HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-1995-059 Resolution Supporting the State's Effort to Address Local School Facility Needs �ountP ate,
9y
`q Yfs B
4 SST
IT f� ° 52
e
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A Resolution Supporting the State's Effort to Address Local School Facility Needs
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly established the School Capital Construction Study
Commission to examine school construction needs and a broad range of related issues; and
WHEREAS,the Board of County Commissioners in Orange County has issued nearly $84 million in debt
over the past six years to build and renovate school facilities in Orange County; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has appropriated over $12.6 million in pay-as-you-go
funds from the County General Fund since 1990-91 to pay for school capital improvements; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners adopted in June 1993 a $750 impact fee on each new
residential dwelling constructed in the County to help pay for school space for an increasing student
population and the Board increased this fee effective July 1, 1995, for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School
District to $1,500 per each new residential unit constructed; and,
WHEREAS, student population in Orange County continues to escalate with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
Schools being one of the fastest growing school systems in the State with a total 25 percent increase in the
number of students over the past five years. A total of over 2,200 new students have enrolled in both school
systems between 1991 and 1995; and,
WHEREAS,the Board of County Commissioners adopted in March 1995 a 10 point plan to address school
facility concerns including reviewing the structure for setting impact fees, requesting that the municipalities
located in Orange County incorporate future school sites into their land use plans, and that the schools
consider implementing a multi-track year round school program; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has shown its commitment to education in the
County,by appropriating a total of just over$35 million for school current expense, capital projects and debt
service. If this appropriation were funded all by property taxes, it would be equivalent to 73.6 cents per$100
of assessed valuation on the General Fund Property Tax Rate; and,
WHEREAS,the Schools have identified $61.1 million in additional capital needs for which funds are not
available to address the increase in student population.
Resolution Supporting the State's Effort
to Address Local School Facility Needs
Page 2
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the
efforts of the School Capital Construction Study Commission and urges the Commission to support efforts
at the State level to help address local school needs; that the Board of Commissioners urges the Commission
to consider the relative effort already put forth by local governments in trying to meet the needs of the
schools; and,that the Board of Commissioners ask the Study Commission especially to consider the impact
on local governments, in areas such as Orange County, where the student population is outpacing tax base
growth.
This the 9th day of December, 1995.
Beverly BlytbOberk to thelffoard Nfoses Carey, Chai*ofissioners
Orange County Bo