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11 <br /> <br />Chair Dorosin referred to a point in the report about considering a reduction in the <br />service availability fee/connection fee for homes that are 800 square f eet or less, and asked if <br />there could be some clarification on this topic, as it was his understanding for years that <br />OWASA could not do anything about this fee. He also asked if the number of homes, that are <br />800 square f eet or less, is known, and why the size of 800 square feet was chosen. <br />Robert Morgan said nothing has changed on how the costs are calculated, but the <br />State directed utilities to calculate the cost in a certain way, which OWASA has done. He said <br />during this process, it was determined that the costs for smaller structures were less, and this <br />is being recognized. He said he does not know how many homes of this size are in existence, <br />but he can find out. <br />Chair Dorosin asked of there was a reason the size limit was set at 800 square feet, as <br />opposed to 1000 or 1100 square feet. He said the idea sounds like a good one, but his <br />concern is that it will not help many affordable housing projects. He said the Board of County <br />Commissioners supports the goal of reducing housing costs, and he is not sure that this <br />change will have a significant impact. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said the idea came about in consideration of tiny homes. <br />Robert Morgan said he can research the number of units that fit this size limit, why the <br />800 square foot size was chosen, and whether there is any flexibility on this issue, and get <br />back to the BOCC. <br />Chair Dorosin said he is encouraged by this step, and affordable housing has become <br />a real action priority amongst all local governments, but he suspects there are very few homes <br />that are 800 square feet or less. <br />Commissioner Price referred to the Tiny Homes Summit, and said this reduction in fees <br />lays a foundation for tiny home communities to exist. <br />Commissioner Price said different size homes are ruled by different regulations. <br />Chair Dorosin said this progress for tiny home communities is excellent, but the cost of <br />OWASA is a huge factor in the cost of housing, and he would like to see more help made <br />available to the most people. <br /> <br />b. FY2018-19 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Continuation Budget <br />The Board received an update on the current continuation budget projections for the <br />FY2018-19 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools budget. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />During the last collaboration meeting of the three Boards, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools <br />requested the opportunity to appear before the Board of County Commissioners prior to the <br />official start of the budget process. The request is an effort to be transparent with information <br />early in the process so that the Board of County Commissioners is aware of the current reality <br />in Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. The estimated local cost for potential state mandates is <br />$3,057,231. This represents the estimated amount of funding needed to maintain the current <br />educational services, programming, and staff. <br /> <br />Re: 2018-19 Preliminary Continuation Budget <br />Each year the district prepares a continuation budget estimate to begin the budget <br />development process. The continuation budget is an estimate of the additional funding needed <br />to maintain our current educational services and programs. This estimate is based on the <br />anticipated state salary increases and benefit cost increases that must be matched for locally <br />paid employees. <br />