Loading...
Minutes 07-01-96MINUTES OF THE JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING HELD AT THE BOYNTON BEACH LIBRARY IN THE PROGRAM ROOM, ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 1996, AT 4:00 P.M. PRESENT City of Boynton Beach Gerald "Jerry" Taylor, Mayor Shirley Jaskiewicz, Vice Mayor Matthew Bradley, Commissioner Henderson Tillman, Commissioner Jamie Titcomb, Commissioner Carrie Parker, City Manager Don Drake, Capital Budget James Cherof, City Attorney Sde Kruse, City Clerk William Hukill, Director of Development Mark Raymond, City Bond Counsel William R. Hou.qh & Company Kevin Connors The School Board of Palm Beach County Dr. Sandra Richmond, Chairperson William Graham Paulette Burdick Jody Gleason Dr. Joan Kowal, Superintendent Don Drake, Capital Budget Larry Zabik, Asst. Supt. - Support Svcs. Bob Gang, Bond Counsel - COPs Cynthia Prettyman, School District Attorney I. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jerry Taylor Mayor Taylor called the workshop meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. II. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS He thanked everyone for attending, and asked everyone to introduce themselves. Dr. RiChmond announced that Gall Bjork is recovering from surgery and will not be present. Mayor Taylor explained that Dr. Henry Broekhoff was invited to attend this meeting, but wes unable to be here. Dr. Broekhoff was the former Assistant Superintendent of Palm Beach County schools. He is now the Assistant Superintendent for Orange County. A coinference call will be made to him so that he can offer his experience on the 237 loan program. When city Manager Parker made contact with Dr. Broekhoff, she advised him of those who were present, and asked him to provide an overview of the 237 Loan Program. Dri Broekhoff explained that the 237 Loan Program is authorized, and gets its name from the Florida Statutes 237.161. This program enables the School Board to borrow funds for ca~)ital projects. In previous years, Department of Education approval was required. Teat requirement no longer exists. The School Board can authorize the loan authorization. Wlth the change in Statutes, it enables School Boards to place in their budgets a 237 Lo~an / MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 authority which enables projects to be started. Through management techniques, the Sdhool Board does not actually have to borrow the loan. With respect to capital projects, over a period of time, the funds must be set aside to complete the projects. Capital projects typically take several fiscal years to complete. This enables the start of projects. It requires careful management, but can allow projects to move forward and manage the cash accordingly. Dri. Broekhoff advised that this program was used in the School District in previous years. Tlqis is not a new program. It has existed for a long time. The use of budgetary authority to ijump-start projects may not always be considered by ali entities, but it can be used in that way, and was used in Palm Beach County in the 1980s in almost every budget. City Manager Parker advised that she distributed a hand-out of the General Education's Facilities Report from the School Board for this year which shows the 237 Loan AUthorization as a specified revenue under the Local Revenues with zeroes across it for fiscal year 1996 to fiscal year 2000. She asked if this is the place where the dollar amount would be included in the budget. Dr. Broekhoff responded affirmatively. He further added that whether or not the loan is ever executed depends on the cash management. He doubts that the district would be down to a position where there is limited cash available. Tllere is a difference between cash, budgetary authority, and revenue. This is a way to move projects forward because capital projects, in terms of cash flow, are always rolling forward. Ultimately, there needs to be a revenue source where the payoff of funds is designated. City Manager Parker questioned the number of years available to designate the payoff. Dd. Broekhoff explained that a particular project will have to be charged to the 237 Loan Pr~)gram in the 1997 fiscal year. He said, what used to be done is if, because of cash management purposes, you did not have to utilize all the funds, you reverse the e~penditures from the 237 Loan Program and charge it to one of the revenue sources available, and continue the process in the next fiscal year. You must designate a fund source because in theory, over any period of time, you would have spent more funds than yop have available. However, you never intend to reach that point because there is always cash. However, at some point, there must be a fund source. City Manager Parker asked if any interest charges are accruing with this program. Dr. Brbekhoff said interest begins accruing if the loan is executed. Taking the loan amount in thb budget costs nothing. It provides budget authority to let contacts. If, in the course of tinle, cash flow and projects proceed as such that actual cash was needed, then the loan would have to be consummated. M6 Hukill asked if the School Board got into that situation, would it be obligated at that soprce, or could it borrow from any other source. Dr. Broekhoff explained that the Board MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 would not have to use that source because the various contractors for the various projects would want to be paid. The District would have to borrow the funds for cash purposes. It would not have to be the 237 Loan. Mr. Hukill asked if the Palm Beach School