Agenda - 04-04-2023; 8-a - Minutes

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40 1 Hill High School. Therefore, he said he determined the money for the bond would go the farthest 2 if it only addressed schools and a smaller amount for affordable housing. 3 Commissioner Richards said she would think that in less than a year the Board could have 4 a good view of what they could do for the bond based on the Capital Needs Work Group, the 5 consultant, etc. She said the most important factor for her is thinking about where the Board can 6 make the biggest impact with the money. 7 Commissioner Hamilton said she believes the $130 million needs to go to school capital 8 needs because school facilities are currently inadequate. She said this is a key investment to her. 9 Commissioner Richards said she isn't arguing one way or the other, she just feels the 10 county has a lot of information already with consultants and said it seems the process can move 11 forward quickly. 12 Commissioner Hamilton agreed. 13 Commissioner Fowler said CHCCS had a list of needed projects year ago that was $360 14 million, but now with price of construction the cost is way more. She said no matter where the 15 other priorities are for the county, they are obligated to take care of school capital needs. 16 Vice-Chair McKee said there was a building spree with schools in the late 80s and early 17 90s with 3-6 cent tax increases every year. He said this was followed by a fairly long lull with no 18 school building, and the last money issued with the 2016 bond probably didn't move the needle 19 on catching up. He said what he doesn't want to do is pit schools against other county needs like 20 parks, senior centers, etc. because then everyone just gets a little and the impact of the money 21 is lessened. 22 Commissioner Greene said she wasn't on the Board during the last bond but she was in 23 the community advocating for the $5 million to go toward affordable housing. She said her 24 perspective has changed, and believes bonds for affordable housing should be issued by 25 municipalities like Chapel Hill because that's where housing is needed and it's on the transit line. 26 She said she agrees with Commissioner Fowler that it is the Board's job to keep school facilities 27 safe. 28 Vice-Chair McKee said it would take a lot of convincing for him to agree to pull money 29 away from the schools for the next bond, otherwise he's afraid the capital needs for schools will 30 never be caught up. 31 Chair Bedford said she certainly supports schools, but is glad there is time to consider so 32 the board can hear more about the county needs through the budget cycle. She said the Crisis 33 Diversion Facility might also be a bond need, but may need to wait a couple of years so there's 34 more bond capacity. She agreed with Commissioner Greene that building affordable housing is a 35 great thing for Chapel Hill to do, especially since the county is doing the prevention work of 36 keeping people in housing. She said she worries there will be a point within the next year that 37 there will be a huge increase in the number of people who become homeless because housing is 38 becoming increasingly out of reach. She said $1 million was put aside for a land bank in case of 39 an emergency. 40 Bonnie Hammersley said the $1 million is in financing, not money in hand, but is in the 41 model. 42 Bonnie Hammersley said the county gave the schools planning money to move forward 43 immediately after the bond money was issued in 2016. She said she hopes schools will be able 44 to work with the capital needs consultant to get some shovel-ready projects moving so they'll be 45 prepared when the bond passes. 46 Chair Bedford said she reminded the schools that the money the county has provided for 47 maintenance should not be saved. 48 Bonnie Hammersley said $44 million was given. 49 Commissioner Hamilton said she heard from Capital Needs Work Group that there is a 50 focus to use the money efficiently and make sure there is a plan.