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allocation. Mike Williams said that the placement of a nurse in all schools has been an on-going goal of the board of education. The final answer would have to come from the board of education. Commissioner Halkiotis asked John Link about the mandates listed by CHCCS and the mandates for the OCS and said that they are not the same. He asked if the Manager and the superintendents have discussed what a mandate is. John Link said that they have not had discussions on this in the past year. He said that he has a severe definition of a mandate, and that is if you do not comply, the State takes away money or puts you in jail or threatens to do either one. Boards of education have their own expectations in terms of service. John Link said that this has not been agreed upon by definition, but they would all agree that salary increases for existing teachers and health insurance for these teachers would be a top priority and would be a mandate compared to other line items. Commissioner Halkiotis said that the Board might want to consider a more specific definition of "mandate". He asked John Link when he recommends monies for mandates and the State does not follow through if the County took the money back. John Link said that the money stays with the school systems and if the State gives money back to the school system then there is no recourse to adjust the school or County budget. Commissioner Halkiotis asked Mike Williams about his response and Mike Williams said that the two systems have a different approach to mandates. OCS listed as mandates those things, which, if not funded, would be either unreasonable or irresponsible. Commissioner Halkiotis said that in the future as things get more financially tight, we need to tie down the issue of mandates and there needs to be consistency. He suggested that both school systems meet with the Manager and discuss the definition of a mandate. John Link said that there is a proposal in the House or the Senate that would pursue reduction in classroom size and would send money to school districts but would take money away from the vocational side. The expectation is that the County Commissioners would fund the portion taken away from vocational services. All three governing bodies need to be alert to this. Commissioner Gordon said that both school systems need to say what the State mandates for class size and what are the current class sizes for each of the grades. Chair Brawn made reference to the fund balance and asked if OCS was going to use the $1,064,000 to balance the budget. Mike Williams said no, but that several years ago the school district targeted $1 million to keep in the fund balance that is not appropriated. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to mandates about class sizes and he heard that few school districts in the State actually follow the mandates for class size reduction if they did not have the money. He would be interested in knowing how many school systems are actually following what the State says that it is funding if they cannot come up with the local funding to match it. ^ Operating Budget ^ Long Range Capital Plans {CIP) Mike Williams referred to the CIP document, which lists the needs and the projected revenue stream. They find themselves with a $600,000 deficit between what they would like to do and the projected revenue stream. They will have to make adjustments in the budget. The only request they would make of the County Commissioners is to continue to look at the revenue streams and enhance and protect them as much as possible.