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Laura Blackmon pointed out that with new capital projects, especially parks, there will be a continued increase in operating and staffing costs. Donna Coffey said that CHCCS has asked for an increase of $609,142 in just the general fund current expense appropriation. In addition, CHCCS has asked for the district tax to increase from 18.85 cents to 26.61 cents. She said that the thinking behind the increase was that the County Commissioners cannot approve a tax rate above what the school system requests on the district tax, so the bulk of the increase is being put on the district tax. The district tax would then generate $21.3 million. The actual increase for the general fund and the district tax would be $7.2 million. Donna Coffey said that the County has to fund both school systems at the same per pupil rate. If the County funds the $609,142 for CHCCS, this would be a $7 increase in per pupil allocations. This would give CHCCS $33.7 million and OCS $21.2 million. The additional request from OCS would be a $359 increase in the per pupil allocation, and would give CHCCS $37.7 million out of the general fund, compared to the current $30 million and would give OCS $23.7 million, compared to the current $19 million. Commissioner Jacobs asked for information on one cent on the district tax and Donna Coffey said that it is about $800,000. Continuation of presentation of List of budget drivers. Attachment 3 was a detailed breakdown of the first item on the budget driver list, which was new debt service for 2007-08. The new debt service includes $995,100 for Carrboro High; $50 million of alternative financing; and $2.4 million required to offset loss of lottery proceeds dedicated to repay debt service in FY 2006-07. This is a tax rate equivalent of 3.67 cents to pay for increased debt service next year, which was the direction of the Board at the retreat. This does not include debt associated with the solid waste fund ar the Sportsplex. This is just for the general fund debt. Commissioner Gordon asked some clarifying questions that were answered by Donna Coffey. Donna Coffey explained Attachment 4, which was 2007-08 Student Enrollment Projections. She said that every March, the Department of Public Instruction certifies the student membership for the upcoming fiscal year. DPI is projecting that the total students far CHCCS next year will be 11,382 and far OCS, 7,148; for a total of 18,538 students in the two school systems. This is compared to the current enrollment of 18,192 students. On row 10, if the County funded the 338 students at the current per pupil rate, this is right at $1 million for next year. Attachment 5 was for Commissioner Nelson's benefit and was School Funding Options Task Force Recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The County Commissioners adopted a "target" for funding schools of 48.1 °~ of the total general fund in 2000. This was for informational purposes. Attachment 6 was Annual General Fund Budgeted Appropriations for Education since 1990. Attachment 7 was a historical comparison of Per Pupil Appropriation (general fund) since 1983-84. Attachment 8 was the Preliminary Requests for New Staff and/or Changes to Existing Staff for FY 2007-08. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Environmental Health Technician for Well/Water/Air Quality in the Health Department and the Water Resources Specialist in ERCD. Laura Blackmon said that there was a meeting earlier this week on this dual request, and she asked the departments to look at the program that needed to be developed and what the split duties would be between the two departments and how they would cooperate. This was a request from last year's budget. The Board asked the departments to meet with a mediator and there was no conclusion. She said that this goes along with the introduction of a new program