Minutes 05-20-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Board asks that you fully fund the EDC's request for a $525,000 increase in the Economic Development Department's budget. This investment will bolster our economic future and ensure new revenue streams for our community well into the future." Steve White said that he moved to Chapel Hill in 1997 because of the educational system in Chapel Hill and Orange County. He said that they gladly pay higher taxes if it means keeping education a priority. He said that even small reductions in services will have an impact on students. Lisa Dumain is a parent of a Grady Brown student and PTA fundraising co-chair. She said that she has seen a lot this year in the school and teachers do not have enough money for everyday supplies. She encouraged the County Commissioners to fully fund the education budget as proposed. Jeremy Browner is a resident of Carrboro and he asked the County Commissioners to fully fund the EDC's recommendation of $525,000 to the Economic Development department. He said that Orange County needs to be able to capture some of these businesses that are making their way into N.C. in order to allow for the growth of revenue that has to happen. He urged the County Commissioners to take advantage of this budget cycle and to fully fund the Economic Development department. Joe Barnett thanked the Manager for a budget that fully funds education. He spoke on behalf of Efland-Cheeks Elementary School. Michelle Laws spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP and thanked the County Commissioners for their leadership in advancing progressive policies that promote high standards of living and equitable treatment of all residents and workers in Orange County. Based on the NAACP's Education Committee review of the CHCCS's Recommended 2010- 2011 Budget, they are requesting that the County Commissioners strongly consider the human faces and circumstances behind the numbers. She said that many children and families are already suffering and are very vulnerable. She said that there is no room for additional reductions in critical educational services. She asked that the County Commissioners consider sending back to the CHCCS Board any budget that proposes the elimination or reductions in the items that it has proposed. These specifically include reduction in 3�a 4tn and 5th grade teacher's assistants and a reduction in literacy coaches in elementary schools. She said that the children are depending on the adults to make decisions to protect them from harm. Kathryn Cole is a resident of northern Orange County and a teacher in the CHCCS system. She said that the County needs to continue to support education. She said that the schools appreciated the maintaining of funding this year by the Board of County Commissioners. Jungsang Kim said that he was shocked that 70% of the County's revenue comes from property taxes. He said that the schools have always faced budget shortfalls and the parents try to supplement supplies as needed. He said that his taxes have gone up 20% from 2008-09 to now. He asked the County Commissioners to not let the school systems collapse. James Farrar is the Co-Chair of NAACP in Chapel Hill/Carrboro and he said that he is concerned that the resources in their schools are going to be lost. He requested that the Board of County Commissioners not cut the resources in their community. Heather Benjamin is a resident of Chapel Hill and a parent of children in CHCCS. She urged the County Commissioners to fund the per-pupil funding and to allow the schools to fund capital needs projects. She moved to Chapel Hill because of the schools and she is happy to pay taxes for their schools. Dolly Hunter said that she supports the Economic Development recommendations because this is the best return on investment for Orange County. She said that this must be done to accomplish the EDC's #1 recommendation to install the water and sewer in the Buckhorn/Mebane area. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved this in January 2010. She said that one recommendation of the EDC would be wise, but would not