Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Halkiotis thanked Donna Dean for her presentation and encouraged the <br />Manager to consider getting copies to both school boards. He also said that it is valuable to <br />have County Commissioners' input on these projects before they come back before the Board. <br />He is still not sure where the County stands on the parks strategic plan piece. He thought that <br />he and the Chair were going to serve in an advisory capacity, but there has not been a meeting. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is at a loss about the senior center. He heard that <br />operating costs were going to be $300,000+ far the senior center. He asked how much of this <br />would be reallocation. He said that some of the seniors looked baffled when the architect was <br />talking about 15 offices for staff, but the medical examining rooms were left out. This is <br />important to him to have private examining rooms. He does not feel comfortable supporting <br />something that the Board has not had input on. <br />John Link assured the Board that there have been no meetings related to the parks <br />strategic plan. <br />Chair Jacobs distributed a resolution that addresses the 77-23 split of County and school <br />projects. He thinks it is reasonable to make a determination that the County is going to have a <br />stronger commitment to County facilities. This proposal is that, in the next ten years, the split is <br />60°~ for school projects and 40% for County projects. This will give the County an opportunity <br />to catch up. Because of the SAPFO, there is a pretty good idea of how many schools are <br />needed over the next ten years. He thinks the Board needs to state that this will be the policy. <br />A motion was made by Chair Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to adopt this <br />resolution, which would set a target of reserving 40% of capital expenditures for County projects <br />over the decade beginning calendar year 2005, and 60°1o far school projects. The resolution is <br />incorporated by reference into these minutes. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the Board does not usually act on items in work sessions <br />unless it is specifically placed on an agenda. Chair Jacobs said that he has been suggesting it <br />be put on the agenda for months and has said that he would be bringing it up at this work <br />session. <br />Commissioner Gordon believes that this resolution should have public comment. This is a <br />big change in policy. She thinks it is important to work on County facilities, but the County has a <br />State mandate to fund justice facilities and school facilities. She thinks it is unwise to bring it up <br />at a work session without public comment. This item should be placed on to a regular Board of <br />County Commissioners' agenda. <br />Commissioner Carey agreed that it aught to ga onto a Board of County Commissioners' <br />agenda. He supports the resolution in concept. He thinks the public should be educated about <br />the history. He said that the policy has constrained the development of the County budget. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he supports the resolution in principle, but he would prefer <br />not to vote on it at this meeting. He would like a staff analysis to clearly present that it will not <br />pose a problem to the schools. He does not think it will hurt the school systems, but he wants <br />this analysis. He said that Orange County government squeezes the turnip until the last drop. <br />The phone system is 15 years old and Finance just got a new computer software package, and <br />for years they did not have the resources to do anything but write checks. Many other counties <br />and school systems have had updated technology for years. The County has scrimped and <br />saved and sacrificed so that both school systems could have what they needed. He supports <br />this, but he wants the analysis to clearly show to both school systems that the County has been <br />punishing itself. He agreed about having this on a regular agenda. <br />The Board agreed to have this item on the November 16t" agenda. <br />Chair Jacobs said that still, the bulk of the money is going to go towards education, <br />because that's Orange County's commitment. He does not think this is backing away from <br />school funding, but that the County has been in overdrive to catch up. <br />Commissioner Brown suggested that staff develop an information piece about the <br />accomplishments and the SAPFO. <br />