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Commissioners and the Local Government Commission would have to approve the <br />capital leases prior to a school board entering into them. <br />4. School Construction Impact Fee Study <br />Rod Visser said that the County Commissioners appropriated some funds in this <br />year's budget to update the technical report, which reviews the costs of building schools <br />and establishes a maximum impact fee for both school systems. It has been five years <br />since the impact fee was increased. This is a precursor to potential review by the <br />boards in any recommended changes of the current impact fee structure. <br />5. State bond issue status <br />Rod Visser said that they had the monthly meeting today and no one is aware of <br />anything definitive related to a possible State bond referendum. <br />Chair Jacobs referred to the resolution about refunds of state and local sales and <br />use taxes and he congratulated all staffs for pursuing sales tax reimbursements. <br />Dennis Whitling asked about the lottery proceeds and if they will be revisiting this <br />in the capital funding policy and Rad Visser said that is one of their top six priorities for <br />the next several months. <br />Dennis Whitling made reference to the land transfer tax and asked if there is an <br />amount that the 1 % tax will raise. Chair Jacobs said that it was $6 million more in 2003 <br />versus impact fees. There has been no calculation since then. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked Dennis Whitling if he was supportive of a transfer <br />tax and Dennis Whitling said that he would be supportive of looking at it. <br />Dennis Whitling said that his concern is the continuing burden on the property tax <br />base in the County, particularly related to the elderly. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the hamebuilders and realtors have consistently blocked <br />any discussion of the transfer tax. <br />Other Items <br />Ted Triebel made reference to the dropout mandatory age of 16 and said that <br />they are legislatively thinking of raising it to 18 years. However, the State BOE wants to <br />keep it at 16 years of age. He said that they have heard that the Governor is going to <br />recommend another $% increase for the teachers and also there may be a deficit next <br />year in the State. <br />Chair Jacobs said that even though the State is not interested, the local <br />government could still try if the school boards are interested. <br />Ted Treibel said that he has been told that the high school principals across the <br />State oppose the increase of the age. Commissioner Halkiotis said that at the County <br />Commissioners' Association conference in Winston-Salem recently, there was a Center <br />for Emergent Studies Director there who said that the biggest challenge facing North <br />Carolina by the 2025 is the graduation rate from high schools. If the State does not get <br />this under control, there are na safety valves far the dropouts to be absorbed in. The <br />factories are gone. He personally endorses raising the age to 18. <br />Superintendent Carraway said that the issue is that if you raise the compulsory <br />attendance age to 18, you must have other resources available to the students at the <br />school. She said that they want some thoughtful consideration of this and some way to <br />keep their students in school. If students can be kept until past the 10t" grade, then they <br />will very likely graduate. <br />Discussion ensued on this issue. <br />Ted Triebel said that they are doing some positive things such as the alternative <br />school and Middle College. <br />