Minutes 01-19-2024 - Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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35 Chair Bedford clarified that she would not like to include charter students in the ADM funding split scenario. Commissioner McKee said he thinks as long as the percentage split between school districts is reasonable, he is less concerned about perception. Commissioner Richards said the point of the bond is to improve school facilities and so the money should go where there is the biggest need, which was identified in the Woolpert study. She said she thinks residents will understand that. She added that right now, there is money that was given to OCS that has not yet been spent. Commissioner McKee said that money has now been allocated. Commissioner Richards said it took a long time and there were other projects that didn't get done because that money was sitting there. She said she thinks the bond education efforts needs to focus on the fact that the money needs to address capital needs that have been long ignored in a prioritized way. Commissioner McKee said if the bond is passed, the Board has no say in how, when, and where the money is spent, and those decisions will be totally up to the elected school boards. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she agrees with Commissioner McKee that the bond will be a hard sell if the allocation is not at least close to 60% for CHCCS and 40% for OCS, to be consistent with the way funds have been distributed in the past. Commissioner Richards said that regardless of whether the funds are distributed on a project basis or based on ADM, the numbers are coming out around the desired 60-40 split, according to Slide #9. Commissioner McKee said that there is no legal requirement for a future Board to agree or follow this percentage for allocation. Travis Myren clarified that if the Board chooses to distribute funds by project, a budget amendment would be required for the school boards to use the funds for something else. To Commissioner McKee's point, Vice-Chair Greene said this Board can set an example and a strategy for a future Board and doesn't want perceptions to be the deciding factor in making this choice. Commissioner McKee said he agrees with Vice-Chair Greene and is not saying that the perception of things is accurate. Commissioner Hamilton said this Board can create policies and practices, so the money is used efficiently and effectively and none of it is wasted. She said a project-based allocation following the Woolpert study is the best way to go. Chair Bedford said she is fine with going project-based this time but every other capital decision in the past has been by ADM and that's why the percentages are so close across scenarios. She said it's scary to think that it will always do it one way or another. She said in this case it works to do it project-based for the bond to still pass, but if there was a bigger differential it probably wouldn't. Travis Myren said just to be clear, staff is looking for clarity on direction today. He said the Board doesn't have to make a decision on the final not to exceed amount until April, but if the Board wants alignment with the school boards' resolutions, a decision needs to be made sooner. Chair Bedford asked if resolutions from the school board are required. Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, said yes. Commissioner Richards asked what the one-time tax impact of the last bond was. Travis Myren said he thinks it was 5 cents split over several years. Commissioner McKee said it may have been 6 cents, but that it was applied over several years. He said the Board could choose to do that again this time, but if the increase is carried over several years the cumulative tax impact is higher. Commissioner Richards said the rationale for spreading out the tax increase would be that there is less impact on taxpayers at one time, even if the cumulative increase is higher.