Minutes - 06-12-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Halkiotis asked if the Orange County school board wanted to say anything about impact fees. Keith Cook said that he does ask that the County Commissioners expedite the increase in impact fees as soon as possible. John Link made reference to the fund balances for the two systems and said that it seems that the fund balance has been consistent the last three years. The amount of fund balance undesignated has dropped from 9.8°~ a few years ago to a projected 7.9°~. The Orange County school system has appropriated a significant amount from their fund balance towards the budget. He also commented that the Caunty Commissioners could set up a reserve for school funding. He said that for every 39 cents the Orange County school system gets, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro systems get 61 cents. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the school undesignated fund balance would be available to use as a reserve fund and Susan Halkiotis said that this fund is not a recurring fund. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Nick Didow, Chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board, made reference to the presentation. He said that they did have their site plan approved by the Town of Chapel Hill last evening for Elementary School #9 at Meadowmont. The presentation includes a request for a formal review and initial funding for Elementary School #10 and a request for moving ahead with High School #3. Superintendent Neil Pedersen made the presentation. He said that some of the critical needs include meeting the state and federal mandates and rate increases, providing the same quality of education to an expanding population, attracting and retaining a quality staff, and enhancing the quality of instruction. The increases include state salaries, health insurance, and utility rates. They will need an additional $222,659 in order to achieve these goals. He continued by speaking about the rapid growth in the district and the need for Elementary Schools #9 and #10, renovations, and planning for High School #3. Nick Didow spoke about the impact fee and haw it should be set at the maximum. Commissioner Gordan asked about class sizes and teacher-student ratios and Superintendent Pedersen said that the ratio in grades K-2 is 1:23 and in grades 3-12 is 1:26. These are the state's targets. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page three of the presentation about increasing the lowest paid salary classifications. He asked about the rate of increase far the lowest paid classifications over the last four years and it was answered 14.4°l0. Commissioner Jacobs asked about Elementary School #10 and the cost for that school. It was answered that the cost would be 14.3 million dollars. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the high school numbers and clarified that the high school expansion would be $2 million. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the issue of impact fees and the comments from Nick Didow that the maximum fee is appropriate and reasonable. He said that because the impact fee is a flat fee, as it is increased to the highest levels, it is increasingly difficult for anyone with a lower income to move into our community. He asked Nick Didow if it did not concern him that we make it increasingly difficult for teachers and other people to buy housing. Nick Didow said that their board has for years lobbied our local legislation for something that is less burdensome far low income households. It has not been approved. Their board, when they met and discussed this issue, said that they long for the days we do not have impact fees for this County. There are children from less expensive homes as well as children from homes which are very expensive. Chair Halkiotis made reference to page three of the presentation and asked about attracting and retaining quality staff. He asked about the NCWISE program and if additional staff was needed for this. Neil Pedersen said that SIMS has been in place for fifteen years. NCWISE provides a lot more flexibility. Secretaries for this program are probably already underpaid. This proposal would put them an the same salary schedule as a school secretary. Without appropriate staffing at the office level, not only will they lose clerical staff, but also they see this as retaining a clerical position at the elementary level. NCWISE will require more staff to fully implement the program. He said that it equates to an additional position at the Elementary School, the Middle School and at the High School, and extending contracts for personnel who are already working 10 months. Chair Halkiotis asked Donna Dean about the additional $300,000 in the recommended district tax. Budget Director Donna Dean said that with the growth and with the most recent valuation, one penny will