District ever borrowed the money. Dr. Broekhoff said it did not during the 1980s. MN. Hukill asked Dr. Broekhoff to relate carryover fund balance to cash management and cash flow. Dr. Broekhoff explained that the carryover fund balance relates to projects in progress. It may or may not be equal to cash available. There could be receivables where alllof the cash was not received. They are not necessarily the same, but they indicate the si~e of the projects in progress and the resulting probable cash availability. Mayor Taylor thanked Dr. Broekhoff for his overview. III.i DISCUSSION OF BOYNTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL M~yor Taylor explained that the purpose of the meeting was to reiterate our desire for a high school in Boynton Beach. We have been waiting for this high school for al~proximately 10 years. Two years ago, the land was set aside for the school, but there are still no plans to build the high school. The City has been working very hard to come Ul~ with a plan that would assist the School Board in making the decision to move forward with construction of the school. O~e of the procedures that the City has learned about relative to financing is the 237 Loan A~thorization. In addition, there is the COPs Program, the one cent sales tax, and the pqssibility of the City doing a revenue bond and the School Board paying the City back when the money is available. The City's major goal is to work with the School Board to get the funding for the construction of the school. M tlr cr pr U.~ AL fly b~ th '. Graham said the 237 Loan Authorization has been used in the Capital Budget several les in the past. It functioned as a line of credit; however, they never drew on the line of ,~dit because when it was time to pay the bills, they were funded with GO bond sales ~ceeds, COPs proceeds, interest income, impact fees or Capital millage. They have ed the 237 Loan Authorization for gap funding. Mr. Graham likened this 237 Loan ~thorization to using a car loan to buy a house. You are supposed to pay back in four or ~ years, but you are building a concrete and bIock building that you would normally pay ck over 25 to 30 years. The best advice he has received has been not to actually use program except as a line of credit. MAyor Taylor asked Mr. Graham to explain his feelings relative to the COPs procedure. M~. Graham explained that one-third of the School Board's capacity has been used based onthe requirements. They are spending about $19 million in lease payments per year on MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY1,1996 COPs. Some of the members have agreed that they do not want to do any more of this on a sporadic case-by-case basis. They want to do it as part of a bigger five to seven year plan that would fit with the concurrency issue. It wouId be part of the contingency or back- up that would be a fall back if the referendum could not be passed. Mayor Taylor advised that he is aware of the fact that 30 schools need to be built just to be even. However, there must be some Capital program the School Board has for another school to be built somewhere. We are interested in where Boynton Beach fits into that program. A new high school in Boynton Beach would alleviate the overcrowding situation our children are experiencing. Mt. Zabik said that over the past two or three years, the School Board has been working on borrowed money. Most of the schools being built, and most of the renovations have been funded through the lease-purchase agreement. In looking at the Capital Budget, e~ch year after paying for maintenance buses, and computers, only $40-$50 million a year reFnains for facility projects. Facility projects inclUde reroofing, new schools, and renovations of existing schools. This year, a very short list of projects has been proposed. That list includes the replacement of Lincoln Elementary School, one new elementary school, and two or three renovation projects. In ilooking at the revenue sources over the next several years, the picture is not bright. We arb in the process of finishing up the new five-year survey which identifies all of the needs in ithe District. The District will have to go through a prioritization process of all of those needs. This fall, Pinehurst Middle School will open. Watersedge Elementary School was opened two months ago, and Poinciana Elementary School will be opened. Jo~y Gleason advised that when the School Board looked at funds to build new projects, evffryone realized that without funds, no new schools will be built. Therefore, the question is pot, "Where does Boynton Beach fit?" There are no new schools planned. She feels the School Board is looking at double-session high schools. If the sales tax is passed in N(~vember, the 237 Loan Authorization can be used until the revenue from the sales tax cowries in. She cannot imagine using a 237 Loan without new money coming in. In addition, the Board agreed not to use any more COPs until there is no other choice and they are pushed to the wall. P~ sc as M; tin th, bc .ulette Burdick said the most severe overcrowding situation exists in the elementary hools. This is where most of the expansion would probably take place. Ms. Burdick ked for further clarification of the venture the City is considering with the School Board. tyor Taylor advised that it is the City's feeling that the School Board will take a very long ~e to come up with the funds for the new high school. The City inquired about funding construction with municipal bonds, and have the School Board pay the interest on the nds. This would be a minor amount of money to