Orange County NC Website
Donna Dean said that she has some of the numbers. She said that last spring they were <br />talking about the new high school and how they may be inching up toward the debt capacity. <br />She said that it may be time to have a discussion about the capital funding policy. She said that <br />Chair Jacobs raised the issue in October of doing more for County facilities. <br />Commissioner Carey said that when he left home this morning, his wife asked him not to <br />talk about the "m" ward (merger). He said that he was going to have to tell her he is sorry. He <br />said that when we talk about the capital picture and using resources efficiently, they need to <br />take the "m" word into consideration. He agrees that they need to give more money to County <br />facilities. He said that if the two school systems were combined, it would increase money for <br />the County facilities. If you spend more on the County, then you need to assure the public that <br />the students' needs are still going to be met. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he considers the community college a part of the County capital <br />costs. This is also education. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that they have not done an in-depth analysis as to the <br />actual numbers of students in each school in both systems. For example, Cedar Ridge High <br />School is already at capacity. There is still a perception that children will be bussed to Cedar <br />Ridge. It may be that the OCS Board may need to look at redistricting the high school students <br />to make it more equitable. <br />John Link said that from a capital perspective, related to the equity of funding for the <br />schools, the merger option is one option on the table. If the Board pursues a countywide district <br />tax in Orange County only, then it could be put in the ballot that the district tax could be used far <br />capital and current expense. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that she would echo what Commissioner Halkiotis said and <br />that we need to look at the different options. There are a lot of conflicting obligations and we <br />need to try and fulfill our statutory obligations first. She urged the Board to study the options. <br />John Link said that as the Board is having a work session later this month that includes <br />discussion of equity options of school funding, he thinks the continuation of haw the capital <br />funding would fit into that would be appropriate. <br />Chair Jacobs said that any information provided by the staff would have to be obtained <br />within the next week. He is not sure that the information could be gathered by February 12`" <br />Donna Dean said that on March 18t" they would be talking about the debt issuance <br />schedule, which would fit in nicely. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that sometimes the Board asks for information from staff <br />and the staff does not have enough time to put it together. This is very serious and the staff <br />needs enough time to do it. <br />Geriel Thornburg-May asked about the specific information requested by the Board. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that there is not a clear picture of the numbers for the <br />schools. Also, he would like to know all the classrooms that are being used for pre-K as well as <br />other programs that are taking up space in the schools. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that some of the information will came from the SAPFO but <br />there is some question about capacities. <br />Donna Dean said that she has some preliminary numbers from SAPFO and she could <br />have a report back to the Board of County Commissioners by the first meeting in March. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that it would be helpful to list the information that they are <br />planning to give the Board and then let the Board review the list first. <br />Donna Dean said that a list would have to follow the February 12t" work session. <br />Jahn Link said that they could get it by February 2Qt" <br />--Construction Management <br />John Link asked Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones to address this. <br />He said that there has been a lot of need for a construction project manager to supplement what <br />