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multiple items to the bond is too much to ask of the constituents. She supports focusing on <br /> schools only for this bond. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she has talked to the community and has not met one person <br /> who supports having just the schools on the bond. She said Chapel Hill has an upcoming bond <br /> with four or five issues. She said each issue is up for a vote, and if people only want to <br /> support schools they would only vote for the schools. She said she believes a majority of the <br /> money would go to the schools. She added she sees no reason to be shortsighted and that <br /> this is the Board's opportunity to fund the schools as well as possibly affordable housing. She <br /> is not in favor of having a bond with just one issue on it. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she previously supported schools and affordable housing <br /> on the bond, but she is now in favor of having one issue on the bond and that is for schools. <br /> She said the conversation about the possibility of a bond arose out of the needs of schools. <br /> She said the schools needs are evident now. She said the Board knows that a bond would <br /> raise taxes. She said that doing a poll, and the necessary education of the public, would be <br /> too complex. She said if other items are on the bond and they fail, it leads to a lost opportunity <br /> to give the schools more funds. She said the Board knows the schools' needs already exceed <br /> what the bond can offer and taking away from those funds causes the needs to go unmet. <br /> She added there are real needs and not a wish list of fancy things for the schools. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she too has talked to other elected officials and community <br /> members and most said to make the bond simple by focusing only on schools. She said the <br /> public can be informed about the needs and why taxes would need to be increased. <br /> Commissioner Price said there still needs to be an action plan regarding affordable <br /> housing and the details of such a plan are uncertain at this time. <br /> Chair McKee said he also originally advocated for both schools and affordable housing <br /> being on the bond. He said until a comprehensive plan regarding how to address affordable <br /> housing is created with the Towns that the issue should not be put on a bond referendum. He <br /> said he now supports having one issue on the bond and that being schools. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the decision to have only one issue on the bond short <br /> changes the residents of Orange County. He said there should be no reason to be afraid to <br /> hear the opinions of the voters. He said he found the voters discriminating enough to <br /> determine their own priorities and to tell their elected officials these priorities. He said a <br /> monochromatic bond is not a good idea. He said the CIP does not bind future Boards. He <br /> said a bond is an agreement of what the voters want and the provision of those wants. He <br /> said a CIP is changeable, and none of the other things like senior needs, affordable housing <br /> needs, park needs, or improvements in sidewalks or bike lane will be guaranteed in this bond if <br /> the only item on it is schools. He said he has always supported schools but every year at <br /> public budget hearings the Board points out to citizens that it is the responsibility of the Board <br /> to care for more than just the schools and the education systems. He said it is his opinion that <br /> this decision flies in the face of those comments. <br /> Commissioner Rich said the lack of an affordable housing plan should not preclude <br /> asking the voters to vote for funding for affordable housing. She said with such a vote at least <br /> there will be a funding mechanism in place. She said the Board should pay attention to the <br /> Chapel Hill bond as it is a competing issue. She said the Chapel Hill bond may include solid <br /> waste, despite their lack of a solid waste plan. She said she is supportive of schools, and just <br /> because she wants to put affordable housing on a bond does not mean she does not support <br /> schools. <br /> Chair McKee said the Board is clearly not unified. He said having one issue on this <br /> bond does not preclude a future bond for other needs. He said it his opinion that the current <br /> overarching need in Orange County is schools. <br />