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46 �f <br /> Dennis Whitlingsaid that, onthe capital side, OCShas done what islisted, such as the <br /> lottery proceeds. He said that the operating side is stickier. He said that he thought hesaw o <br /> memo about the 4D.1%target, and this iaintegral tothe recommendation. <br /> Chair Carey said that itioimportant[okeep the issue offair funding onthe agenda. He <br /> suggested having the school collaboration work group discuss it again. <br /> Liz Brown said that the OC8Board has talked about this, and she thinks that with the talk <br /> ofnotax increase,that the work onthe fair funding was pointless. She said that getting more <br /> equity iodifferent from getting more funding for the schools. She said that itseems that this <br /> year is a year that the County Commissioners should look at giving more money to the OCS <br /> children. <br /> Chair Carey said that the County Commissioners have said that they want to target the tax <br /> increase adthe level required&ocover the debt service from all ofthe capital projects thatthe <br /> schools and the County have. Hesaid that the Board will 0othrough the process ofadopting <br /> the budget agalways, and will dothe best itcan for both school systems. <br /> Liz Brown said that she differs with the subjects that are discussed in the school <br /> collaboration work group because it seems that they have spent a lot of time discussing <br /> buildings and tax increases for buildings,which will not be for[)CS' She said that C)C8needs <br /> more money for programs. She would like tosee the whole County work together otdiscussing <br /> that issue. She said that they have spent four years dancing around this issue of fair funding. <br /> Chair Carey said that the recommendation from the work group came forth iOMay and the <br /> Board of County Commissioners raised the tax rate six cents to try and accommodate the <br /> needs. He does not think that the Board can raise the tax rate another six cents this year. <br /> Jamezetta Bedford said that the CHCCS is presenting a budget to the Board of County <br /> Commissioners that meets their schools' needs. This budget has been cut from the budget that <br /> was presented tothe school board attheir February Board retreat. She said that itiemillions <br /> more than the Board ofCounty Commissioners isplanning to cover. She asked about the <br /> realities here. <br /> Chair Carey said that the budget drivers included the$800,000 and that would not be at <br /> risk. <br /> Dennis Whitling said that what is driving OCS next year is the construction costs and debt <br /> service. Hemade reference tothe budget public hearing onMay 31 st and said that OCGhas <br /> offered the use Ofone nfthe school auditoriums. <br /> Ted-Thebe|ooid{hsdthemeome serious concerns about the CJCGoperating budget and C|P. <br /> Hasaid that they are trying tolook after their youth inthe long range. <br /> Mike Kelly asked for onexplanation about the payment ofdebt service and said that he <br /> would like tolook toavoid this inthe future. Hesaid that hewould like tounderstand how they <br /> ommmtothiapoint—tonotinoreaoetaxeapaetpoyingfordebtaen/ica. Hesaid that this iea <br /> transient problem and debt service i5supposedly going tOgOdown. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the cost increase between Gravelly Hill, Carrboro High, <br /> and Elementary School#1Ocaused ebump of$1Omillion beyond what was anticipated. Also, <br /> the Governor raised State teachers' salaries. He said that the County gets indirectly penalized <br /> for this and they still raised taxes i2l6uontaover the last two years. He said that the County <br /> Commissioners are trying bzaddress County needs. Hesaid that this was aconfluence of <br /> circumstances that were not within the County Commissioners' control. <br /> Liz Brown said that she does not think the fair funding discussion should be in the school <br /> collaboration group because itioawaste ofC||CC8'atime. She would like tosee oseparate <br /> meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and the OCS, without the CHCCS. <br /> Chair Carey said that anytime you talk about funding, decisions affect all of the groups, <br /> and hedoes not see aconflict with the school collaboration group discussing it. <br /> Ted Triebel said that they would be discussing this in a partial vacuum if they did it <br /> between the County and OC8only. <br />