Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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22 1 for the hospital, medical center, and other 21st century jobs that are very much needed. She 2 said it was shortsighted for the project to be so far back in the plan to begin with, and it 3 deserves to be prioritized. She said people will need a way to get education and skills in order 4 to get back on their feet after the pandemic, and a traditional four year college is simply out of 5 reach for many. She said community college is so essential, and it is a disservice to push it 6 back. 7 Commissioner Bedford said she agrees with everyone that the project is very valuable. 8 She said, financially, pushing the project out, and keeping the other cuts in the CIP from last 9 September, prevents a 2.43 cent tax increase on top of the other planned increases over the 10 next couple of years for debt service. She agreed with Commissioner Dorosin that the analogy 11 of a boat versus car was not right; and it is more like choosing between food and medicine. She 12 said if taxes are raised 2.43 cents on top of the other planned increases, it will push more 13 people out of the County. She said it is not fiscally sustainable to use one-time dollars for all of 14 these other operating expenses, so this project should not happen until year six of the CIP. She 15 said it is not her position to sub this out for any other schools project. 16 Chair Price said rather than people being tax burdened, or having to choose between 17 medicine and food, they would have the skills to get a job so they could buy both. 18 Commissioner Dorosin said he believes this project is a necessity and it is inconsistent 19 with Board's stated commitment to education to say it is not. He said this project is no different 20 than other school capital needs, distinguishing education levels does not make sense. He said 21 he appreciates the thought to be creative, but those options seem pie in the sky. He said it is a 22 mistake to underestimate opportunities for jobs, job training, and for critical medical field skills 23 that residents need. He said enhancing resources at Durham Tech should be part of post 24 pandemic recovery, and it is important for intergovernmental relationship with colleagues in 25 Durham to show Orange County has these commitments. He said delaying this project is a deal 26 breaker for him, and will not support the budget without it. 27 Commissioner McKee explained his amendment with Commissioner Greene. He said if 28 funds are not set aside to actually build infrastructure for broadband, the taskforce will have only 29 been an academic exercise. He said the amendment is for$5 million out of the first draw of 30 ARPA funds. He said he does not think it is feasible to ask for funding from the second 31 drawdown, but he will do so when that is possible. He said this amount will show commitment 32 to the community and service providers that this will move forward. 33 Commissioner Greene said the taskforce has been engaged and is very knowledgeable. 34 She said there is potential for federal grant money and, in theory, state money as well. She said 35 the group wants to ride the crest to put money together to fund this. She said the County needs 36 to have some money on the table to show serious commitment to funding broadband, and 37 understanding that the community is in desperate need of it. She said she wants to stress the 38 urgency of acting now, and the need to show a commitment by allocating dollars. 39 Commissioner McKee said the taskforce is ready to move forward with an RFP. He said 40 prior to doing so, there needs be a meeting with providers to show what the need is and 41 understand what the providers can give. He said broadband is directly mentioned in the ARPA 42 guidance, so there is no ambiguity about the appropriateness of using these funds for this need. 43 Commissioner Fowler said this is a very tangible thing ARPA money could achieve and 44 would be viable and useful. She asked if this amount is flexible. 45 Commissioner McKee said his original inclination was to direct the whole $28 million to 46 broadband, but he knows that is not feasible. He said the taskforce has discussed asking for up 47 to $10 million, but $5 million shows the County is serious, and there are other needs that are 48 just as important. He said a lot of things will stay online after the pandemic, and not having the 49 ability to engage in this format is a disservice to the community. He said $5 million is a 50 reasonable amount, but is not enough. He said other funding pools will have to be used to 51 address the rest.