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17 <br />removed from the tax roles. At an estimated tax value of $2,157,827 and a current tax rate of <br />.9475 per $100 of assessed valuation, that computes to $20,445 in annual lost property tax. <br />The Committee recommends: <br />a) The County Commissioners make every effort to negotiate equitable compensation <br />from UNC for loss of tax revenues on University properties not used for <br />educational purposes. One half of Emergency Medical Services calls in a year serve <br />the University community. Donation of professional services and assistance with <br />County automation, are examples of negotiated compensation. <br />b) Orange County, in conjunction with other jurisdictions in the State that have <br />significant UNC property holdings, should seek to have the State Legislature and <br />officials of the University System find an equitable solution to its loss of property <br />tax revenues because of unjust exemptions granted to the University. <br />Recommendation 13: Take steps as a County to control building costs of public structures <br />in Orange County. <br />The efforts of the School Construction Standards Group are a positive step for establishing <br />guidelines that may help to control school construction costs. The subcommittee adds the <br />following recommendations in an effort to control building costs of public structures in Orange <br />County: <br />a) Funding levels should be comparable for similar facilities in our Metropolitan <br />Statistical Area (MSA). Elementary schools built in our MSA average $15 -20 less <br />per square foot in cost than the McDougle Elementary School (based on figures <br />supplied by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on projects bid <br />between 1/95 and 11/95). <br />b) That the Commissioners fund new school construction at the Basic or State <br />recommended level. That school districts desiring level I,II,III buildings pay for the <br />additional levels from their own Capital Improvements Plan budgets. A basic <br />elementary school for 600 students has 81,463 square foot. A level III elementary <br />school has 99,225 square foot. (School Facility Draft Report ). Using a budget <br />planning figure of $90 per square foot from the report, a level III elementary school <br />would cost an additional $1,598,580. <br />c) That park and recreation areas be combined with school sites to maximize facility <br />usage and to reduce costs of building and maintaining separate recreational areas. <br />d) That cost of consultants and engineers be controlled by considering hiring a County <br />employee to manage these functions. This position might be shared with <br />surrounding counties to reduce expense and maximize work load. Or, a contract <br />with a large architectural firm with sub - specialties be enacted to manage a large <br />block of building projects with the idea that economies of scale can reduce the <br />engineering and consulting fees. <br />Follow Up To Recommendations <br />10 <br />