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2 <br />space which maybe the County can help locate. They are spending $600 a <br />month for storage because of inadequate space. <br />Diane Willis, member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro PTA Council, said <br />that Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools asked for a two cent increase in the <br />district tax. This would still only give them two-thirds of the funds <br />they need. The Manager's recommendation of one-cent will not be <br />enough. They have new kids enrolled daily. She asked that the Board <br />of County Commissioners consider putting the two-cent increase in the <br />district tax in the budget. This money will be used to open the new <br />elementary school and the new high school. <br />Tom Waldrop, member of the Orange County Arts Commission, said <br />that they are listed as an outside agency but were actually created by <br />the Board of County Commissioners in 1985 to help promote and encourage <br />the arts and cultural activities in the County. They need more staff <br />assistance. They have part-time staff with no specified number of <br />hours and no guarantee that it will continue. They would like to have <br />a clearinghouse for the arts so that everyone will have access to <br />knowledge about art and cultural activities in the County. He asked <br />that the Board of County Commissioners give him guidance on whether or <br />not they should continue to ask for staff or proceed with contracted <br />services. He also asked if the Arts Commission could be designated as <br />part of the County rather than an agency. He wants them to be <br />designated in a way that does not minimize or influence the impressions <br />of the arts in the County. <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked if the Arts Commission was involved <br />with the art work for the new Southern Human Services Building. Mr. <br />Waldrop said they would be glad to help create exhibition space as a <br />way to include art. They have not heard back from the architechual <br />firm. <br />Chair Carey indicated he would like for the Board of County <br />Commissioners to revisit and make some decisions on funding. He does <br />not feel that the Arts Commission was formed to promote specific <br />artists and needs to understand why being listed as an outside agency <br />is detrimental to their overall purpose. Mr. Waldrop said the design- <br />nation as an outside agency is a problem of perception. <br />Marianne Chomen with the Junior League of Durham and Orange <br />Counties asked that the Board help with funds to continue the after- <br />school program for middle school children. The middle school program <br />has been in place for two years and served 180 children in Orange <br />County and 130 children in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools. She told <br />about the programs they offer and how they were developed and the other <br />agencies that helped. She said that the program is successful. The <br />program was first funded by S.O.S. State funds. The Junior League has <br />contributed $25,000 over the last two years. For next school year, <br />Durham County and Orange County submitted a grant application and <br />