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Regarding the November 2001 possible bond package, the total package would be 60 to 70 <br />million dollars. It is assumed that debt service would be paid with increased property taxes in the <br />neighborhood of five to seven cents on the tax rate. <br />John Link said that in looking at sales tax revenues he would encourage the schools to also <br />keep abreast of this revenue because it affects what schools would receive for capital. <br />C. CHCCS Elementary School #9 Planning Funds <br />Assistant County Manager Rod Visser explained the handouts for this item. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the memo from Steve Scroggs and the additional <br />money that the County is going to be asked to provide. He said that the Town of Cary, in trying to <br />improve its relationship with the schools and the excellence of schools, has started giving money to <br />the school system. He would like to suggest that the County Commissioners make a formal request <br />to the Town of Chapel Hill to consider waiving development application fees for school projects within <br />their jurisdiction. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to request <br />that the Town of Chapel Hill waive development application fees for the construction of schools which <br />are constructed within their jurisdiction. <br />Commissioner Gordon made a friendly amendment to add all jurisdictions within Orange <br />County and the Board agreed. <br />Chair Halkiotis expressed his concern for giving prior knowledge to the public on how much <br />money the County has allocated or budgeted to build a school. He is still concerned that it is <br />telegraphed to the private construction community the amount of money the County has to spend on <br />school construction. He would like to have discussions with the school systems about how the <br />County and the school systems can, within the context of the law, be as protective as possible of the <br />tax dollars. <br />Commissioner Carey asked for clarification about the $25,000 fee that is going to be waived, <br />and the concept pre-planning phase that was going to be increased. John Link said that the <br />recommendation was that the Board approves the concept pre-planning phase funding, which was <br />$107,184, to be increased to $132,184. <br />Chair Halkiotis made reference to the policy that was approved last month in which the County <br />Commissioners were given an opportunity to look at property that the school systems are considering <br />for a future school site. He said that the Commissioners need to be involved in the pre-planning <br />phase of school construction. <br />Commissioner Brown clarified that the approval of this is the approval to move forward with an <br />elementary school at Meadowmont. She asked what the entire amount would be and John Link said <br />that $13.7 million was the total budget for the elementary school at Meadowmont. John Link said that <br />they would be acting on each phase of the construction project and that this approval does not <br />commit the County Commissioners to build a school. <br />Commissioner Brown feels that the Board's approval of the pre-planning phase does make a <br />commitment. Her issue is that she does not know the total amount that this school will cost. Her <br />concern is that a prototype cannot be used. She wants to understand the equity issue for spending in <br />each school district and understand what the budget is for this school. <br />Rod Visser said that the standards based on 95,200 sq. feet is $12,275,000 which is based an <br />a per square foot cost of $90.00. There is a subcommittee working on school standards <br />Commissioner Brown asked if it would be possible for the group working on standards to come <br />back to the Board with the information before we make a commitment to build this school. She feels <br />that this information is really important. She would like to know the exact square footage and the <br />exact number of students that would be attending the school at Meadowmont. <br />Chair Halkiotis feels that it may be time to bring back information from the subcommittee to the <br />Board. <br />Commissioner Carey feels that there is a substantial amount of agreement on cost, square <br />footage, etc. and he asked that members of the Board of County Commissioners give to him any <br />issues that they want considered by this subcommittee. He would not preclude the Board acting on <br />