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October 4, 2004 Page 642 After a couple of delays, this committee was able to complete its work, and at our June 2004 meeting, concurred with the three educational entities that the amount requested by them was necessary to meet the immediate educational needs of our community. At our July meeting, in light of looming deadlines to get the bond referendum on the fall ballot, the Board, voted unanimously to begin the process of placing a $98 million bond referendum, divided into two questions, before the voters of Cabarrus County. As part of this process, the Board met in special session in late August to hold a public hearing, and to take a final, unanimous vote to place these important questions on the November ballot in the form of a two part bond referendum. In light of the facts I have just stated, and in light of the fact that a clear statement needs to be sent to the voters of Cabarrus County where each member of this board stands in regards to the provision of immediate needs for our two school systems and the community college, thereby allowing us to be clear that we believe our children and adult learners deserve no less of an educational system than any other child or adult in this country. For this reason, I would to put the following resolution before this board for approval. (Resolution No. 2004-38) Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners Resolution WHEREAS, Cabarrus County North Carolina is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, having seen an population increase of 23% since 1997, from 116,001 to 142,740, with currently 25.8% of these citizens being under 18 years old; WHEREAS, Growth of this nature brings with it many additional infrastructure requirements and challenges, especially in relation to adequate education facilities; WHEREAS, A community's commitment to its future economic development and well-being is by having a world-class education system today, and that a well trained & educated citizenry is the bulwark of our democratic way of life, and literally benefits all in the community from child to senior adult; WHEREAS, The job losses this community has suffered over the past two years has served as a sobering reminder of the importance of having a modern, flexible education system that helps to provide the training needed to attract new industry & business, repair the economy, and get people back to work; WHEREAS, The professional staffs of the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City School systems, as well as the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) have identified to Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners their immediate capital needs for educating our children and providing training for our workforce, to restore us to economic vitality; WHEREAS, In November 2000, The voters of Cabarrus County joined with other voters across the state in overwhelmingly approving the Higher Education Improvement Bonds, which will provide 50% of the cost of constructing a new classroom facility at RCCC, which will result in significant cost savings to the .taxpayers of Cabarrus County; WHEREAS, The cabarrus County Board of Commissioners appointed a Committee on Capital Financing and School Construction of respected and engaged leaders, parents, and volunteers, who carefully reviewed and agreed that these immediate needs totaled $98.0 million dollars, and; WHEREAS, At its August 2004 meeting, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, based on the report of the committee, to accept the report and place the issue before the voters of Cabarrus County in the form of a bond referendum;