Minutes 05-09-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Rich said she researched the science wing at Culbreth Middle School since the last meeting and she is in favor of this wholeheartedly. She would like to see this move forward, especially since there is no running water in the science wing. Commissioner Gordon said the point is the labs are inadequate and the school system has put its own money into the design. This is the right thing to do. She reviewed some of the debt capacity numbers to show that the debt service capacity picture was improved. Commissioner Pelissier and Commissioner Price expressed support for this funding. Chair Jacobs said this has been sitting for 20 years and now it has come up at the same time the County is funding an elementary school and a middle school. It strikes him as unfortunate timing because $80 million will be spent in one system and only a quarter of that being spent in the other system. This is a question of equity. He agrees with the merits of this project, but he wants to hear from the Orange County Schools. Commissioner Gordon would like to ask staff to include the Culbreth science wing in the revised CIP as shown in Attachment C. Chair Jacobs asked if there was enough debt capacity to do the Cedar Ridge High School auxiliary gym and the classroom wing. Paul Laughton said that by moving the middle school two years, in year 6 and 7, the debt capacity may be over. Commissioner Gordon pointed out that the year 5 and 6 scenario has improved. She said the Cedar Ridge projects have not been moved. Chair Jacobs said he was arguing to look at the whole picture, but Commissioner Gordon is saying to proceed with this project at this place in the CIP. He suggested putting it on the list of things to be left in the CIP as it is in Attachment C. Michelle Brownstein, CHCCS Board Chair said a water pipe, for example, could not be just added, because this is not allowed anymore with older buildings. Addressing required code issues is driving the higher cost. Paul Laughton made reference to Attachment C and the projects for Cedar Ridge High School. Both of these projects are requested for year 2 — auxiliary gym and classroom wing. SAPFO does not have Elementary #8 for the 10 year period. Chair Jacobs made reference to the letter at the County Commissioners' places from the Chair of the OCS Board. The OCS board had another engagement tonight. Orange County Schools staff person Pam Jones spoke to the adjustments in the cost estimate for the gym. The person that came up with the numbers is no longer with the school system and no one knew how these numbers were originated. The current numbers are more accurate. Commissioner McKee asked how this impacts the debt capacity. Financial Services Director Clarence Grier said there is enough capacity for the first five years. After that, it is questionable. Commissioner McKee said he is concerned that Orange County has close to the highest tax rate in the state. Chair Jacobs said the expansion of Cedar Ridge is based on a disputed assumption about SAPFO. He said the Board of County Commissioners is committed to $37 million for one school system and $3 million for the other. This has nothing to do with his support for CHCCS, but these are huge ticket items and the equity is not even being discussed. Frank Clifton said there is also a disagreement with the SAPFO from the CHCCS. There is an argument about the projections being too low. This creates a problem for the County in that the school systems bring priorities and some are "unfunded priorities." The science wing is "unfunded."