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difference in the total debt picture. He said that when he suggested that the CHCCS utilize district tax monies for capital projects the issue of equity came up. He said equity would never became a reality. He said that we have been good to bath school systems but the County has not been generous to itself. Commissioner Carey agreed with Commissioner Jacobs and said that the County is in dire straits and the Board should talk about the threshold. He would like to establish a priority list and then go from there and stop short at the red line {debt capacity). He thinks the subject of equity can be achieved by merging the school districts. He said that we awe it to our citizens not to pit them against each another. Commissioner Gordon said that it will be important to prioritize and that you may be able to find ways to stretch out the money. She said that equity is tough to define sometimes. She spoke about how the CHCCS system was growing faster and the district taxes were paying for opening of new schools. She said that we might need to look at using the district tax to build new schools as well as opening the new schools. She believes that one cent on the district tax would yield $600,000 per year. John Link said that he would advocate strongly for the County's projects. He said that he did propose the switch of the money for Elementary School #10 to High School #3. But, before the Board puts an additional $6 million to the high school that it makes sure that the communications center, the Northern Human Services Center and the animal shelter are funded in a timely way. He said that if he had to make a decision tonight, he would say to stick with the standards {$28-29 million). Commissioner Gordon said that the CHCCS request is $4 million above the standards. The funding proposal that the County staff came up with was not the maximum for the 1,000-student high school. Jahn Link said that he was speaking about the additional $6 million that they would have to borrow related to the debt service. Commissioner Jacobs asked far more clarification about the request about the size of the high school and if it was expandable. Superintendent Pedersen said that the 182,000 square feet is for 1,000 students, but the school board would not relinquish the possibility that there would be expansion. Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the site allowed far an ultimate expansion for 1,500 students and Superintendent Pederson said yes. Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the design for expansion and if the core facilities could be expanded. Superintendent Pedersen said that the core facilities are fora 1,000-student high school and it would not be feasible to expand the core facilities but to expand the classroom capacity. He said that there is not a plan to expand at this time. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the building of East Chapel Hill High and that it came in over the budgeted amount and that the County Commissioners found out three years later that the Town of Chapel Hill had put some mandates on the building. He said that he has some legitimate confusion and he wants to know what the plans are. He said that the Manager has been too generous with the school systems at the expense of County programs. The County continues to rent buildings far same of its programs. Commissioner Gordon asked the Chair of the CHCCS Board Valerie Foushee about planning the core facilities for 1,500 students. Valerie Foushee said that the projections did not indicate a high school for 1,500 and the money was not there. She said that they were happy to know that the parcels that they were to purchase could allow for expansion.