Minutes 05-18-2021 Virtual Business meeting

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27 Commissioner Hamilton said this item is the report that the schools have to submit to the NC Department of Public Instruction, highlighting facility needs for the next ten years. She said the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) cost summary over 10 years is $371.8 million, and Orange County Schools (OCS) is $107.7 million. She said this represents the poor conditions of older schools, and that it will take significant resources to repair them. She said, in light of COVID, the need for good air quality is even more important, and the physical plan for the schools is very important. She said the Board needs to have a plan to address older school facilities, and pay attention to what money is spent on, since there is limited debt capacity. She said she wants the public to know the Commissioners take this seriously. Commissioner Fowler asked if there is a reason the numbers are different between the Manager's recommended budget and the CIP. She said CHCCS has 9 schools, which are all 50 years or older and already in need, versus 10 years out. Bonnie Hammersley said the numbers in the CIP were provided to the County by schools. She said the schools might not think it will happen in 10 years, or do not think they will need it, but those are the numbers given by the schools. Commissioner Dorosin exited the meeting at 9:02 p.m. Commissioner Fowler asked, given huge needs, if CHCCS can spend their large fund balance on capital needs. Bonnie Hammersley said yes, and this would be a good use. She said fund balance starts out as recurring but becomes one time as it accumulates, because it does not accumulate at the rate of ongoing revenue, so this would be a permissible use. Commissioner Dorosin rejoined the meeting at 9:03 p.m. Commissioner Dorosin exited the meeting at 9:03 p.m. Commissioner McKee said he believes Guilford County did a 10-year study a few years ago with a consultant about countywide school needs. He said he will find information to bring back for the next meeting, as this might be a good example to follow. Commissioner Dorosin rejoined the meeting at 9:04 p.m. Commissioner Greene asked if clarification could be provided as to whether the CIP includes allocations for future years for the schools. Bonnie Hammersley said the 2016 bond was $120 million for schools, as well as the $3 million deferred for 4 years from the bond proceeds. She said knowing there was a need, and a gap to bridge because of debt policy, $30 million was added for the next 3 years to continue to work on deferred maintenance for schools and is part of the plan. She said the list of needs has continued to grow, but the County has continued to provide funding, albeit not enough because numbers are significant, but funding has been provided. She said over$150 million in new monies have gone towards schools since 2016. She said it is a process of chipping away at the need. Commissioner Greene said there was money identified in the County's plan a couple of years ago for repairs at Phillips Middle School, but the repair was not done by the schools. She said the County and the schools need to come together to agree on plan and stick to it. Chair Price said this idea of working together has come up in the past, and the process did not go very far. She said this current plan is now inching towards progress.