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The purpose of this memo is to give my comments on Item 5-j of the March 27 BOCC agenda. BACKGROUND A. Schools and Land Use Councils The general idea of having the towns, County, and school boards collaborate on school issues (including school siting} is an idea that the Commissioners, including me, have supported in the past. In 1996 I proposed that Orange County elected officials from three towns, two school boards, and the Commissioners participate in School and Land Use Councils (see attachment} for the two school districts. The Councils began meeting in October 1997 and were terminated by the BOCC in January 2004. The most notable accomplishment of the Schools and Land Use Councils was their work on developing and facilitating the adoption of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) Memorandum of Understanding, signed in July 2003. B. SchooVPark Reserve Fund The general idea of land banking school sites is also an idea the Commissioners, including me, have supported in the past. In the mid-1990's the Commissioners established a School/Park Reserve Fund to buy land for school sites in appropriate locations. The concept was that, while this land was being held for school use, it could be used far recreation and parks. The Board appropriated the equivalent of one cent on the tax rate to this fund for several years, and then eventually decreased the amount to 113 of a cent. The Board has not appropriated any funds to the reserve for several years. QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE LETTER While I am generally supportive of restarting the functions of the former Schools and Land Use Councils and SchoollParks Reserve Fund {see above) in a new format, I have same questions. A. Funding the Land Banking of Sites How will the Commissioners fund the sites that are identified? The care concept of this Work Group effort appears to be that jurisdictions will collaborate on identifying and purchasing school sites. When sites are identified, then what? Do the Commissioners intend to appropriate funds to buy the sites? Where is the money coming from? The Board's capital funding policy indicates that the Board will try to fund an additional one-cent on the tax rate for school recurring capital and one cent for County recurring capital. Is the Board prepared to appropriate additional funds for land banking school sites? If so, should that be added to the Board's capital funding policy? B. My Recommendation I recommend that the Board defer action on approving this letter until the BOCC clarifies its role in this Work Group, especially with respect to how the County will fund the land banking of school sites. A key sentence that must be clarified appears in the second paragraph of the proposed letter: "........The ultimate goal of this process would be that the County, who is responsible for funding school construction, might possibly consider opportunities to `land bank' properties that would be suitable for future school sites." The Board should change the letter to clearly reflect the BOCC role. If the Board is going to fund land banking, then the words "might possibly consider opportunities to land bank" should be changed to "will provide adequate funds to land bank." Then the Board can take action.