Minutes - 20030527 - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Link said that in summary the staff recommends that the County Commissioners begin making decisions as part of the 2003-2004 budget deliberations, which will start on June 10th. Commissioner Jacobs said that this is an unusual circumstance because we do not usually change one bond and put it into another use. He said that this is an opportunity for people who might live proximate to the proposed site of the high school to make comments on how the school might affect their neighborhood. He said that there is no process at this time that formally includes this opportunity for citizens to address school siting. Commissioner Gordon wanted to make it clear that the "County Funding Scenario" is from the Orange County staff and their recommendation is approximately $27.8 million for this project. She said that the difference of the proposal from the standards is $4 million and the difference from the County's proposal $6 million. Chair Brown asked about the funding difference between the $27.8 million and the proposal from the school system and when the lapse occurred. Rod Visser said that the main consideration is that the site acquisition is much higher than the standards. Donna Dean said that site development and site acquisition were the areas that affect the cost the most. Chair Brown asked what it is about this site that would make the site development cost so much. Rod Visser said that the topography is not very level and there are large amounts of rock that may become a problem. Chair Brown asked for a comment on the land acquisition. The high school standards allow far $1.5 million for the purchase of land. Jahn Link said that there is a possibility that one of the sellers may not be willing to sell, which may require execution of imminent domain. Chair Brown asked for an explanation of pay-as-you-go funds. Rod Visser said that it is basically a stream of revenue that is received on an ongoing basis. This money is earmarked for either school or County capital projects. The main source of pay-as-you-go funding in the County is revenue that comes from the first two 'h cent sales taxes that were levied. Chair Brown asked about pay-as-you-go funding far schools and how it could be used. Rod Visser said that this money goes far long-range capital needs. The biggest ticket item is construction of new schools. It can also go for debt financing, retiring bonds, and renovations. Public Comment Terri Tyson is a mother of four children (triplets plus one) who will be entering high school within the next five years. She asked the Board of County Commissioners to build a third high school as soon as possible. She said that the Rock Haven Road site is clearly the best that has been identified. She is an immediate neighbor of East Chapel Hill High School. She feels it is very important that the next high school be built in the southern part of the district. She does not want her children or anyone else's to attend an overcrowded school. She said that if a smaller high school is built, the cast per seat will be much higher and capacity will be exceeded sooner. She asked for full funding for the third high school.