Orange County NC Website
000 il 38 <br /> Thompson pointed out that the budget for accomplishing the long range <br /> items listed by both school systems had not been approved by the Board. <br /> It was a general consensus that a decision needs to be made in the <br /> immediate future on the need for a new elementary school or an addition to the <br /> old school. <br /> Wayne Watts, Finance Officer for Orange County Schools, referred to a memo <br /> from Dr. Lunsford in which he requested $40,000 for the parking lot <br /> modifications at Orange High caused by the new construction and also $90,000 <br /> for the continued engineering work for the renovations at Orange High. An <br /> amount of $540,000 would be needed for the first phase of construction <br /> scheduled to begin in the Spring of 1986. He presented a proposal for budgeting <br /> the long-range capital needs projects and current capital. <br /> By using the same one-half cent sales tax figures as projected by Ken <br /> Thompson, Watts presented a plan which would allocate to Orange High School <br /> $670,000 to start the renovation work in January or February, 1986. None of <br /> the projects for Chapel Hill/Carrboro would be completed for the coming year. <br /> The total expenditures for 1985-86 would be $1,157,400 leaving a balance of <br /> $362,100. The expenditures for 86-87 would include $1,330,000 for the <br /> remainder of the work at Orange High and the Chapel Hill projects would be the <br /> same as the County Managers' recommendation. For 1987-88 Chapel Hill/Carrboro <br /> would complete their projects leaving a balance of $1,109,500. <br /> Watts recommended either a five-cent property tax increase or some other <br /> source of revenue for 1986-87 to fund the capital needs projects. If this five <br /> cents property tax were levied for three years, an additional amount would be <br /> raised to pay for an elementary school by 1988 or 1989. This would enable the <br /> High School renovation work to be completed a year earlier and allow for the <br /> grade restructuring as proposed by the School Planning Division of the <br /> Department of Instruction. <br /> Lindsay Efland stated that the plan presented by Wayne Watts does have the <br /> attraction of funding the immediate needs with a one year tax increase. If the <br /> tax is levied for three years it would address some longer range needs. He <br /> supported the proposal. <br /> Commissioner Marshall questioned the equity of the proposal for both <br /> systems. <br /> Commissioner Walker supported the proposal over a bond issue. <br /> Dr. Mayer noted that Chapel Hill/Carrboro is not projecting a need for an <br /> elementary school at the present time. She commented on the current and long- <br /> range capital. <br /> Chair Willhoit questioned the monies appropriated for the roofs. Dr. <br /> Mayer indicated that some of the roofs had been repaired with monies other than <br /> that just earmarked for roofs. Dick Drake noted that all priority 1 roofs will <br /> be finished at the end of 1985-86. <br /> Harvey Gay, Finance Officer for Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools, gave an <br /> overview of the five-year plan for current capital which included (1) <br /> buildings, renovations, new sites, etc, (2) acquisition and replacement of <br /> furniture and fixtures, and (3) acquisition and/or replacement of buses and <br /> motor vehicles. He stated that last year $355,000 was available to address <br /> current capital needs. In the recommended budget for 85-86, only $267,000 is <br /> proposed. He listed the items in each of the three categories that needed to be <br /> funded this fiscal year. <br /> Further discussion and comments were made about the specific needs in both <br /> school systems. <br />