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students. Why does Chapel Hill ask for less than Orange County and still get 30% more in local funding? Because it has a district tax. But you don't understand the impact of that district tax is to drive down the per pupil amount available for Orange County. It's a flawed funding mechanism and it needs to be changed. And the change needs to be permanent. It can't simply be a campaign promise. I wish it could be, but so far, that hasn't worked. Over the next ten years, Chapel Hill will need to spend $100 million on new buildings. Why should Orange County residents have to pay for their rampant growth? We need to fix the mechanism. Would a district tax do it? We don't have the 20% commercial base that Chapel Hill and Carrboro have. When you get taxed 20 cents, you really are paying 16 cents. And because we're in the same County we will always have to pay catch up based on that district tax in the larger Chapel Hill district. It's important to note that in your presentation tonight you neglected to say that the three-year, five-year, and ten-year scenarios also work in a merged system. It's on page 24 of your report. Sure, we could remain separate but collaborative; each student still carrying his or her small prejudice in their pocket, secure in their particular culture. But what would we be teaching our children? I'll end it. Isn't it time to stop asking how can we fund these systems and instead ask how can we serve every child? Thank you. Ann Hill: My name is Ann Hill. I have three children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district. I also have friends that have kids in the County school district. I would be glad to have my children go to either one, from what I know of them. I've had the pleasure to meet members of both school boards who do not feel that merger is a good idea. I did go to the last merger meeting where Keith Cook had some excellent information about the merger. I do feel that both systems can collaborate much better. I look forward to working with that. I get very concerned about the tax burden that this might put on people. I know that the County people have a lot more people that do not have children, and I think that's reflected in how they do vote for the taxes. I would ask that you look at all alternatives before voting on the merger. I also ask you to look at the different outcomes that would happen. One thing I've not heard tonight is that if this merger does go through, what would be the expected growth in the County. We have been feeling this in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district and have been dealing with this for the last ten years that I've been here. What would that growth be? I would ask you to get those projections out to us. That will play a part, especially on the County students, but on the whole County as a whole. The other question that I haven't seen that I ask you is when is this vote going to take place? I've seen all the public hearings, but I don't know when you're actually going to vote on that. Those are my two questions for you tonight. I really worry for the children about the growth that would come to the County students. I think that that impact has not been even stated or felt. And as a constituent, I would say that we don't have enough information to vote on this yet, to really slow it down, and lick it. I'm not saying one way or another whether it's good or bad, but I think there needs to be more options, especially that growth. After living with it in Chapel Hill, it needs to be looked at. And let's support the children and teachers in the community in the most economical way possible. Thank you.