Orange County Commissioners were briefed on Thursday night about the county’s ability to carry various amounts of debt, as plans to put a big bond package before voters in 2016 begin to take shape.

“If it was the Board’s pleasure to say, ‘Clarence, try to figure out a way to issue $200 million, $250 million,’ we would try to do it,” said Clarence Grier, assistant county manager and chief financial officer for Orange County.

Grier told the Board of Commissioners that whatever amount they may choose to borrow, he would find a way to pitch it to the Local Government Commission for approval.

In his presentation, he listed some reasons to feel confident about debt capacity. Orange County is one of only eight counties in North Carolina with a AAA rating.

Over the past year, Orange County has been talking about the possibility of a bond referendum in 2016.

Two priorities that have been discussed recently – a new $30 million jail in Hillsborough, and Middle School # 5 for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District – add up to $73 million.

Orange County Schools anticipates the need for an eighth elementary school in fiscal year 2021-22.

Additionally, both school systems need repairs at older facilities.

The county started with $100 million when the discussion about a bond referendum began more than a year ago.

Since then, said Grier, he’s received a lot of communications from interested parties that wish to have their projects included.

One of those, Durham Technical Community College, is asking for an additional building on the Orange County campus.

Commissioners Chair Barry Jacobs said that may be premature.

“I don’t think Durham Technical Community College is ready for us to give them money, until we have a strategic plan for their property, and their purposes,” said Jacobs.

Grier told Commissioners that the LGC has already given preliminary approval for $100 million. But he estimated that the county could afford to add at least $25 million to that. And he laid out scenarios for making even bigger amounts feasible.

Perhaps working with a new, higher number that Grier and others will take to the LGC, an advisory task force appointed by the Board of Commissioners will set priorities for a bond package that can be presented to voters.

The referendum will be discussed more at a joint meeting between the commissioners and the school boards for Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro on Sept. 30.