Minutes - 20090526 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

loans for qualified school construction. He said that it is a great time for capital projects. He asked the County Commissioners to use these funds for the completion of the high school. Serena Fenton has a child at Carrboro High School that is into the arts and is a jock. She said that they still need an auditorium and the arts wing and not an arts-on-a-cart program. She said that there is no place for kids to gather, etc. The CHCCS has moved this project to the funding list. Joann Michell distributed a petition about the Efland Sewer rate increase. She said that the customers have been working together to express concerns about the rate increase and the inadequate system. There have been several meetings of homeowners of US 70, Ashwick, and Richmond Hills. She said that the residents need the Board of County Commissioners to address the system and its shortfalls. They realize that there will be a rate increase, but it should be reasonable and fair. The proposed increase will be the third highest in the State. The recommendation of the residents is to extend the time up to 20 years to cover the cost of financing the system through bonds, grants, and financial resources. The 213 customers cannot afford to pay for this. She read the concerns listed on the petition. Antonia Cortes spoke against the sewer rate increase. She said that her parents cannot afford these new rates. They live in a Habitat for Humanity community, her parents are living paycheck to paycheck, and it is very hard. She said that her community is together in this. She said that this is unfair and they cannot afford this increase. They have lived here for seven years and there has been no mention of the increase in that time. Virginia Sprague is a local business owner. She spoke on behalf of the Carrboro Branch Library. She uses the library for business research, computer usage, etc. She said that the community aspect of the library is very important. She said that there are many families that cannot afford books and access is very important. She said that the arts wing is also important, as well as the Efland Sewer. Earl McKee lives in the Caldwell community. He said that the situation facing the Orange County budget is not unique. He said that reductions in sales tax revenues and fees from the State should force the reduction in spending. He said that for many years cuts have not been a priority for Orange County officials. He said that increases in spending are almost to be expected here. He said that if an effort had been made over the past few decades to attract retail business to Orange County, he does not think that it would be facing this shortfall as projected in the proposed budget. He said that the short-sighted focus on limited business growth has caused Orange County to become over-dependent on residential property tax revenue to fund County operations. The recent proposal to ban drive-through windows in new business operations in the County is an example of this mindset, which must change in order to attract new companies in Orange County. The resulting tax base would provide relief for homeowners. He said that the Manager's Recommended Budget recommends a decrease in spending of$5.4 million, even though only six weeks ago, a revenue shortfall of$8 million was expected. He sees no reason why the Board should not reduce expenses by $8 million. He said that the additional spending cut of$2.6 million would allow the Board to reduce the tax rate from 85.8 cents to 84 cents. He believes that the County has reached a crossroads in which it must choose between funding any and all requests or provide for the needs of the residents of Orange County. Heidi Perry said that it is a tough year in Orange County. She said that priorities should be in education and in health, which includes schools, health, and libraries. She said that libraries serve the education and the mental health needs of a community. She made reference to the comment that opening the new library would not require the hiring of any new staff because they would be coming from the closed branch libraries. She finds this very misleading because it implies that there is no cost to the County. She said that there is a huge cost to the citizens of Carrboro and Cedar Grove. She said that closing two libraries should not even be on the table.