Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Carey asked how much less the County would get this year in sales tax <br /> and Donna Coffey said that at this point, distributions should be at 58%, but they are only at <br /> 54%. The Medicaid costs are much higher than the State predicted. <br /> Commissioner Gordon requested that the staff update the Medicaid swap chart and also <br /> write a report on the lottery proceeds as to what is available. <br /> c. Funding Requests from Local Boards of Education <br /> Chair Jacobs said that both Superintendents are in attendance, as well as the Chair of <br /> the CHCCS Board and two potential County Commissioners. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that on April 22"d, both school boards presented their budget <br /> requests for next year. The CHCCS requested an increase of$6.8 million and OCS requested <br /> an increase of$1.8 million. The current per pupil expenditures is $3,069, and Attachment 2 has <br /> the historical comparison of the per pupil appropriation from 1983 to the present. Based on the <br /> State Certified Student Membership Projections, CHCCS will have an increase of 323 students <br /> and OCS will have an increase of 79 students. If the Board of County Commissioners fully <br /> funds the CHCCS budget from the ad valorem tax, the tax increase would be 8.39 cents and the <br /> per pupil allocation would be $3,569. The CHCCS increase would result in an additional $3.8 <br /> million for OCS. An alternative to increasing the ad valorem tax rate to fully fund the request is <br /> to use some combination of ad valorem and special district taxes. <br /> If the County Commissioners fully funded the OCS budget, the tax increase would be <br /> 4.25 cents and the per pupil allocation would be $3,290. The OCS increase would result in an <br /> additional $3.5 million for CHCCS. The remaining $3.25 million requested by CHCCS could be <br /> funded by increasing the special district tax. Staff anticipates one cent on the special district tax <br /> to generate about $808,000. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the Board has not discussed any of the items that the schools <br /> presented, and the Superintendents are present to answer any questions. <br /> Superintendent Pedersen said that if the County fully funds OCS, then CHCCS could <br /> use the district tax, which would get them way down the road with adding the 12th grade at <br /> Carrboro High and opening Morris Grove Elementary. The total increase in the district tax for <br /> this would be 2.43 cents. <br /> Superintendent Pedersen said that he was in a meeting of superintendents today and <br /> there are rumors that there could be a salary increase for teachers as high as 10%. CHCCS <br /> has budgeted 5%for teachers and 4% for classified. He would like to keep an eye on this. <br /> Anything greater than this will be a challenge. <br /> Chair Jacobs suggested sending a letter to the Lottery Commission about getting money <br /> for these projects as soon as possible so that the County can get ahead of the sequestering <br /> curve, should there be one. He asked the Superintendents how they would spend the lottery <br /> proceeds. <br /> Superintendent Pedersen said that the first six months of lottery proceeds, which <br /> CHCCS has received, will go to the renovation of the Lincoln Center for the expansion of the <br /> Phoenix Academy. This is about $640,000. The other half is budgeted in 2008-09 for <br /> ordinances. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the Board also asked of CHCCS about where it was suggesting <br /> the County get the $640,000 for planning money. Laura Blackmon said that it will be coming <br /> back on May 20th <br /> Donna Coffey verified with Superintendent Rhodes that OCS has dedicated its lottery <br /> proceeds to Orange High School renovations. <br />