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3. Planning for the opening of Carrboro High School 4. Implementation of Seven Period Day High Schools 5. Continuation of Current Services {Inflationary increases and passed-on costs) He gave some information an the CHCCS fund balance, which is estimated at 6°fo. He said that if the County were to fully fund the OCS budget this year, then it could fully fund the CHCCS budget and probably reduce the district tax. Lisa Stuckey said that their budget calls for them to utilize $950,000 of their fund balance. She said that CHCCS is required under the statute to specifically request that funding be through the special district tax in order for it to be granted. She said that as their board has grappled with this, they have recognized the political implications, and they all feel that they do not want to unnecessarily offend people, but they are advocates for the citizens of their district. They have come to a consensus to ask that their entire increase be funded through the special district tax. They want to leave the County Commissioners with as much flexibility as possible. Liz Brawn said that the fact that another school board in the same district would even think of doing this, it shows to her that they need to discuss this and collaborate. Dennis Whitling asked about the seven-period day and if this is a one-year deal. Superintendent Pedersen said that their board approved aseven-period hybrid schedule but many courses would be blocked. Dennis Whitling asked about the district tax and using it for the entire increase and Lisa Stuckey said that their board wants to request the entire 4.7% through the district tax. Dennis Whitling agreed with Liz Brown and said that this is what the discussion that has been going on for three years is really all about. Mike Kelly said that the full discussion from their board was that they were advocating far full funding of their budget and to provide options for the County Commissioners. He said that in no way did they ask the County Commissioners to only raise the district tax. Commissioner Halkiotis asked Lisa Stuckey for clarification of the funding request. Lisa Stuckey said that in the past they have not requested special district tax funding and they have left it to the Board of County Commissioners because they were not aware of the need to request a specific amount far funding through the special district tax. She said that they are concerned about not requesting funding through the special district tax, because they do not want to tie the County Commissioners' hands. Commissioner Halkiotis said that last year was an interesting year because it was the first time in 19 years that a Commissioner voted against the budget -Commissioner Carey. He respected the vote because of the one-cent increase in the district tax. He asked far the County Attorney to present something about this in writing and the legal aspects. Commissioner Halkiotis asked Superintendent Pedersen about the fund balance and he said that they are projecting a fund balance of $2.7 million after appropriating $950,000. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to subsidies for child nutritional services and how this would be funded -through money from the County or the district tax. He said that he is opposed to this because it is not reflecting the true costs of putting meals together for children, and then they are getting some reimbursements back from the federal government for free and reduced lunch children. He asked if they were subsidizing the meals for people who can afford to pay those meals. Lisa Stuckey said that they have raised the lunch costs. Mike Kelly said that he agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis on this issue and the board has moved in that direction of increasing the price of lunches to reflect the actual costs. They are also going to try and include some Orange County produce. Commissioner Halkiotis said that people who have worked in child nutrition have been extremely poorly funded in all school systems across the State.