Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: <br />April 28, 2015 <br />M <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 3 <br />SUBJECT: Discussion of a November 2016 Bond Referendum for School Capital Needs <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager, Finance and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />Administrative Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A. CHCCS Facilities Assessments <br />Recommendations <br />B. OCS List of Facilities <br />Assessments <br />C. Proposed Bond Schedule for a <br />November 2016 Bond <br />Referendum <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Bonnie Hammersley, 919 - 245 -2300 <br />Paul Laughton, 919 - 245 -2152 <br />PURPOSE: To discuss a November 2016 Bond Referendum for School Capital Needs. <br />BACKGROUND: In several meetings during the past year, the Board of Commissioners has <br />discussed the possible scheduling of a bond referendum to address School and County capital <br />needs. A large part of the incentive for going forward with a potential General Obligation bond <br />referendum is the repair, renovation, and upgrading of existing older school facilities. Both <br />school systems have completed facilities assessments of their older schools, and reflect needs <br />totaling approximately $330 million. (See Attachment a, Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools <br />Facilities Assessments Recommendations and Attachment b, Orange County Schools List of <br />Facilities Assessments). <br />At the Board of Commissioners January 30, 2015 Retreat, the Board directed staff to develop <br />materials for Board consideration regarding the Board formally expressing its intent to schedule <br />a November 2016 Bond Referendum (See Attachment c, Proposed Bond Schedule for a <br />November 2016 Referendum), including a total bond package amount of approximately $125 <br />million. The Board also directed staff to move forward with the development of a process for a <br />November 2016 Bond Referendum similar to the process utilized during the County's 2001 <br />Bond Referendum. <br />As was the case in 2001, the Board may consider retaining the services of an external <br />facilitator to assist the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force. The Task Force could receive <br />assistant from the Dispute Settlement Center, the UNC School of Government or other <br />resources that may be worthwhile again the 2016 process. <br />At the March 3, 2015 Regular meeting, the Board discussed its intent to schedule a November <br />2016 Bond Referendum to address County and School capital needs; discussed the proposed <br />