Minutes 03-03-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

thinking it is better to be more directed, at least on the two issues that are already clearly identified. Commissioner Price said she had the same question about the need for a facilitator. She said if there are clear reasons to hire a facilitator, it will be necessary to thoroughly vet the person. Commissioner Pelissier feels the Board does need to narrow down what they want in the bond referendum. She said public buy-in is important, but her concern is that the proposed task force composition may be setting up false expectations. She said the schools already want a level of money that is nowhere near what will be put on a bond referendum, but it is clear that the schools will be part of this. Commissioner Pelissier said she had a discussion with a Chapel Hill town council member about affordable housing, and it may be a good idea to see what Chapel Hill puts on their bond as relates to affordable housing. She suggested that staff be asked to work behind the scenes with Chapel Hill to work this out. Commissioner Rich said Chapel Hill voted last night on the topics that would be moved forward in the bond discussion. She said this has narrowed the list down. Commissioner Rich said the purpose of a bond is to involve citizens. She said citizens are voting on a tax for themselves, and it does not seem organic to set limits. She questioned why you would not want to get opinions from residents. Commissioner Jacobs said it is important to set some limits. He said as soon as the school needs came up, he suggested a bond issue discussion. He said it is reasonable to tell the group that a preponderance of the funding will go to the schools, and the group will need to hash this out. He said 68 percent went to the schools last time. He said he does not want to say up front that seniors are to be discounted or that the parks system should not be developed. He said it is not fair to go in and say that the bond will only support two things, as it is a disservice to people who care about the other things and would like to make their case. He said it is good to set parameters, money, and preponderance, and then allow people to work the rest of it out. Commissioner Burroughs said there is always the opportunity for the residents to make their concerns known through the regular budget process and the CIP discussion. She said she does not see it as cutting people out, but there are well known needs that are a priority. She said ultimately the Board is elected to think about these issues and make decisions. She said her representation side is weighing more heavily after years of hearing about these two particular issues. She said that tone can be set without discounting what others have advocated for. Chair McKee said the County has built schools and purchased land without going through a bond process. He is not sure that everything that everyone wants should be financed by a bond. He said parks could be done with regular financing, if all of the borrowing power is not used up. He said there is also a jail that needs to be built. He wants to hold back on some amount of borrowing ability to take care of the needs between 2017 and 2020. Chair McKee said he is uncomfortable with the fact that there is no clear identification of school priorities. He said if these needs are so great, then the bond may need to be only for the schools. He has a very unclear idea of what the school needs will be before 2020. He said if a bond is passed in November of 2016, the funds will probably be accessed in mid 2017, and even if plans are in place, it will be 2019 until a school is built. He would like a clear picture of the school needs prior to 2019, so that this money can be taken out of a bond and be put in the CIP under regular funding to address those projects. Chair McKee said it is disingenuous to ask a task force to expect other project funding when there are really one or two priorities that the Board of County Commissioners may be interested in. He said it is important to be very honest with this task force. He sees his