Orange County NC Website
We also included just for reference purposes a draft collaboration initiative that had been <br />developed about a year ago, pursuant to conversations between the chairs of the Board of County <br />Commissioners and the two school boards working in conjunction with Dr. Phil Boyle at the Institute of <br />Government. That proposal has been discussed a couple of times during the past year, but we hadn't <br />taken any action on it in light of the analysis that was pending regarding potential merger implications <br />and funding equity considerations. I guess it would be important to report that I talked with Phil Boyle <br />probably about six weeks ago, and his circumstances have changed. My understanding is that Dr. <br />Boyle is going to be leaving the Institute of Government at the end of this academic year, sa it is not <br />clear that the proposal that was developed a year ago was one that could actually be carried through. <br />Phil did tell me that he would have some interest in doing it but it's not clear that he'd be able to <br />accomplish it within the time frame while he's still working for the Institute of Government. So, the <br />information that's there may still be relevant to the discussion that the Board may have about potential <br />collaboration. <br />Another topic that was discussed an November 11th was both Commissioners Brawn and Jacobs <br />talked about the possibility of convening an educational excellence evaluation group. <br />Another theme that was discussed as part of those proposals, primarily Commissioner Jacobs, <br />was a school efficiency study that would be aimed at assessing and providing reassurance to the <br />community and the Commissioners, and other interested parties that the appropriations that the County <br />Commissioners were making for education now were being well and efficiently spent. What is new in <br />this blue sheet, which primarily falls in that area? This is same additional information that the County <br />Attorney has pulled together that talks in a little bit more detail than what we had in the original abstract <br />last week about what the statutory provisions are under North Carolina law far the allocation of current <br />expense funding, for example, by Boards of County Commissioners towards purpose or functions or <br />projects within Schaal budgets. And I am sure Geof Gledhill can respond to any questions that you <br />might have about those details. <br />Another major element of research that the County Commissioners asked for was far a thorough <br />assessment and presentation on the workings of a countywide supplemental tax. And the County <br />Attorney likewise has done the work on that. There was a letter prepared that covered same topics that <br />were not addressed in previous letters that Geof has written over the years on issues that relate to <br />district taxes. That information was provided for the Board's information as well. <br />The last topic that you wanted addressed is the proposal contained in Commissioner Corey's <br />proposal from November 11th about the timing for making a yes or no decision about whether ar not to <br />proceed with merger. <br />That describes the materials that you have. One more thing I would add is that in addition to the <br />information that Geof Gledhill provided about the statutory workings of allocation by funding, there are <br />two red attachments here that are referred to in the abstract, and they basically provide some <br />information about the uniform school budget format that is required of school boards throughout the <br />State of North Carolina, and also same more statutory provisions that are relevant about amendments to <br />those school budgets. <br />Commissioner Brown: I would be interested in the analysis of what Geof brought forward and <br />brought to us in this. Reading the legal material, it is not perfectly clear to me. <br />Geof Gledhill: Which area are you specifically talking about? <br />Chair Jacobs: Educational funding. <br />Geof Gledhill: What was added to the abstract related to educational funding is the notion that <br />rather than appropriating a lump sum to the schools each year for current expense money, the Board of <br />Commissioners is empowered to appropriate by purpose and function. And one of the attachments, <br />Attachment X, gives an example of the degree of division that's contemplated in that law. The other <br />point that was added to the agenda information was the notion that the efficiency study that has been <br />proposed by one or more of the County Commissioners fits in with the power granted counties to <br />request and obtain information from the schools with respect to actually just about anything going on in <br />the schools. And in that regard, the County Commissioners can request and the boards of education <br />are required to provide books, records, audit reports, and other information bearing on the financial <br />operation of the local school administrative unit. So that in the context of an efficiency study, there is <br />ample power to obtain whatever information is deemed necessary in completing the efficiency study. <br />