expend compared to the School Board 4 MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 financing the entire project. At some point in the future, for instance if the sales tax is approved, the School Board would have a funding source and could take over the project from the City and pay off the bonds. The City thought this was a great idea until it was learned that the School Board cannot commit to the City for the length of time needed. The School Board can only commit for one year at a time similar to what is done with COPs. However, the only difference is that in the COPs, if a school is built, that school would not be cut loose by itself. The School Board would have to cut the entire school program loose because that school would become part of all the schooI debt. The City's concern is that since the School Board can only legally provide a guarantee for a year, if the School Board decided they did not need the school, it could cut the school loose, and the City would be left with it. Bdb Gang, Bond Counsel for the School Board, advised that the related issue to this is if the School Board agrees to pay interest only on City bonds prior to the referendum, what h~ppens if the referendum does not pass. The City will want to be paid because the school will already be into construction. At that point, the School Board would be leasing it and paying for it through lease payments similar to the way it would pay under the master lease program. It is difficult to ask the City to issue bonds when there is no way to let the CitY know there is a way to take the City off the hook. In any 20 or 25 year financing, schoot boards need to level debt. Almost all of the initial year's component payments are interest only. Mi. Hukill pointed out that the high school for the Boynton Beach area was in the five-year plan in 1986. It was in a five-year plan generated in 1991. If it is put in a five-year plan gffnerated ~n 1996, wdl the same th~ng happen that happened ~n 1986 and 1991. The issue is the high school. The City offered to float a revenue bond because there did not sebm to be another agreeable method for doing it. It is not because the City is anxious to do~ this. It was to enable the School Board to agree to a method to accomplish this. The City offered a revenue source. The 237 Loan Program is a revenue source, COPs is an!other revenue source, and the tax is still another revenue source. Mr. Hukill advised that oq Friday, he received a FAXED proposal from a private company that wants to do the eh[tire project including the funding. The catch is that construction management is inCluded. Mr. Hukill does not believe the City wants to fund the school. The City wants to help build the school. The City is bending over backwards to get this done. CCmmissioner Bradley reminded the School Board members that when the rally took place at ithe School Board Meeting, the thing they were looking for was to see the school as a line item on the upcoming budget. He respects the fact that the School Board wishes to goi for a small COPs issue, but the City of Boynton Beach has been neglected. New schools have been built that were not in the 1986 bond issue. Older schools have been refurbished that were not in the 1986 bond issue. The City of Boynton Beach is well past due. We would like to see this school on the budget this year. MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 in 'response to a question from Ms. Gleason, Mr. Gang advised that if an obligation is issued under the master lease, there is a presumption that a long-term COP would be issued (20 to 25 year obligation). Ms. Gleason suggested that there may be some way the payments could be shared. Mr. Gang said any legally-available revenue can be appropriated toward the rent. However, there are not a lot of legally-available revenues other than local millage. ML Graham said one of the advantages of the plan mentioned by Mr. Hukill is when the COPs are sold, the interest meter begins to run. The School Board then goes out and clears the land and begins construction. One of the variations of the plan is that it would be a managed turn-key operation and no disbursements would be made until occupation of the facility takes place. All costs would be carried by the vendor. At the time the school is iready to be occupied, you can enter into level annuity lease payments, variable lease p~yments, etc., that are a stand-alone lease or brought under the master lease program with COPs. Ciiy Manager Parker feels that one of the points Dr. Broekhoff was making was that because of the cash position the School Board is in, it could use the 237 Loan ALlthorization as that float and the School Board would not have to pay the interest while tho school is being built. The School Board could issue the bonds and then the interest WOuld begin, and that would save the School Board two years worth of interest payments. With a vendor, the total cost may be higher because someone is carrying the interest rate. With the 237, the interest is not defrayed. The School Board would be using its own internal cash, giving up some interest earnings in the budget, but not paying out additional interest. In iaddition, we would need to overcome the obstacle of some assurance from the School Board that they would continue to fund the bond payments and not abandon the high school after one or two years. If the sales tax does not pass, then the City might be able to lissue the bonds as an alternative. The 237 Loan Authorization would get the school st~trted and constructed while not accruing any interest to the School Board, and then once thC referendum is passed or not passed, we would review the situation relative to a Iong- te[m situation. M§. Parker advised that the schools that are on line are 100% funded by the School Board. Tllat is a great position to be in. Mr. Graham said that is cash plus COPs. Dri. Richmond was of the opinion that with the 237 Loan Authorization, a funding source wc ~uld have to be designated within one year. City Manager Parker said the funding source m Jst be designated in five years. Ms. Burdick disagreed, and said the entire lump sum m ~st be paid off within five years if you take out the loan. City Manager Parker agreed, but re ~inded her that the City is not suggesting that the School Board take out the loan. Ms. Bt rdick said the 237 Loan can be borrowed until the loan is taken out or another funding MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 solurce is designated. Mr. Hukill said that what is done is the issuance of another aulthorization for a 237 Loan. There is more than one-quarter of a billion dollars in the carryover balance. A 237 Loan Authorization for a project of this magnitude wilt not distort that number. A member of the audience advised that that number will drop in the next budget because of iseVeral projects for which there are encumbered carryovers. In looking at June, 1995, the School Board sold $200 million in COPS. A lot of people have a difficult time looking at!the fund balance, and question why miIlage is levied at all. Three years ago, $160 miiliion of the fund balance was tied up in projects. One hundred ten million dollars of it was encumbered for projects that were under construction at that time. All of the funds must be available on the day the contract is let. We have never been in a position to have to !borrow the 237 funds. We were able, by June 30 of any year, to have only encumbered funds sufficient so that the 237 falls off the books. If we went after this by June of 1997, we would have five years to pay it off. 237 is bridge financing. The Board needs to know if '~hey can finance their projects within a five-year period. The Board is capable of making that decision with the City and working it out. Mayor Taylor reminded the members that two-thirds of the COPs money remains that they do not want to touch until their backs are up against the wall. He feels their backs are up a~ainst the wall. There was a commitment made 1o the City of Boynton Beach which has been dragging on for 10 years. The School Board is working hard to build trust in the cclmmunity. The construction of this high school would go a long way in the community in he~lping the people regain trust. Boynton Beach was promised a school and has been patiently waiting for it. This City is committed to supporting the sales tax. We will work hard to get that tax passed. Mayor Taylor feels that when the people understand the situation, they will put their children first. If elected officials and other organizations get behind this tax, it can pass. Mayor Taylor does not feel the tax should be limited to a se~ven-year period. People should be told that a one-cent sales tax is needed to put the education system back where it belongs. Mi. Graham said there is a high school under construction in Royal Palm Beach. Every plan and survey shows that the next high school to be built in the County will be in Boynton Beach. This is a matter of working out the time and financial plans. The School Board ddes not want this high school to be a stand-alone item. They want it to be part of the five to Iseven-year plan in tandem with a referendum. Vi~e Mayor Jaskiewicz feels Mr. Graham's comments are concrete. She is hopeful that we have the word of the School Board that the next high school to be built will be Boynton Beach high school. She takes issue with the remarks that were made relative to emphasis b~ing placed on the elementary schools. She feels the high schools should have the priiorities because the use of portables is more conducive to a self-contained elementary program. ? MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 Mr. Hukill said the way to show that the School Board means business is to put the funding in the Capital Budget now. Commissioner Tillman feels this is an issue of fairness. He pointed out that the high school in Boynton Beach was designated "EEE" while the one in Royal Palm Beach was designated "HHH". The school in Boynton Beach was deleted. He feels that this should nat be an issue because the high school was under the 1986 bond issue. In terms of not issuing any more COPs, a few months ago, $37 million in COPs were issued for Boca Raton. They were not asked to share in the responsibility. The City of Boynton Beach is bending over backwards to make this school a reality. We were in the plan in 1986. He feels it is absurd to put the City in another five-year rotation when we were deleted from the rotation in the past. MS. Gleason said the $37 million in COPs were not new COPs. The School Board had aldeady committed to that issuance. A lot of the money in the 1986 bond issue was used to lchase growth. There is less flexibility in finding solutions to the issues that affect elementary schools versus high schools. High schools can have double sessions. Ms. Gleason said she will not spend any more money on new schools until she sees a funding so!urce for other solutions for school. Boynton Beach is at the top of her list for a new school when new construction is planned. Ms. Burdick advised that if there had been concurrency in 1986, we probably would not have been in this position. We have had tremendous