Chatham OKs building plan

County commissioners approve construction worth $270 million over five years

PITTSBORO -- The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a five-year construction plan this week to cover a wide range of county and school system needs.

WHAT'S ON THE LIST? The plan includes projects identified by the school system, including some added this year, such as an elementary school in the northeast ($28.1 million), expansion of Northwood High School ($5.5 million) and replacement of gymnasiums at Bonlee, Bennett and Silk Hope schools ($6 million).

It also includes upgrading the county's water distribution lines ($21 million) and expanding and renovating the county's water treatment plant ($15 million), which will include a new filtration system requested by the state.

"The vast majority of the facility projects included in the plan have resulted from rapid population growth in the county over the past 15 years as well as from state mandates," Commissioners Chairman George Lucier said.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? Overall, the total estimated costs for all the projects is just more than $270 million. Several projects, in particular, will cost a lot more than first proposed because construction costs have gone up since they were approved.

The new Judicial Building will cost an estimated $24 million, up from $7 million. A new middle school will cost $26.1 million, up from $18.6 million.

WILL MY TAXES GO UP? It's too soon to tell, Lucier said. The CIP is funded through various county revenue sources, including property taxes and county fees, which are used to leverage borrowed funds for the projects.

The new projects and increased costs require the county to come up with an additional $84.5 million in funding, which Lucier said represents about 7 cents on the tax rate. But the county is getting more property tax revenue, he said, so that doesn't mean it will necessarily have to raise the tax rate by that amount.

Commissioner Carl Thompson said he supports the projects but expressed concern about raising property taxes.

The commissioners will look at ways to reduce county expenses and lessen the effect on property taxes, Lucier said.

Construction of the facilities will begin at various points during the five-year period.

WHERE CAN I READ MORE? Go to www.chathamnc.org to see the entire CIP plan.