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Ben Lloyd said that times are tough out there and he tries to live within his means. He <br /> said that Orange County has been living beyond its means for too long and now it is out of <br /> money. The County is now asking employees to take cuts and furloughs. He said that if the <br /> County had economic growth, it would have had more money. He said that Orange County <br /> residents are hurting and several thousand people attended tax revolt meetings. Over 5,000 tax <br /> appeals were filed due to the revaluations. He said that he had 11 solicitations from good <br /> causes in his mail yesterday, but the money is not available and so he has had to say no. He <br /> said that Orange County is going to have to prioritize and scrutinize like never before. He said <br /> that the County should fund schools and law enforcement up front. Orange County does not <br /> have a credit card, but only a money tree. <br /> Giovanni Reyes lives in Richmond Hills and he asked the County Commissioners to <br /> reduce the water and sewer rates. He said that he lives in a Habitat for Humanity community. <br /> He has a wife and one child and another one on the way and he works in the construction <br /> business, which is slow right now. Many of his neighbors are here tonight but this increase <br /> would hurt them all and they are on limited incomes right now. He is paying $70 a month now <br /> for water and will end up paying $120 a month soon. <br /> Janace Johnson is a resident of Richmond Hills in Efland and asked the County <br /> Commissioners to reconsider the water rate increase because this is a low-income community. <br /> Kyle Winters said that he hopes the children of Orange County are not going to suffer in <br /> these down economic times with the decrease in school funding. <br /> Marie Ramirez asked the County Commissioners to not increase the water rates in the <br /> Richmond Hills community. This is a low-income community and some of them only work 3-4 <br /> days a week. She asked the County Commissioners to please put the rates at a price that they <br /> can afford. <br /> Camille Coleman is a junior at Orange High School and she lives in Richmond Hills. <br /> She said that this is a community with a lot of children. She said that there is an 85% failure <br /> rate for the septic systems. She said that there is concern that the children will get sick from the <br /> septic systems. <br /> 4. Adjournment <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br /> adjourn the meeting at 8:21 PM. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Valerie Foushee, Chair <br /> Donna S. Baker, CMC <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />