HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0865 (2)Commissioner Boone inquired about Shepherd Elementary figures
last year as compared to this year. Last year it stated "new
cafeteria, new media center, renovation, HVAC, $684,000.11 This
year it says "Cafeteria, renovations, HVAC - $1,656,865."
Godfrey Williams asked if the facility studies figure from
1992 were used in last year's projection. Dr. Nantz said they
were. Chairman Long said they asked that the costs be updated to
1995 figures.
Both boards agreed that the figures should be verified as to
correctness. Godfrey Williams discussed the price increases per
foot for new construction. It was $48 a square foot when they
built East Middle. It is now $75 a square foot.
Commissioner Madison said he questioned the cost of the repair
of the roof at West Iredell. It looks like a "Cadillac fix on a
Chevrolet budget," he said.
Commissioner Boone said he talked with a roofer who does not
do school jobs, and he estimated tearing off the old roof, taking
care of the disposal of the old roof at the landfill, and putting
on a new roof would be $80,000 to $100,000.
Chairman Long said they had received other options. He said
one of the prices quoted was doing what Commissioner Boone
discussed and putting a metal facing around it so it appears to be
aesthetically better.
Commissioner Madison said with a budget as high as this the
County could not afford aesthetics.
Dr. Nantz said the old roof is asbestos and it will cost more
to dispose of that type of roof. Commissioner Madison inquired why
would they take the roof off? Dr. Nantz replied because the
substructure of the roof is deteriorated because of wetness over
time. In addition the old air conditioning units were on top of
the roof. These twenty will be placed at another location. This
is a big project, Register said.
Commissioner Boone commented on the local legislation that is
being introduced in Raleigh this week by Frank Mitchell, House of
Representatives. Boone said if the bill passes, the County will be
assuming a tremendous debt burden. The debt service will be abut
$1,000,000 per year. If, hypothetically, the merger bill were to
pass, the commissioners might have no choice but to reduce the
Annual Capital Improvements Fund from $1,500,000 per year to only
$500,000per year, in order to avoid a tax increase.
Chairman Long said he saw the real problem in having two
school districts is how is the county going to plan for growth. He
saw decreasing the size of the school system where there has
already been large investments made in building and construction an
injustice to the taxpayers.
Chairman Haire said she did not think it would be much of a
decrease in the school population. Commissioner Boone gave figures
on the cost to taxpayers of educating one child in the school
system. He said that a house would have to be assessed at $230,000
in order for it to produce enough proeprty tax to pay the county's
share of educating one child in the school system.
Godfrey Williams said it was obvious they could not keep
raising the property taxes to support the schools. He wondered if
there is any other tax, such as an impact tax, that could be used.
Commissioner Boone said he had discussed those things. He said he
understands Orange County, NC, has an impact fee for schools.
Godfrey Williams said new construction being a cause of the
problem, could the board not look at a tax on new constructions.
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