Minutes - 08-27-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

APPROVED 1 11 612 0 0 2 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD August 27, 2001 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on August 27, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. to hold a public hearing on the proposed bond orders. At the conclusion of that portion of the meeting the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Orange County Planning Board met in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina for the Quarterly Public Hearing. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Alice M. Gordon, and Barry Jacobs COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Nicole Gooding-Ray, Chair and members Barry Katz, Theodore Triebel, Howard McAdams, Crauford Goodwin, Hunter Schofield, and James Selkirk COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Planning Director Craig Benedict and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff members will be identified appropriately below} NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. A. OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR Chair Halkiotis welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that Commissioner Brown should be there shortly and that Commissioner Carey was out of town on business and sends his regrets. Commissioner Carey will be viewing the videotape of the public hearing. B. PUBLIC CHARGE Chair Halkiotis read the public charge. C. PROPOSED BOND ORDERS FOR PUBLIC HEARING Chair Halkiotis said that this public hearing is being held to meet legal responsibilities and also to highlight the opportunity of the bond referendum. He said that, in his biased opinion, the County Commissioners have never failed to meet the needs of both school systems in Orange County in a fair and equitable manner. John Link presented information on the proposed bond issue. He said that in the fall and winter the schools and the County identified capital needs of more than $153 million. The Capital Needs Advisory Task Force recommended an $85 million bond to fund the highest priority needs of the schools and the County. The County Manager offered a scenario of $75 million in bond funds plus $19.8 million in alternative financing for priority projects. The alternative financing includes a combination of bond revenue, pay-as-you-go funding (sales tax and impact fees), and bank financing. The components of the November 2001 bond are as follows: $4 million for affordable housing; $4 million for senior centers; $17 to $20 million for parkland, recreation, and open space; up to $3 million in land acquisition and $47 million for schools. The total tax impact of this bond would be 7.1 to 7.5 cents per hundred dollar valuation phased in over three to four years. He then gave some history of past bonds, their impact, and the projects financed by the bond monies. He then summarized what would be included in each component of the November band referendum. The proposed $75 million bond package would address priority school projects by reducing overcrowded situations in our elementary and middle schools, provide modern facilities for senior citizens, increase affordable housing opportunities for all residents, and provide opportunities for the County and Towns to partner in recreational opportunities.