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On the operating side, State salary increase for teachers and staff are well deserved. There are also associated mandates such as health insurance increases and the retirement match. Opening Carrboro High School will relieve severe overcrowding at the other two high schools, but will require a significant infusion of operating dollars. This is a very appropriate funding use of the district tax as it provides a revenue source without increasing the tax of the OCS residents. She encouraged the County Commissioners to use the district tax to fund the additional operating costs of opening Carrboro High School and the funding for Elementary School #10. She said that they do support increasing property taxes as well, so that they can continue existing programs, etc. Far the last several years, the number one goal of CHCCS has been closing the achievement gap, with all schools meeting No Child Left Behind standards and meeting State proficiency standards. There has been progress in the elementary and middle school levels, and they have turned attention to the high school level. She said that CHCCS is not number one in North Carolina for all children. The vast majority of the district students will go onto college, but there is concern about those who do not and those who do not finish college, and especially those who do not graduate from high school. She said that children now need to be able to compete globally, and this requires education beyond proficiency. She said that the school board has combed through the requests and brought only the most valuable and essential as it relates to the benefit of the students. Because of the uncertainty of funding and the message that was heard of no tax increase except to cover the new debt service, the school system took a parallel approach to convene a working committee to examine potential cuts. It is not the intention to offend or to cause alarm, but to be prepared and to illuminate the severity of the Manager's proposed budget. She urged the County Commissioners to minimally fund the mandated items, the opening of Carrboro High School and planning for Elementary School #10, and sufficient funds for existing programs. Superintendent Pedersen spoke from the document in the plastic sleeve {incorporated by reference). Superintendent Pedersen said that he prepared this document because the staff and school board have worked hard on the budget, particularly as they heard word that there would not be tax increases except for servicing debt. This report was written after the Manager's Recommended Budget was presented. He said that he will not try to convince the County Commissioners of their needs since they heard the speakers last night. He said that CHCCS is in a different place than it has been in the past. He said that, from his vantage point, this is a different ballgame. He said that he is here to ask for funding for education, particularly the part that the County Commissioners are responsible for, and to show them the ramifications of what a "no tax increase" stance would have on the school system. He said that if the per-pupil allocation remains the same and they get money for growth, the schools will not be able to function as they did because of two budget drivers -mandated salary increases and opening Carrboro High School and Elementary School #10. The net increase in revenues as compared to 2006-07 is $1.2 million. The difference between revenues under the Manager's recommendation and the School Board's request is $6.1 million. Superintendent Pedersen said that he knows the budget will not be fully funded. He knew that the County Manager would prepare a budget assuming no tax increase over and above the amount necessary to pay debt service, per the request of the Board of County Commissioners. In light of this, an ad hoc budget committee was convened to