Orange County NC Website
Chair Jacobs said that two-thirds of the $150 million is going to one school system and <br /> the other one is getting only one-tenth, and this does not seem equitable. He just raises this as <br /> a point. He said that the Board has talked to the Planning Director about reexamining the <br /> impact of Mebane's growth on the Orange County School System as far as whether or not it is <br /> going to project another school. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that this issue would be addressed in the next phase. <br /> Donna Coffey said that the SAPFO—TAC met and they all did acknowledge that the <br /> numbers for student membership are based on historical growth and that OCS is getting closer <br /> to needing a new elementary school. Line #29 in Proposed Issue #5 has an allocation of$40 <br /> million for OCS. <br /> Chair Jacobs made reference to Proposed Issue #5 and said that McDougle Middle <br /> School Auditorium could not possibly cost as much as a middle school. Lisa Stuckey said that <br /> Line #26 for Elementary#12 should be $42,895,000, if inflation is factored in. Line #27, the <br /> auditorium, should be $6,611,000. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that some of these numbers are not correct and the staff <br /> should ask the CHCCS staff to make sure the right numbers are in the chart. She said that she <br /> is concerned about the projected completion date of Elementary School #11 of 2011-12. She <br /> said that CHCCS has said that they want this school in 2010-11. Her understanding is that if <br /> this school does not open on schedule, then the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will have to <br /> stop issuing CAPS. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that if the County could somehow fund the $30 million <br /> elementary school a different way, then that would make the bond issue $98 million, which is <br /> more in concert with the kind of bond referenda that have been done. She said that there is <br /> very little time to get this on line before the SAPFO would require that CHCCS stop issuing <br /> CAPS. She wants to figure out how to fund this school. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that staff was only trying to show the Board of County <br /> Commissioners what the top ceiling of debt was. There will have to be a tax rate increase to <br /> fund the entire debt capacity. <br /> Chair Jacobs made reference to items #15 (County-Parks) and #16 (County-Land <br /> Banking) and clarified that parks is park development. He said that land banking has a <br /> connotation that might be different than land purchase and easement purchase. He said that if <br /> it is land banking for schools, then it is not a County project. He asked Laura Blackmon to break <br /> down the land banking issues between schools and County. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said that she was thinking that land banking could also include <br /> affordable housing. Related to that, the Greene Tract has 18.7 acres that is earmarked for <br /> affordable housing. <br /> Donna Coffey made reference to the last page and the major projects not included in <br /> this: Central Administration Building for both school systems, conversion of Lincoln Center to <br /> Educational Center, County parks beyond what is currently programmed, Parks and Recreation <br /> Administration Building, and Parks Operations Base. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to line #14, CHCCS technology, and suggested <br /> adding "/Culbreth Science Labs". This is a project that has been on the books for a long time <br /> and she does not want it forgotten. She also wants to flag the Seymour Center expansion, the <br /> Wellness Center, and the adult day center which are about $2.5 million. She also wants to <br /> consider the adult day center at the Seymour Center. <br />