Minutes 09-10-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 1 Chair McKee referred to line 38 on page 11, and asked if this is a tax increase required 2 solely by the debt and does not include any tax increases that may be incurred by increases in 3 operations. 4 Ted Cole said yes. 5 Paul Laughton said it had been a pleasure to work with the Bond Counsel and 6 Davenport throughout the process. 7 Chair McKee said the Board would be talking with the schools on September 29th. He 8 said at the September 15th meeting there would be time for public comment on this issue. He 9 recommended hearing all public comments, even if it exceeds the standard one-hour time 10 allotment. 11 Commissioner Rich asked if the October 6th meeting would only include further 12 discussion. 13 Chair McKee said that meeting is planned to be the final discussion and possibly a vote. 14 Commissioner Rich asked if the specific purpose of that vote could be identified. 15 Chair McKee said vote would determine the date, the items, and the amount of the 16 potential bond. 17 Commissioner Rich asked if the vote must occur on October 6th 18 Chair McKee said that would be up to the Board of County Commissioners but reminded 19 the Board that it did vote intent on April 21, 2015. 20 Commissioner Rich said she had concerns about not allowing more public comment on 21 this issue, and she is unsure if October 6th would give people enough time. 22 Commissioner Dorosin asked, with the November 2016 referendum date in mind, if there 23 is a drop dead date that step one on the memorandum must be completed. 24 Bob Jessup said only if the Board is shooting for a meeting date in April 2016. 25 Commissioner Dorosin asked if Bond Counsel needs a certain amount of lead-time. 26 Bob Jessup said three weeks before the agenda deadline, which is in March. 27 Commissioner Dorosin said he is not sure the Board wants to wait that long. He said he 28 would like to take some time to talk about whether the funding is just for schools, or are there 29 other issues to be considered. 30 Commissioner Dorosin said it is critical that the comment period be extended past 31 October 6th to give others an opportunity to engage in the process. 32 Commissioner Dorosin said the bond should have more than just the schools on it. He 33 said he would like to see affordable housing on the bond. He said if the Board decides not to 34 include affordable housing on the bond, it gives the impression that the Board likes to talk about 35 affordable housing but does not want to take any action on the issue. 36 Commissioner Dorosin said this target would need innovative solutions and readily 37 available funding that a bond would provide. He said he has heard that affordable housing 38 should not be on the bond, because the County does not have an affordable housing plan. He 39 said other entities do have plans, and if the Board wants a good plan it can incentivize the kind 40 of plan that is desired. 41 Commissioner Dorosin said if the Board is going to limit what can be done for affordable 42 housing out of just the budget then the issue will continue to be addressed in a piece meal 43 fashion. He said he believes the public would strongly support a bond in favor of affordable 44 housing. 45 Commissioner Dorosin said he knows the school needs exceed $125 million but there is 46 enough to go around for all. He said education is a primary value to this County, but poverty 47 impacts students. He said every effort the Board puts into schools has to contend with the 48 experiences these children encounter outside of the classroom. 49 Commissioner Dorosin implored the Board to put some of the money from the bond into 50 affordable housing.