growth in the County. The one-cent sa~les tax will keep us caught up. As elected officials, they have to look to the future. D~. Richmond feels this is a difficult meeting. She feels very obligated because a coimmitment was made. She would like to try to find a way to work something out and fit this project in the budget. At this moment, she is not sure she is comfortable with the 237 Ldan or COPs, but she is uncomfortable with the fact that an obligation was made to this coimmunity that has worked with the School Board and supported the School Board. She asked what the School Board could do to ensure the community that this high school will h~ppen. Mayor Taylor felt Dr. Richmond's remarks were optimistic. He pointed out that if agreement was reached today to build the high school, construction would probably not b~gin until 1997. That construction would not be completed until 1999. If it is put in the Capital Budget, we would be in the next century before we might see a high school. At this paint, Mayor Taylor did not feel any more confident now than he did in 1986 that we will se~ the high school if it is just put in the Capital Budget. M~. Gleason said the School Board has $45 million to spend if they do not get any other funds. She does not have a problem looking for creative solutions, but will not commit part oflthe $45 million when there are greater needs at the elementary and middle school MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 levels. High schools are not where the greatest need exists. COmmissioner Bradley pointed out that the capacity needs exist. All three of the high schools Boynton Beach students attend are at capacity. If you mix that over-capacity issue with the commitment that was made, it is pretty clear. He understands that the School BOard needs to solve more than just Boynton Beach's problems. There are people who say Boynton Beach was promised a high school 25 years ago. The construction of this high school would do a lot to help build the community's confidence in the School Board. He asked if this could be put on the Capital Budget and then use the 237 Loan Authorization and roll it over for a couple of years. It appears that there is no problem with having the loan in place and rolling it over without danger. COmmissioner Titcomb explained that the overcrowding problems in elementary and middle schools are tomorrow's overcrowding problems in the high schools. To find a soilution to the high school is a win-win situation for both the School Board and the City. The School Board can reinstitute the trust that may be missing, and meet its commitments. The mechanism for funding is a matter of working out details. This is needed and the pr¢ssing need is to find out the solution. This issue must move forward. Mayor Taylor realizes that there are problems in the elementary and middle schools. Our children also attend those schools. The City intends to work with the School Board on these problems. We intend to be involved to find solutions to these problems. Again, Bc~ynton Beach has been waiting a long time for a high school, and that problem needs to be corrected. DrL Richmond asked for a clarification of staff's issues of concern. Dr ac of ac b~ mi . Kowal advised that one of the things that is not available is a long-term Capital plan to dress the needs of this community. There are some short-term items set forth. Several the members have said they do not intend to go forward with any other debt until an ditional revenue stream is identified. Another part of this is in relation to where this item s on the list of priorities. Some of the board members feels this is a top priority for them cause it has been a part of the plan. The statement made by Commissioner Titcomb ~st be looked at because a determination needs to be made relative to where the ca aacity issues will be in the next couple of years. The School Board probably has more fie (ibility with the elementary schools. / M~. Gleason said she will not use the 237 Loan or COPs for elementary schools either. There is a very limited pool that is committed for renovations. V~I M r ' k~ w~ zf I 'h I ' ' ' '(~e ayo aas 'e 'c ee s z e c imate is conoucive to passing the one-cent sa~es tax. Inqrder for it to succeed, you have to present to the public a structured construction plan that affects ail of Palm Beach County where the greatest needs exist. The School Board MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 will then get the support that is needed from the community. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz has been reading dissenting views in the newspapers about the sales tax. She believes that we must be united to succeed. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz would like to see the seven-year plan because it is something that will help the School Board regain the public's confidence. At the end of the seven-year period, the public will see whether or not promises have been kept. She is concerned about the concurrency issue. She questioned whether the sales tax and concurrency could be presented separately so that if one fails, both might not necessarily fail. MS. Burdick said that if we could know the optimum time and strategy, they could be put together. A good plan will have to be organized and she is hopeful Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz will be part of the strategy team. City Manager Parker reminded everyone that the City has not given the School Board aniyth~ng ~n writing. She explained that one of the things the City was looking at was to provide a funding source, on a short-term