Minutes 10-06-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Burroughs said she feels there needs to be room for the Senior Centers. She said this is in the long plan, but she is not willing to commit up to $135 million in a combined amount as it stretches the County to its max financially. Commissioner Rich said she wants the amendment to be friendly. Commissioner Dorosin said he does not see a fiscal difference between Commissioner Price's and Commissioner Rich's motions, but he sees a great political difference between them. Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioners Price and Pelissier regarding the difference between capital and operating spending. He said it is very important that any money given to affordable housing must be partially allocated for operational expenses. He said the BOCC has to come up with the money for the operating budget, rather than money that is borrowed for a bond. He said the operating budget has many competing interests. He feels his comments will hold no sway and that it would have been beneficial to have this conversation in a work session previously. He said the BOCC will work it out, but this process is a huge lost opportunity and has been frustrating. A motion for a second friendly amendment to Commissioner Price's motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to raise the bond to $130,000,000 with $120,000,000 to schools, $10,000,000 for affordable housing, and find $5,000,000 in the CIP for the schools. Commissioner Price declined this friendly amendment. Chair McKee said the Board is back to Commissioner Price's original motion of$120 million in the 2016 bond for the schools and $5 million for affordable housing. Commissioner Dorosin said he will vote for this motion because it seems to be the best that can be achieved for affordable housing, but he casts his vote begrudgingly. He said it is disappointing at best. Commissioner Rich said she agreed with Commissioner Dorosin. She said she wants to apologize to the public in attendance, the public that attended the September 15 meeting, and to Robert Seymour who is 91 years old and came to both meetings. She said the public deserved more. Chair McKee called for a vote on the original motion: A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs for a bond for 2016 in the amount of$120,000,000 for schools and $5,000,000 for affordable housing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Rich asked if Bond Counsel could clarify the rest of the process. Bob Jessup said the bond portion of the evening is completed. He said the LGC process will move forward. He said in April 2016 there will be the introduction of the bond order, which is simply the formal consideration at a first meeting, without a vote, followed by a public hearing. Commissioner Rich asked if the bond referendum discussion was complete. Bob Jessup said yes. A second motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to put $1,000,000 per year to be committed from the Capital Investment Plan to schools to be divided per A.D.M. between the two school districts, Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, respectively, for at least the next five years; and $1,000,000