Orange County NC Website
Regarding the Land Transfer Tax, Commissioner Gordon said that it would be helpful to <br /> indicate that the money would be used for Elementary#11, and if it does not pass, then it will <br /> have to be added to the Ad Valorem tax. She said that if SAPFO kicks in and Elementary#11 is <br /> not built, then CAPS will not be issued. She wants to be more specific with the public. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that in a previous work session the staff provided the Board the <br /> projects that would be funded with the transfer tax and she can bring that back again. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the Board has done a lot of work on the CIP and she <br /> does not want it lost, so she would like staff to go back and get the excerpts from the minutes <br /> and what was flagged, so that when the Commissioners come back in the fall, they will not have <br /> to start over again. She remembers clearly spending an entire meeting flagging issues and <br /> otherwise discussing specific items in the CIP. <br /> The Board agreed. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked that it be done deliberately and not just put in a packet somewhere. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the first step is the excerpt from the minutes, and the <br /> second step is a summary of events. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said to date the sheets. <br /> Chair Jacobs suggested that Commissioner Foushee look at the information before it <br /> comes to Board of County Commissioners since she has expertise in this area. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that he is okay with the lists on colored sheets, but the totals <br /> are different from the ones they received before and Donna Coffey said that is because both <br /> school boards have just given the most recent updated information. <br /> Chair Jacobs pointed out that there is only $5,000 for public art, which is a pity. He <br /> would like to put in at least $10,000. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that this came up briefly in another work session but the staff <br /> was not specifically directed to set an agenda item to talk about this. He would like to discuss <br /> this further. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that she would like to bring back information about art and how it is <br /> purchased. Art could be purchased or there could be an art rotation program. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that in the next fiscal year the Board will be talking about a lot of new <br /> buildings coming online, and there is a tremendous opportunity for art. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked if there was any capital item in the budget for the old Wal- <br /> Mart facility for DSS. Donna Coffey said that there is $500,000 for the DSS space, which would <br /> offset some of the renovation costs. The total amount is not yet known. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to the reserves and said that those are not in this <br /> list either. She said that the library reserve has $2.7 million for the Carrboro Library and it was <br /> discussed to put in an extra $300,000. Also, she has a note about Information Technology and <br /> that there needs to be a plan. She asked about the status of this. There also needs to be a <br /> plan for the Link Center renovations. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the architect has only done preliminary discussions with the <br /> Information Technology Department for technological needs and some structural requirements. <br /> There have not been any meetings about space needs yet. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the items that the she had flagged were#5, #8, #11, and <br /> #14 on the orange sheet, "FY 2008-09 County Capital Budget." <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about the Information Technology budget and Laura Blackmon said <br /> that this is a strategic list and Information Technology does what the funds allow them to do up <br /> to the limit. She said that staff could develop a strategic plan but there are still things to be <br /> pushed out if the County cannot afford them. The County does not spend that much money on <br /> technology. Chair Jacobs asked Laura Blackmon to bring the budget back next time for IT. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that this is why a plan for Information Technology would be <br /> helpful so that the Board knows what is being deferred. <br />