Minutes - 04-30-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon noted that, since a new elementary school has 600 seats, the Orange County system has built an extra elementary school. Chair Halkiotis mentioned that one of Orange County's oldest schools, Hillsborough Elementary School, might at some time in the future have to be closed because of its age. Susan Halkiotis said that when they renovated Hillsborough Elementary School, the plan was to make a determination as to whether ar not they will keep this school or replace it. The School Board has decided to keep using it. Far the Orange County middle schools, current capacity is 1,466 and the level of service at 107°!o is 1,569. The 4th month membership number is 1,504. Randy Bridges, Superintendent of the Orange County Schools, said that he has used enrollment figures and not membership figures. Discussion ensued about using membership figures instead of enrollment figures. Membership figures include the students actually attending a school, while enrollment figures include all students registered at a school regardless of whether they have dropped out or graduated. The enrollment figures for the Orange County system also includes students enrolled in Charter schools. Commissioner Brown asked if the declining increase in membership in the Planning Department's projections was based on the fact that Chapel Hill would be built out in the next ten years. Craig Benedict said that in probably 10 to 15 years there would be more housing created in the Orange County system instead of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School system. This may not mean that there will be mare students in the Orange County system. Donna Dean said that the capacity for high schools in the Orange County system when Cedar Ridge High School comes on line will be 2518 and the level of service at 110°~ would be almost 2700. Right now the 110°~ level of service is 1624. Chair Halkiotis said that he is concerned about the difference in enrollment and membership numbers. He said that he recalls that a definition was developed for these two terms. He asked for the minutes from the School Facilities Task Force meetings. He said that he feels that alternatives for sharing space need to be explored. Commissioner Jacobs questioned if this information should be sent forward to the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force. Chair Halkiotis said that he needs more time to study the information before it is sent forward. If the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force needs additional time they could add a couple of additional meetings. John Link said that he would contact both superintendents and clarify the information they have provided to be sure that they were using the same form of projections. Commissioner Gordan feels that the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force needs this information before their last meeting. Commissioner Brown asked how far we are in sharing resource capacity. Dana Thompson said that they have not yet begun those discussions. Commissioner Brown said that she would think that both school systems would be willing to work together to accommodate the school children. She encourages both systems to work on sharing their resources. e. Preliminary review of Budget Hiahliahts Budget Director Donna Dean summarized this. Property taxes make up about 62°~ of the general fund revenues for fiscal year 2001-2002. The preliminary real property valuation projections are up about 26.2%. The preliminary valuation for the fiscal year is about $7.7 billion. The current tax rate was adjusted downward to offset the increase in real property valuation. The current tax rate is 92.9 cents. The preliminary projected equivalent tax rate is 78.5 to 79 cents. She said that one cent on the tax rate would generate between $840,000 and $850,000 in revenues for next year. Commissioner Brown asked how long the 79 cents would last. Rod Visser said that in 1993, the tax rate was 84.25 cents before revaluation and 74.25 after revaluation. In 1997, the tax rate was reduced from 99.75 cents to an equalization rate of 84 cents. This year, it has gone from 84 cents to 92.9 cents, with an equalization rate of 78 or 79 cents. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the tax implications of the projected bond referendum and Donna Dean said that the increase would be 7.7 cents over the next three years.