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Chair Brown asked for the Manager to clarify how the County funds schools and why <br />there is a discrepancy in the percentage of funding. This is because the County funds <br />per pupil, and the amount is the same for each school system. <br />John Link said that everyone is expressing important opinions about how schools should <br />be funded, but the County must fund schools on a per student basis for the same <br />amount far each school system. Because the CHCCS has many more students than the <br />OCS, this generates that much more money. He said that OCS asked fora 25% <br />increase, and the CHCCS asked fora 7% increase. This is why the percentages have <br />such a wide gap. He said that counties are not allowed to fund schools based an need <br />or some other criteria - it is appropriated an a per pupil basis. <br />Chair Brown said that the district tax recommended increase for the CHCCS is <br />specifically to address the needs for the opening of the new elementary school at <br />Meadowmont. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked John Link how much additional revenue would be <br />generated for the CHCCS by the proposed district tax and Jahn Link answered $12.47 <br />million for the 20-cent district tax. <br />Commissioner Gordon pointed out again that the school boards decide how the money <br />is allocated. <br />Betty Tom Davidson said that OCS is looking at a half million deficit in their capital outlay <br />budget. She also realizes that if the per pupil allocation is increased, then it has to be <br />done in CHCCS and it impacts other County services. She said that the underlying <br />message is that the OCS has great needs and they are trying to find ways to cut the <br />budget. She said that for the OCS, the No Child Left Behind campaign is looking like an <br />unfunded mandate. <br />Bobby Clapp is a parent of CHCCS students. He said that we should not make this an <br />issue of Orange County Schools vs. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. He advocates <br />for 10Q°~ funding far both school systems. He made reference to the per pupil <br />allocation, and said that it is only a 2% increase on a per pupil basis. He said that this <br />area is very dependent on property tax for its source of funds. He said that as long as <br />we rely on residential property tax rather than commercial tax, it is only logical that the <br />funds that come out of residential tax base -the family tax base - goes to support the <br />needs of families. Along with this comes the significant need to invest in schools. <br />Jane McIver is a parent and first grade teacher at Central Elementary. She asked the <br />County Commissioners to support the school board proposal for OCS. She said that the <br />No Child Left Behind act has far reaching consequences for their school. They have <br />70% of students an free and reduced lunch. This has huge consequences for them in <br />the classroom. She asked them not to leave the OCS behind and to support the school <br />board's proposal. <br />Allen Spalt is from Carrboro and said that it is important to remember that we are facing <br />the consequences of misguided national economic and fiscal policy, which has <br />threatened the public institutions and gives more responsibility on local officials to do <br />what really needs to be done. He spoke about the Carrboro Branch Library that has <br />requested bus service and more hours of operation. He said that this is a really needec <br />