Assistant to the County Manager Michael Talbert gave a brief summary of the <br />resolution. <br />INSERT <br />Frank Clifton summarized the uses for economic development -utilities infrastructure <br />and small business loans, etc. The County is limited to only an educational process and it is <br />restricted as far as the wording. <br />Commissioner Yuhasz pointed out that one of the reasons they put language in that <br />they did was so that schools could come back with specific proposals for allocations. He <br />thinks that this is a clear commitment, but it is up to the school boards to come up with specific <br />things. <br />Chair Pelissier pointed out that there will be a special revenue fund for this and it will <br />not just go into the general fund. <br />Steve Halkiotis made reference to Commissioner Yuhasz's comment about this being <br />fuzzy last time. He said that it was fuzzy last time and no one knew what would be done with <br />the money. He said that the public needs to know very clearly how the money will be spent. <br />He does not have a problem supporting this. <br />Michelle Brownstein said that another piece is that if this tax does not pass, the public <br />needs to know what happens then. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he still believes that the presentation is fuzzy and it was <br />still fuzzy tonight. He said that the staff needs to explain just how much the County has <br />already cut in the last few years. He said that what is going on right now in Raleigh is <br />ideological warfare. There is warfare against the notion of the public good through <br />government. He wants to make sure that the County Commissioners are not fuzzy about what <br />they are doing to match what the schools are doing in order to meet the challenges so that <br />they can promote this and help the tax succeed. <br />Chair Pelissier said that the Board has not discussed what would happen if the <br />referendum does not pass. <br />Frank Clifton said that what the County is doing now is not sustainable and the tax <br />base has to be diversified somehow. <br />Chair Pelissier said that she hoped both school boards would support and advocate for <br />this referendum. <br />With no further items to address, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 PM. <br />Bernadette Pelissier, Chair <br />Donna S. Baker, CMC <br />Clerk to the Board <br />