Orange County NC Website
only be $161,182. The recommended district tax increase of .8 cents would leave a shortfall of <br />$909,845. If all of it were addressed through a per pupil appropriation, it would require an <br />increase of $86 per pupil. <br />Regarding the CHCCS Local Undesignated Fund Balance, they are appropriating $1.5 million <br />from this. This would leave them with an undesignated fund balance of $1.3 million, which would <br />be 3.13% of their general fund local expenditures. This is less than the recommended 5.5%, but <br />they think it is reasonable in these tight financial times. <br />He mentioned that the State reductions are estimated at $700-800,000. They are not asking the <br />County to make up this difference. He attended a meeting yesterday in Raleigh and the State <br />revenue is being reduced again but there is federal assistance available to make up far the <br />shortfall. In order to replace the State reductions, they may have to do some or all of the <br />following: reduce number of middle school SR~s (school resource officers), reduce number of <br />clerical positions in elementary schools, reduce central office administrative travel and supply <br />budgets, and reduce number of days State-paid teacher assistants work. <br />Neil Pedersen said that in regards to recurring capital, they do support the Manager's <br />recommendation. <br />Gloria Foley said that they believe that they presented the Board with a good proposal for the <br />third high school. This is in the right location at the right time. <br />Neil Pedersen said that at the last Board of County Commissioners work session attended by the <br />boards of education, they were asked to prioritize their unfunded capital projects. The priorities <br />are, in order: Elementary School #10; Middle School #5; new central office; Lincoln Center <br />conversion; Elementary School # 11; Culbreth Science Labs; and McDougle Auditorium. He then <br />listed the 2003-2004 funded CIP projects. <br />Regarding the third high school, Neil Pederson said that in February, the board of education was <br />clear in stating that its desire for the third high school was to build it in the southern end of the <br />district with the capacity of 1,000 students and core facilities for 1,500 students. As they <br />proceeded in developing a budget for this, they tried to make it work so they could move forward. <br />They scaled back the plan to 1,000 students and core facilities for 1,000. If funds were available, <br />they would prefer to eventually have a school for 1,500 students. He said that all of the $4 million <br />overage from the County standards is attributable to the higher land and site development costs <br />because of typography. They would like to open this school in 2006. <br />^ CHCCS and County Dialogue <br />Chair Brawn asked about expansion of sports and Neil Pedersen said that the sports that they <br />have added are male and female lacrosse and female field hockey at four middle schools. <br />Chair Brawn asked for specifics on the after school transportation and Neil Pedersen said that at <br />the middle school they provide after school buses Monday thru Thursday for after school <br />programs with no fees. At the elementary level, they have afee-based transportation program <br />that is not related to after school. All of the high schools have after school transportation similar <br />to the middle school. Due to other costs of transporting all students, they no longer can <br />appropriate the money out of their transportation budget. <br />Chair Brawn asked if this was an expansion and Neil Pedersen said that this is not an expansion <br />of services, but something that they have not budgeted far. They have been absorbing the cast <br />and they can no longer do this. <br />Chair Brown asked about the crossing guards that the Town of Chapel Hill is not paying for. Neil <br />Pedersen said that there are several crossing guards at different schools. An example is <br />