basis, so that once a long-term funding source was identified by the School Board, the School Board would buy the City out. That would take us over the one to three year period it would take to get the long-term funding place in place. Boynton Beach's total General Fund Budget is approximately $31 million. A high school will cost between $30-$40 million. The commitment of the City to go forward with a pledge of our revenue capacity for the school is a serious commitment. This is what is creating concern for the Commissioners because if the School Board did not pay the high school interest, we would not be able to afford the $4-4.5 million annual payment out of our budget. The idea was to provide a revenue source we could use as a pledge to get the high school started. Our bond rating with the guaranteed pledge is a few basis points cheaper for the School Board in terms of interest rates than a COPs issue; thereby saving the School Board interest costs. The City would issue the bonds and the School Board wc~uld pay the principal and interest on those bonds. The construction of the school would begin, and at some point in time when the sales tax or other long-term source is identified, the bonds would be defeased from the City, and the debt would be rolled into the $800 mi!lion, or $900 million as part of the long-term school financing package. MS. Burdick questioned whether sales tax dollars could be used to pay off bonds and COPS. Mr. Gang said the penny sales tax can pay bonds. It would depend on the referendum and how the question is posed. Under the sales tax Statute, it contemplates thC issuance of bonds either by the County or by the School Board. He believes the tax co~ld be used to pay off COPs. There is a comparable 1/2 cent sales tax that the School Board can go to the voters with. He is comfortable that can be used. None of his clients ha~/e passed the penny sales tax; therefore, he has not formally addressed that question. COPs can be paid from any legally-available source that the School Board has. Mri Graham said that if there was to be a turn-key developer funded project and the School ]0 MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 Board owed no payments during the two years of construction, and during that time the School Board was able to review the Capital Budget and downsize it in personnel costs and re-engineer it to free up some funds, by the time of completion, the School Board would be in a better position to enter into a series of annual leases to fund the payments on that type of school. That would have offered an adequate amount of time to reorganize in ;a way that some of the members have been asking the Superintendent to seriously consider. At one of the meetings, there was discussion about making use of sales tax exemption. The School Board estimated that it could save $1 million on the construction of a high school through that use of sales tax exemption. He would like to see variations of ~hat followed up by staff after this meeting. A variation could accelerate the time. The SChool Board could always use the proceeds from a successful referendum to pay that off. Mr. Hukill broke this discussion into three parts: 1. He feels there is consensus on this issue of the need for the high school. Can the School Board fund it? Not everyone has the same opinion on this issue. He feels the School Board could fund it if they really wanted to do it. The third issue is political, and he feels it would be a political gain to go forward with the school. Md. Hukill said concurrency is not new. This Board made a concentrated effort to have concurrency included in 163 and it failed. It was not because of lack of effod. The support was not there with the County Commission and it was not there in the municipalities. The fact that it is going forward now is great, but he has a problem of connecting concurrency wi'~h this school which is only a few hundred yards from 1-95 when the school that took its money is a few hundred yards on the other side of State Road 7. Graham advised that the School Board levies two mills for Capital. The Legislature will not. allow anything more than that. The cities have the luxury of levying 10 mills. The School Board asked the Legislature to raise the ceiling to 2.5 mi~ls, but the bill did not pass. Mri Graham distributed a handout and asked for the City's support in lobbying the Legislature next year to allow a cap of 2.5 mills for the school district. This is worth $25 million in Palm Beach County in one year. Mr. Graham asked if both the City staff and school Board staff could meet again on this issue. Mayor Taylor responded affirmatively. MarYOr Taylor feels this was a good meeting. The School Board is now aware of the C~ty's position. The City has worked to produce ways of generating revenue. He is hopeful the School Board will go back and review the options available and provide us with an answer. We are willing to work with the School Board on this issue, and plan to continue working wit~ the School Board in the future. We would like to settle this issue and move onto the next issue. ]] MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JULY 1, 1996 IV~ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Mr. Norm BIeshman was aresent and made a very brief remark about Channel 5 which was inaudible. V., ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission, the meeting properly adjourned at 5:30 p.m. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH I'l'l'l'~ayor~ ~ /~, i'/ : ~i~e Uay~/ ATTEST: Commissioner Cit~/Cierk g Secretary (TWo Tapes) Commissioner C~,~s~ioner