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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19690724212-A MINUTES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS July 24, 1969 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in joint session with the Chapel Hill Board of Education on Thursday, July 24, 1969, at 8:00 o'clock P.M. in the Conference Room of the Administration Building in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Members Present: Chairman Carl M. Smith, and Commissioners Harvey D. Bennett, William C. Ray, Henry S. Walker and Ira A. Ward. Members Absent: None Mrs. Mary Scroggs, Everett Billingsley, Paul Guthrie, Sam Holton, Marvin Silver and Norman Weatherly, members of the Chapel Hill Board of Education, were present. Mrs. Mary Scroggs, Vice Chairman of the Board of Education, presided. Mrs. Scroggs explained that the alternatives of working with the limited funds available in the Capital Outlay Budget were as follows: 1. Finish Culbreth, complete an addition at the High School and have left in the budget about $145,000 to do the other work necessary. 2. Finish the schools already built, defer the building of the High School addition and put the balance of the budget in a capital reserve fund. 3. Discuss the possibility of the County Commissioners requesting a loan from the State Literary Fund. They have available a ten year loan at only 101% interest. Mrs. Scroggs expressed the Board's opinion that their requests were not excessive but they felt the need to be informed where the Commissioners felt they were out of line. Mrs. Scroggs suggested that each budget category be discussed, and determine if it is reduceable, deferrable, or unnecessary. She explained that in item 681, New Buildings and Grounds, 681.1, Purchase of New Sites, $15,000 was planned for this year an additional $15,000 would be budgeted next year. Commissioner Ward stated that the Board of Commissioners were acutely aware of the needs which had been recited in the Chanel Hill Board of Education budget and that the allocations of $450,000 to the County and $575,000 to the Chapel Hill units were the largest allocations made to either school unit and that it would be impossible for the County to meet all the needs in one years budget allocation. Mr. Guthrie emphasized that Orange County, traditionally, has financed new capital outlay expenses with bond issues and that leaves the problem of lack of funds when converting to the present method of pay as you go system. He stated further that he would suggest the Board begin to put aside $15,000 a year rather than have to allocate $70,000 during one fiscal year. Chairman Smith stated it should not be the position of the Board of Commissioners to have to decide which items should be deleted from a school budget. That once the money was allocated the Board of Education must assume the responsibility of where the money should be applied. He stated further that the Board of Commissioners were of the opinion that they had adopted a tax rate which was feasible. Discussion ensued relative to items which could be deleted from the Chapel Hill School Units budget. It was agreed that the following items would be deleted or reduced: 681.1 Purchase of New Sites $15,000 682.2 Improvements to Existing Sites .2A Chapel Hill High School 2. Landscaping 6,000 3. Parking Lot 12,000 B Guy B. Phillips 1. Pave Parking area 3,500 D Lincoln 1. Hard surface parking area 14,000 (Safety traffic control) E Other Grounds (reduced from $5,000) 2,000 i 1 212-B 682.3 Alterations and Additions to Buildings and Grounds D Lincoln 2. Architect fees for Rehabilitation $7,$00 H General Improvements - Misc. (reduced from $6,000) 3,000 .7D Other (reduced from $20,000) $,000 689 Other Costs (contingency item reduced from $15,000) 5,000 TOTAL $75,000 Commissioner Ward commended the School Board for retaining Lincoln as an elementary school. He stated further that he realized some of the items relative to the improvements of the school had to be deferred or deleted from this years budget, but he was of the opinion that the situation would not deteriorate further in the next year, and for this reason he recommended that the paving of the parking area and the architect fee be deleted from the current budget. Mr. Guthrie suggested that since the money would be available in the next years budget that the school board proceed with their plans for the improvement of renovation of the Lincoln school. Chairman Smith suggested that the school board proceed with their plans to construct the High School addition. Mrs. Seroggs suggested that the County borrow money from the State Literary Fund next year. _. . Commissioner Ward was opposed to this method of financing current funds. Mrs. Seroggs pointed out that the School Board is not allowed to enter into contracts unless the necessary monies are available and explained further that the High School addition would present a problem in financing because of the element of time. Commissioner Ward, after conferring with Emery Denny, stated that the Board of Commissioners currently did not have the authority to borrow additional money. Mrs. Seroggs suggested that the Board of Commissioners could contract $305,000 for the High School addition and that the remainder of the work which amounted to $48,000 could be deferred until next year. Chairman Smith stated that the Board of Commissioners had no way of knowing whether a similar money crisis would be prevalent next year. Mrs. Seroggs then proposed that $85,000 be added to the 1970-1971 budget projections in order to complete Culbreth School and that $302,000 be included in the 1969-1970 budget for the high school addition. Mr. Guthrie suggested that a joint meeting be planned sometime during the coming year for the purpose of information and discussion relative to the school units plans and proposals. Chairman Smith agreed that such a meeting should be arranged between the County School Board and the Chapel Hill School Board. Commissioner Ward suggested that a meeting be planned between the members of the County Board of Commissioners, the Orange County Board of Education and the Chapel Hill School Board in order that they might discuss the sales tax and the possibility of utilizing same. Upon motion of Dr. Holton, seconded by Mr. Billingsley, it was moved, that the Chapel Hill Board of Education accept the $575,000 budget allocation. Discussion ensued and Dr. Silver stated that he was of the opinion that $36,000 in additional funds would be needed during the 1969-1970 school year. Mr. Guthrie stated that the following items should be included in this years budget and cited them as being improvements at Lincoln Elementary School, planning for future improvements at Lincoln School and the High School addition. He stated further that a great deal depended upon a favorable vote in November and that a firm committment regarding distribution of resources and revenue should be secured. 212-C 1 Mr. Denny stated that if the Board of Commissioners disagreed with any of the expenditures which the Board of Education felt were needed items that they should, now, state their objection to these items. The Board of Commissioners agreed that the High School addition held priority over any of the other items. I Vice Chairman Scroggs called for a vote on Dr. Holton's motion. Dr. Holton, Dr. Weatherly and Mr. Billingsley voted aye. Mr. Guthrie and Dr. Silver voted nay. Vice Chairman Scroggs then declared the motion passed._ Mr. Guthrie explained that he opposed Dr. Holton's motion "because of the method used by the Board of Commissioners in deciding the budget allocation, but that he was not opposed to the amount of the allocation". Dr. Silver explained that he opposed Dr. Holton'.s motion, because he felt "the need overrides fraugality". There being no further business to come before the meeting same was adjourned. Carl M. Smith, Chairman Orange County Board of Commissioners and Mrs. Mary Scroggs, Vice Chairman Chapel Hill Board of Education Janet Toenniessen, Acting Clerk i I