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I recognize that that level of funding would not meet <br />the full continuation requests of either school system, as <br />they are presented in each proposed school budget. However, <br />we are working with the schools to determine what <br />refinements, if any, can be made to their requests for County <br />funding. For example, both school budgets include funding to <br />provide 5% pay increases for locally funded teacher <br />positions. I understand that there is a legislative proposal <br />before the General Assembly that would provide $50 million <br />statewide to continue implementation of a revised state <br />teacher salary schedule. The funds included in the school <br />system budgets are intended to enable locally funded teachers <br />to receive the same adjustments as their State - funded <br />counterparts. In light of North Carolina's budget woes, <br />should the proposed State teacher salary schedule funding be <br />reduced or eliminated from the State budget, the amount <br />needed in the school current expense budgets would be <br />similarly reduced or eliminated. <br />As I share the Board's commitment to excellence in <br />education, I would like to be able to recommend a larger <br />increase in school current expense funding. At this point, I <br />do not believe the County can afford to do this. <br />Nevertheless, I and my staff will continue to examine the <br />recommended budget to see if we can do anything else in this <br />area. <br />The Chapel Hill- Carrboro system has requested an <br />increase in the district tax of 1.48 cents per $100 valuation <br />(from 17.75 cents to 19.23 cents). The System is proposing <br />that $355,879 in expansion items be funded from this <br />increase. A complete list of these items is included on page <br />12 of their budget proposal. <br />I am not recommending an increase in the district tax <br />rate at this time. Growth in the tax base will result in an <br />additional $129,105 in revenue from the existing rate of <br />17.75 cents. Any increase to the district tax will only <br />broaden the funding disparity between the two Systems. Each <br />system has requested $995,000 for recurring capital outlay. <br />These requests include Category I (facility renovations, <br />including site development, interior renovations, roof <br />repairs and floor replacements), Category II items (equipment <br />and furnishings) and Category III, (vehicles and bus <br />purchases) items. <br />I am recommending that we continue to fund recurring <br />capital at $750,000 (see Table IV). I am also recommending <br />3 <br />