Orange County NC Website
an entire package and how to finance as many schools and address the Schools Adequate <br />Public Facilities Ordinance as efficiently as possible and stay within the County's debt <br />requirements. <br />There are five elements in considering this proposal, as follows: <br />1. There is need far additional high school space based on projections <br />of future student membership <br />2. Comparison of CHCCS High School #3 scenarios <br />3. April 24, 2003 CHCCS presentation on funding High School #3 <br />4. Unfunded County and Schools capital needs for 2003-2013 <br />5. Constraints on County borrowing <br />Budget Director Donna Dean explained why there is a need for a third high school based on <br />student projections. According to projections, by 2004-2005, the district will surpass the <br />110°~ level of service. The addition of the 1,000-student high school that CHCCS has <br />proposed is reflected in 2006-2007, which will bring the number of available seats to 4,035 <br />with a level of service at 4,439. <br />Assistant County Manager Rad Visser spoke about the Rack Haven Raad site and <br />compared it to the Orange County school construction standard model. The Board of <br />County Commissioners is basing its funding decisions on this model. He said that the <br />County Commissioners adopted school construction standards in 1999 for high schools. <br />This occurred following a recommendation from a task force comprised of representatives of <br />the County Commissioners and the two school boards. The total square foot range for a <br />1,000-student high school is from 151,000-182,000 square feet. The bottom line cost <br />ranges from $24.7-29.9 million. The total price tag for this site is $33.8 million. The school <br />system is contemplating an off-site athletic facility, which would be an additional $660,000. <br />Donna Dean spoke about moving the bond funds from Elementary School #10 to High <br />School #3. The total funding from the original scenario was $27.8 million. The CHCCS is <br />recommending that the County consider borrowing an additional $6 million for High School <br />#3. <br />John Link said that the County also has other unfunded needs that it must fund - <br />Elementary School #10, a new central office far the CHCCS, renovations at Hillsborough <br />Elementary School (Orange County Schools},anew animal shelter, renovations at the <br />Northern Human Services Center, and the 9-1-1 communications plan. The Board of <br />County Commissioners indicated that at some point during the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the <br />County would not be able to address these unfunded projects without making some hard <br />decisions. <br />Rod Visser spoke about the County's debt capacity. The County Commissioners' approved <br />debt management policy from May 1998 states that the County will strive to spend no mare <br />than 15°~ of its general fund expenditures in any given year to retire debt on previously <br />issued bonds, alternative financing, etc. Orange County has an excellent bond rating. This <br />benefits all taxpayers. He said that the additional $6 million would not cause the County's <br />projected expenditures to ga above the 15°l0 level. However, with all of the additional <br />unfunded needs, including the additional $6 million far the Rock Haven proposal as <br />submitted by the CHCCS Board, it becomes a problem. <br />