AG 1998 05 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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UPON MOTION of Commissioner Mills, secosded by Commissioner Niblock with Commissioners Mills, Niblock and Barnhart and Vice-Chairman Carpenter voting for, the Board moved to do a 50-year renewable lease for the LIFE Center. Budeet Presentatioss bv the Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Sch~ls Dr. Harold Wlnkler, County Schools Superintendest, presented an overview of the County Schools' budget process and a summary of the capital outlay and current expense budget requests. He compared per pupil current expense funding in surrounding counties and presented the Schools' request for an increase from $790.00 to $845.00 per pupil. According to Dr. Winkler, the increase in County appropriation iscluded five percent (5%) for growth and another seven percent (7%} for other spending priorities. Also, Dr. Winkler presented the Facilities Funding Summary which detailed the cost of capital projects as well as funding sources for those projects. He said approximately $37.2 million in additional local funds are needed during the next five years for land acquisition for the Harrisburg Elementary School, new high school/middle school and Bethel Elementary and for the construction of the new Harrisburg Elementary School and a new high school. Dr. Winkler emphasized the need for additional facilities to meet growth demands and discussed such methods for handling growth as redistricting, split shifts and year rouud schools. He also suggested the possibility of "capping" schools which would require students who move into a district that is at capacity to attend the nearest school that has available space. This could include shifting some studests from the County Schools to the Kannapolis city Schools. Dr. Winkler stated he would obtain more information about the cappieg alternative. In conclusion, he pointed out that school zones could no longer be guaranteed to persons purchasing homes in the county. Dr. Ed Tyson, Kannapolis Schools Superintendent, briefly reviewed the budget requests for the Kannapolis City Schools. He asked that the Board increase the current expense funding to $845.00 per pupil for FY 1998-99. Dr. Tyson presented a copy of the capital outlay requests, including both the first year requests from the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan and other requests. He stated there are capital outlay needs in the Kannapolis City Schools. There was lengthy discussion regarding the proposed FY 1998-99 education budget proposals, including per pupil funding, the continuing growth in the County Schools, available County funding, the anticipated excellent financial future of the County and the need to insure that each school in both school systems is used to capacity. The Board also discussed the immediate need for a new high school for the County Schools, including the possibility of a bond referendum to pay for construction costs and the use of approximately $2.8 million in undesignated fund balance to purchase the land for the new high school. During the discussion, Commissioner Mills stated for the record that he would not support a referendum, as he said other funding is available. Mr. Clifton addressed the issue of grounds and facility maintenance of the Schools. He suggested that the County begin the process to assume the long-term maintenance responsibility for the Schools grounds, thus allowing the Schools to concestrate on the students. This issue will be studied further and additional information provided to the Board at a later date. Adjournment There beisg no further business to come before the Board, Vice-Chairman Carpenter adjourned the meeting at 7:25 P.M. Clerk to the Board