Durham Public Schools is asking Durham County for $2.9 million to buy land for two future schools at the county's southern edge.
The money would come from the bond issue voters approved in 2003 and from two-thirds bonds previously designated for the schools' use.
Commissioners will discuss the request at their work session Thursday. The session was rescheduled from Monday due to the weather. County Manager Mike Ruffin is recommending the commissioners hold a public hearing on the item at their regular meeting March 12.
(That meeting is being held on a Thursday rather than the customary Monday because several commissioners will be out of town early in the week.)
The school board approved the $2.9-million offer in January, for a 47-acre tract on Scott King Road, about 3/4 of a mile above the Chatham County line. It would be used for a new elementary school and a new middle school, as proposed in DPS' current long-range plan.
According to the school system, the land's appraised value is $3.1 million. Durham county tax records show it valued at about $860,000. Most of the property is owned by the IUKA Development Corp., which bought it in 1969. Tax records show Durham attorney Nick Galifianakis is another landowner involved.
Two years ago, commissioners rejected a developer's plan to build a 71-homesite subdivision on the land, which is crossed by two streams feeding into a polluted area of Jordan Lake.
A portion of the land is designated a "natural heritage area" on the 1999 Durham County Inventory of Important Natural Areas, Plants and Wildlife.
The schools' proposal has upset some south-Durham residents who opposed the subdivision in 2007.
"If they put two schools in there, it's going to obliterate that site more than any [subdivision] development," said resident Carol Young.
Comments
I'd like to offer DPS my property for 4 x its tax assessment...
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 23:21 — mmr121570Please note that, despite what the County webpage says, this weeks' Board of County commissioners' meeting was moved to March 12 (7 PM, 200 East Main), and this item is not on the agenda (for now)...
But it is still important that people know and weigh in with their concerns over the current situation. DPS (Durham Public Schools) has offered to purchase several environmentally sensitive tracts (on Scott King Road in South Durham) for FOUR TIMES their tax assessed value (tax assessment dated Jan 1, 2009).
I know that properties often appraise for more than their tax assessed values, but four times!!??
DPS is always in panic mode because we need more land for schools and WE NEED IT NOW (yesterday, actually). But their fear of losing a purchase deal should not trump the need for them to spend taxpayer money wisely, particularly in the current economy.
It wouldn't surprise me if, especially in times like these, certain land-owners' agents target gov't agencies like DPS because they expect they will not do (do not have the resources to do) the homework that private developers must do in order to make money.
Durham citizens had hoped that this land might be bought as a conservation easement. It might have cost Durham significantly less if it had been:
Durham Open Space (DOS) HAS to barter for land, because they can't afford to pay more than its worth (they can't afford to pay ANYTHING with this years' $0 budget), and I can tell you that they have gotten land for less than the original asking price. I know of at least one tract for which the owner's agent called DOS with an offer, and DOS took the cautious, 'let's wait and do some homework' route. Later, area residents informed that the land doesn't perk and that it would be very difficult to sell for residential or commercial development, a tid-bit that stands to reduce the asking price substantially.
It seems that, at least in this case, DPS hasn't even thought about the prospect of getting a better price. They are in such a panic to JUST GET LAND.
But that's my money they're spending, and I sure wouldn't pay 4 x the tax assessed value of any property without having a damned good reason....actually, even then I'm sure that my husband would talk some sense into me ;)
Citizens should communicate any concerns about this issue with the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) before the meeting this Thursday night:
commissioners@durhamcountync.gov