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Commissioner Gordon said that one of the reasons to have the countywide supplemental tax is <br />that it would be a way to get a vote from the people. She asked the Board to consider this. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners all agree that they want to pursue the <br />Educational Excellence Task Farce meeting an March 17t" and bringing back an outline on <br />March 18t", with the idea that from that may grow the articulation of the efficiency study. The <br />Educational Excellence Task Force will identify a timeframe for itself and a composition, which <br />will come back to the Board. He said that the BOCC is funding 1/3 of the cost of the facilitator <br />for the collaboration efforts. This effort has no end point timeframe, but has an interim report an <br />April 26t" <br />Chair Jacobs said that he has not heard anyone that has spoken against the countywide <br />supplemental tax. He would suggest having staff work an Commissioner Gordan's proposal an <br />page 14 about all issues related to bringing this to the voters. <br />Commissioner Brown said that it would be important for the meetings on March 17t", March 18t" <br />and April 26t" to be public meetings. <br />Commissioner Carey said that they are public meetings if an elected body appoints the group. <br />Geaf Gledhill said that if they are appointed by County Commissioners they are public bodies. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to appoint <br />these members of the collaborative group. <br />Geaf Gledhill said that if any school board members are there, then it is a public meeting. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested speeding up the process and for staff to look at <br />professionals who specialize in doing these kinds of studies and what groups they have worked <br />with before. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he would remove the motion that he placed before in reference <br />to appointing members of this collaborative committee. He just wants the meetings to be <br />noticed so the public knows about them. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon that the <br />collaboration meetings involving the Board of County Commissioners be noticed for the public. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Carey asked if they were instructing the Manager to begin to provide additional <br />funds for the County schools consistent with what they heard from 80-90% of the people who <br />spoke at the public hearings. He proposed a reduction in the district tax and an increase in the <br />general property tax to provide some additional support for the County school system without <br />adversely affecting the CHCCS. He asked if the Board would like to move in this direction. He <br />said that he is not saying that it should adversely affect any other agencies. <br />John Link said that he will propose to the Board of County Commissioners two to three <br />alternatives for how to finance schools and the rest of County government. He said that there <br />are 2 stages -the normal budgetary process and addressing equity. <br />