Orange County NC Website
b. School Fundina <br />John Link said that they are focusing tonight on the expenditure side of the <br />budget and not the revenue side. He said that most of the projects were discussed, <br />anticipated, and approved by the voters of Orange County in previous bond votes. The <br />blue sheet, item #1, includes construction of Carrboro High School, Gravelly Hill Middle <br />School, and the two senior centers at a cast of $29 million. To pay the debt on this <br />amount of money will cost $2.2 million, which is almost two cents on the tax rate. Item <br />#2 includes alternative financing issued during 2005-06 such as Animal Services Facility, <br />CHCCS renovations, conservation easements, County equipment and vehicles, <br />Meadowlands Annex, OCS Gravelly Hill Middle School {construction overruns and <br />County share of water and sewer), Seymour Senior Center, and Sportsplex. The total <br />for schools and County is $24.8 million, and the debt impact is $2 million. Item #3 is the <br />anticipated alternative financing in fiscal year 2006-07. This includes cast overruns for <br />Carrboro High School, CHCCS Elementary #10, CHCCS renovations, Justice Facility <br />construction and new Courthouse renovations, and Orange County Satellite campus of <br />Durham Technical Community College (Orange County share of construction). The total <br />of this is $38.5 million and the impact this coming year is $738,940. The actual impact in <br />terms of payments for all three items is $3.7 million. This is on line 1 on the yellow <br />sheet, which is the Net Increase in Debt Service for County and School Projects. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the anticipated alternative financing and if <br />this was the total amount for Elementary #10. Donna Dean-Coffey said that this amount <br />was included in the 2001 bond referendum. There have been no discussions about the <br />total casts since the bids have come in. Commissioner Gordon said that a decision <br />needs to be made soon. She said that it would need to be funded this year. <br />John Link said that Elementary #10 could not be funded this year because the <br />County is close to its debt ceiling. It may be possible to pursue a timetable whereby the <br />school system can begin the project. Finance Director Ken Chavious said that the <br />issuance of debt depends on the construction and the cash flow schedule, and it can be <br />split over fiscal year periods. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he recalls that the items already on the debt <br />issuance schedule get the County pretty close to the cap. Donna Dean-Coffey said that <br />in 2008-2009 it goes down slightly and in 2009-2010 it goes down further. <br />Rod Visser showed a chart of debt service. <br />The projection calls for opening of Elementary #10 in 2007, but realistically it will <br />be 2008-2009. Chair Jacobs said that the budget drivers include money for planning <br />Elementary #10. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the April 10t" agenda, item 10-a, which <br />was the SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee Report, and that the projected <br />overcapacity at the elementary level in CHCCS during 2007-08 may lead to suspension <br />of the issuance of CAPS until Elementary #10 opens. She said that if it is not funded, <br />then the SAPFO will kick in and certificates to build will not be issued until the school <br />opens. She thinks that, besides the planning, the Board should think about haw to <br />address this. She asked to flag this for discussion. <br />Commissioner Carey said that if this bumps the County up against the debt limit, <br />there is no room to add anything. He thinks that the $12.8 million should be enough to <br />get started. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the $12.8 million was the agreed cost for an elementary <br />school, which is why they are reviewing construction standards because construction <br />costs have jumped up almost 50°~. <br />