HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0479APR 141994 46o
said there was a lot of input that went into the list, but no one
called him to "politic" about the list. Skip McColl there was a
lot of discussion to reach a consensus and he thinks this is a
board decision along with the administrative staff.
Commissioner Hamby inquired about the high school classroom
labs, which are new classrooms except Statesville High. She said
the way she looked at the priority list is to look at who will
benefit the most.
Dr. Register called attention to the letter based on action
taken by the school board asking for a Letter of Intent to Fund for
the construction of the South Elementary School and the remodeling
of Troutman Middle School for a total of $5,942,832. Bill Long
said the reason for the letter of intent is they could not have an
architect to go to work or make any progress until the letter is
signed. Dr. Nantz said the prices were also increasing. The
building costs are now about $65 a square foot, according to a
similar bid received nearby just last week. Prices are increasing,
Long said.
Bill Long said this is their request for 94-95 and they would
not tell the county commissioners how to fund it, but they would
like to see the 5 cents tax. Another method would be for the funds
from the remainder of the 3 cents raised last year to repay the
COPS be used to repay another COPS financing for this new school,
or a pay as you go.
Susan Blumenstein said it would probably be better to do a
direct bank loan when you consider the additional cost of doing the
COPS financing. She estimated that a variable or fixed rate for
about seven years would average out to about 5.0% or 5.5$,
Blumenstein said.
V. Chairman Boone said COPS bonds is not a very efficient way
of raising money. Commissioner Madison said one thing that should
be considered is that last year the voters of this county turned
down borrowing money, and to go out and put forth a COPS financing
now would probably terminate two or three as potential county
commissioner candidates next time. He said he thought the people
have spoken and the only viable solution would be a pay as you go
system.
V. Chairman Boone said the board did not have all the budget
information right now, but in his mind he would have to have all
the information together with the current expense requests, so he
could consider it together. He realizes that the design for East
Middle was done before this school board came on, but before he
approved a new elementary school he would want a building that
could be built and expanded and classrooms added to. He thinks a
new building should be nice, functional, and well built, but does
not have to be a Taj Mahal. He thinks East Middle School could
have been built very nicely for a lot less money, he said.
Chairman Long said they had made some changes in the current
expense which reduces the budget. He discussed the custodial staff
changes that have been made to improve the system and have better
service at the same time. Commissioner Stewart asked if they have
schools where custodial staff members will be working alone at
night, and Dr. Register said no, they work on a team of three for
each school.
Chairman Long discussed the Continuation Budget Items. They
had budgeted a salary increase of 4%, which is what everyone said
they would get. In 1992 the school started using its $1.3 million
fund balance in lieu of being able to generate enough funds locally
to take care of some of the needs. The fund balance is now about
$385,000. They used $400,000 this year for the Comprehensive
High School program, reading recovery, and additional teachers to
reduce classroom sizes. The Custodial Salary Program, SAP Grant
Reduction and PBAP Differentiated Pay make up the total
Continuation Budget, which is $1,050,196 (10.39%).