Orange County NC Website
of the entire budget on public schools, and he challenges anyone to find another place in the <br />State that does this. He said that if it had not been for the citizens of the CHCCS district and <br />progressive minded citizens, there would be no money for Pathways Elementary and Cedar <br />Ridge High School. He agrees with having the district tax on the ballot because it gives the <br />chance for the citizens to speak. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she has also been concerned about funding equity and <br />had previously proposed a countywide supplemental tax. She wants to proceed with funding <br />equity this year. She is glad this has come up again and she would like to discuss a County <br />district tax. She also echoed Commissioners Halkiotis' and Jacobs' comments in that the <br />County Commissioners have done things for both school systems, including putting in new <br />schools at both ends of the County. She is in favor of putting the district tax or a countywide <br />supplemental tax on the ballot in November. <br />Commissioner Faushee offered her support far all of the comments. She said that, as a <br />former school board member, she has always been appreciative of what the County <br />Commissioners have done for education in Orange County. She thinks that it is apparent to <br />everyone that education is the number one priority in Orange County. She thinks this would be <br />a first step in the discussion of equity. <br />Chair Carey agreed about discussing the possibility of a district tax. He thinks there <br />should be a discussion on a countywide and a district tax far the OCS. There still needs to be a <br />discussion on equity and the possibility of a merger after the break. He said that there are <br />some timing issues associated with putting anything on the ballot, and he thinks the deadline is <br />mid-August. This means that there would be one meeting after the break to discuss and make <br />a decision on this item. He would like to ask the OCS Board about their perception of this <br />proposal. He asked the staff to draft a letter to the school board and to alert both school boards <br />that the commissioners will discuss this at their first meeting in August. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked for staff to report back to the Board before the break on <br />the timing and the parameters of a possible referendum. <br />John Link said that the staff had done a bit of research on this in 2003 and there is <br />information about what is required to have a district tax. The staff will provide this information to <br />the Board. <br />Commissioner Gordon announced that TTA approved their new service that will include <br />a Hillsborough to Chapel Hill round trip starting in January. This should be in place before the <br />community college opens, and it is an improved route from the previous route. This is good <br />news. They are encouraging a lot of goad publicity on this route. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there was a Recreation and Parks Advisory Council <br />meeting and they asked if they could have a representative on the Exterior Justice Facilities <br />Committee. Mr. Hathaway volunteered to be on this committee, and she asked that he be <br />added to the committee. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested putting the appointment on the next consent agenda. <br />The Board agreed. <br />Commissioner Gordon reported that the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group met and <br />they decided to ask the various jurisdictions to have their staffs participate in the production of a <br />coordinated park facilities document. Dave Stancil is putting together a letter to five <br />jurisdictions. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the last senior center design meeting was today and it <br />is now in the hands of Chapel Hill Town Council. The exterior is ready to go forward and <br />groundbreaking is expected in early October. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to option 2 in the 60140 capital policy and the <br />charts related to the 60140 policy, and said that a couple of hidden consequences have now <br />emerged. One hidden consequence of approving option 2 is that it will cause afour-cent tax <br />