Agenda - 12-07-1996 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 1 changed. If the Board approves Option 5A with the changes as outlined in this agenda abstract (now 2 referred to as Option 5B), he will bring back those policy changes for Board approval. 3 With reference to the Board's concern about using the one cent that is earmarked for a 4 capital reserve account for County projects beginning in 1998-99, Commissioner Halkiotis said that his main 5 concern is that some of the County programs will be shortchanged. He will not support an increase in the 6 general fund property tax rate of one cent to replace these funds. He thanked Budget Director Sally Kost 7 for her creativity on this plan and asked that additional work be done to provide adequate funds for other 8 programs in the County. 9 In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Sally Kost said that the $1 million for 10 County projects will come from the $40 million bond funds. 11 John Link said that since June they have been working from the expenditure side as a given 12 and tried to match the revenues with the expenditures. From here forward, they will use a needs task force 13 to look at the needs which will determine the expenditures. Also, the County projects need to be specified 14 with timetables and estimated cost. They also need to look at what the high school task force did several 15 years ago and what the intent was for future high schools. 16 Commissioner Halkiotis said that when talking about this much money, there was a sentiment 17 that East Chapel Hill High would be sized to handle any excess student population from the northern end of 18 the County. It is important to know which areas people are moving into so that planning can be done 19 accordingly. 20 Commissioner Crowther clarified that Chapel Hill -Carrboro City Schools start with zero 21 money and at the end they have a fund balance of $4.4 million. 22 Commissioner Willhoit expressed concern that the one cent reserve for land acquisition is not 23 maintained in the plan. He feels this should be factored into the long-range plan and should be used jointly 24 for recreation and schools. He feels that pressure should be placed on those responsible to identify land 25 for future schools. He indicated that he is not opposed over the long term to using proceeds from the 1 cent 26 tax for other purposes, but that the proceeds for years up to 1998 should be available to take advantage of 27 id acquisition oprortunitiss. 28 Commissioner Gordon made reference to the infrastructure impact statement and asked that 29 Commissioner Halkiotis join her in moving this project forward. 30 John Link asked the Board's direction on using the capital reserve account to acquire land 31 where school and recreation can be jointly located so that could be factored into the equation. He also 32 asked for the go ahead to pursue policy statements for plan 5B. He noted that the Needs Assessment 33 Committee will focus on those issues that relate directly to the referendum and then focus on pay-as-you-go 34 items. 35 A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to 36 adopt the capital policy as defined in Option 5A presented at the September 17 Board of Commissioners 37 meeting with the changes outlined in the abstract dated October 15 with consideration given to how the $1 38 million can be covered without an increase in the property tax rate. 39 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 40 41 42 B. COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR PEOPLE UNDER SIX FUNDING REQUEST 43 John Link presented for the Board's consideration of approval a request for funding from the 44 Community School for People Under Six. On April 1, 1996, the Board approved a request from the 45 Community School to construct a 2,150 square feet building addition to the Northside Multipurpose Center 46 located on Caldwell Street in Chapel Hill. Since April, the cost of the expansion project has increased 47 beyond the Community School's budget. The additional cost is the result of parking lot improvements 48 required by the Town of Chapel Hill . John Link talked with Cal Horton who indicated that the Chapel Hill 49 Town Council will consider an allocation for this project at their meeting tomorrow evening. John Link noted 50 that these are permanent improvements that will add to the value of the property owned by the County. 51 Anna Mercer-Mclean, Director of the Community School for People Under Six, said that it will 52 cost an additional $20,300 for the construction work and services required to comply with the Town of 53 Chapel Hill 's conditions of approval for the Zoning Compliance Permit. 54 A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to 55 authorize an appropriation of $15,000 from the Commissioners' contingency to fund the facility