Committee votes down school projects

By Gary Nelson Senior staff writer

An addition at Pleasant Hill Elementary School and air conditioning for the Cumberland County High School gymnasium will have to wait for now after commissioners on the Cumberland County Budget Committee voted against funding the capital outlay projects for the school system in a 5-3 vote Wednesday evening.

The committee met with Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle and discussed the projects and VanWinkle explained to the committee that Pleasant Hill School was at 105 percent capacity with only one portable classroom.

The air conditioning for CCHS is estimated to cost around $400,000 and the addition at Pleasant Hill of 16,481 square feet is estimated around $1.6 million.

"I think both of those estimates are high and would come in lower once we put them out for bid," VanWinkle said.

She also told the committee that the new average daily membership of the school system is 7,496 after a state audit of student attendance in grades K-12. This number was greater than what the state had previously figured at 7,298.

"The BOE doesn't even know it yet, but we got a check being reimbursed from the state for $427,000 for our growth in the school system," VanWinkle said.

She also asked why the county recently refinanced loans for Stone Elementary that will be paid off at $13 million now instead of $9 million.

"This could affect our ability to get funding for the building program in the future," VanWinkle said.

County Finance Director Nathan Brock said he wasn't prepared to talk about debt service.

"I'd have to look at those sheets and I'm not prepared to have an accurate discussion on those ... But there was a meltdown of the financial system and we had to do whatever we could to refinance out of what we were in. I'd have to look at it again in order to discuss it, though," Brock said.

VanWinkle also said there is a possibility that there will be a shortfall of $300-$400,000 in revenue for the BOE from the county.

"I've talked with the state and (they said) it would be OK to use funding (for) the air conditioning (project) at CCHS instead of (the county) having to make up the revenue (to) fund the shortfall," VanWinkle said.

Carmin Lynch, 9th District Commissioner and budget committee chairman, asked VanWinkle how would that be applied to per pupil expenditure spending so the county would get credit for that.

"We don't even know for sure what the figure is going to be until the taxes are in. I think we need to wait and see how far off we are," Lynch said.

VanWinkle said the with the $1.6 million addition at Pleasant Hill the county wouldn't have to come up with all of the funding up front and would have to have enough to cover the payment on the plan.

"I've shown you we truly do have a need out there. Any money we can put toward those projects and stay in compliance we will. We're not trying to build a fund balance. The air at CCHS is a real need. That is the only place they have to gather. Most kids now days have been raised in an air conditioning environment. They have all the big activities over there and there are students in that gym every day. I hope you'll consider our need," VanWinkle said.

Seventh District Commissioner Mike Harvel said, "To be realistic about this there is no way to pull it out of debt service. We may be able to do it now, but we'll pay later. I'm not saying you don't need it. I know there's a need, but we need to look somewhere else."

"It will have to be something like a property tax increase," 3rd District Commissioner Lynn Tollett said.

"I agree. That's about the only way," Harvel said.

"As things (the economy) start to improve we could look at it. I don't think we can do this here and now," Lynch.

"We've used our fund balance for three years. We've been very conservative and that's a strategy so we'll have enough money to go as far as we can with it. We're not trying to build a fund balance or be deceptive," VanWinkle said.

"I know there's a need out there. My wife teaches out there and I hear about it. I don't see how we can do it. And I don't want to have a case of the haves and the have nots," 8th District Commissioner Greg Maxwell said.

"I say you take your windfall of $400,000 you got from the state and do the air at CCHS," Lynch said.

"And what about Pleasant Hill?" VanWinkle asked.

"When things start to improve, then we'll look at it. I don't think we can do this here and now," Lynch said. "Every year you say you're going to draw down your fund balance and it never does go down to what you think it will," Lynch said.

"That's because the revenues have come in higher than expected and we've been conservative," VanWinkle said.

"She's not a magician. She's making her best guess just like we are and we do. You don't have to rag on her for it," 2nd District Commissioner Nancy Hyder said.

"I'm not," Lynch replied.

"You are," Hyder said.

"Anytime I try to enter into discussion I get accused of being disrespectful. So, I'm not going to discuss it anymore," Lynch said.

"Well, the fund balance is growing during the year. At the beginning you think it's going to be low and draw it down and then it goes up and it gives a misconception to the public," Harvel said.

"Look, we've tried to cut their fund balance every year and line items and now we're aggravated 'cause the fund balance is growing because they're being conservative," 1st District Commissioner Inman said.

"Well, what about Pleasant Hill? What are we going to do?" 6th District Commissioner Wendell Wilson asked.

"I know there's a need I've been out there. My wife teaches there. I know they have a need," Maxwell said.

"If the school is willing to put up the $400,000 for the air at CCHS, can't we fund the $1.6 million on a capital outlay note or something?" Inman asked.

"That $1.6 million is high. I don't think it will be that much," VanWinkle said.

"Not in my opinion. Not now," Lynch said.

"It's like writing a bad check. There's no funding source," Tollett said.

"Can't we look at it when the numbers come in and start to look better and commit to it now?" Wilson asked.

"I don't see how we can commit to it today," Lynch said.

"And we're committing for a new commission," Harvel said.

"I don't see us doing it without a funding source," Lynch said.

Commissioners discussed it would take roughly a two cent property tax increase to fund the $2 million for the capital outlay projects.

Commissioner Wilson then motioned for a 1.5 cent property tax increase to add to the already 9.5 cent increase, making it an 11 cent property tax increase.

"It's a good faith measure for the school board so they will use it toward the capital outlay projects," Wilson said.

"We can't tell them what to do with it. Not even tell them to do the Pleasant Hill project with the money. Not by law," Lynch said.

Inman supported Wilson's motion and said, "I thought we were in worse shape last year and we had a 9 cent increase. I thought my phone would be ringing off the wall and I got one phone call."

"I don't agree. We're not better off this year or today than we were last year," Lynch said.

"Pleasant Hill needs this project. If we wait one more year it's going to be at least two years before they get any help out there. That's two years of waiting for those children who are in need. We need to take care of them," Wilson said.

Voting in favor of the increase to fund the Pleasant Hill addition and air conditioning at CCHS were commissioners Inman, Wilson and Hyder.

Voting against funding the projects were comissioners Tollett, 4th District Commissioner David Gibson, Harvel, Maxwell and Lynch.

The motion failed in a 5-3 vote.

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