Orange County NC Website
County for parks and recreation, which is 12°~ compared to the rest of the County, which was $719,000. She <br />shared same statistics about day camp enrollment and after-school enrollment. She said that they do not <br />have statistics for Chapel Hill residents versus County residents for the use of parks and recreation facilities <br />during open times for free play, the use of tennis courts and the use of greenways. She said that Chapel Hill <br />residents are providing a large proportion of the funding for parks and recreation services, and they <br />recommend solutions for helping to narrow this gap to provide equivalent parks and recreation services far all <br />citizens in Orange County. <br />Martha Stucker, nurse representative on the Board of Health, thanked the County Commissioners for <br />their support for last year's budget. The addition of an Environmental Health Specialist plus an interpreter <br />was critical for the department in order to meet mandated services to citizens in Orange County. This year <br />they are concerned with the proposed budget cuts from the State. If the legislature goes through with all the <br />cuts, the Health Department stands to lase as much as $165,000 for core services and another $141,000 is <br />at risk for cuts to Smart Start. The department already absorbed $56,379 in cuts this year from the State and <br />Smart Start by increasing productivity, by billing for services, and by cutting expenses. There is nothing left <br />to give. Last year 80°~ of the clinical services provided by the Health Department were to residents making <br />less than 200°~ of the federal poverty level. She asked the County Commissioners to make budget choices <br />that support basic services for residents who have nowhere else to receive basic services. Unless they have <br />the funds to buy educational materials, antibiotics, syringes, and Band-Aids, there is not much point in <br />providing the services. The cost of medical supplies continues to rise. The Board of Health also requests <br />support for two resolutions, which were passed at their meeting at the end of April. These resolutions support <br />increased taxes an alcohol and tobacco products, both areas that directly affect the health and well being of <br />our residents. She asked the County Commissioners to support these resolutions and forward them to the <br />legislature. <br />Pam Anderson, from the Chapel Hill Day Care Center, spoke about education far children birth to <br />kindergarten. In Orange County there are 2,024 children who are in licensed child care facilities. Some of <br />these are poor quality facilities that can be detrimental to the well being of our children. They are very <br />thankful for the County Commissioners' matching funds of $40,000 this past year and hope that this will be <br />continued or increased. The cost of childcare is tremendous. Parents pay over $12,000 a year for infant <br />care. Her center used to provide care to 20% of the children from low-income homes that received subsidies. <br />This year, they have only budgeted for six children who will have subsidies. They want to serve the <br />population, but they cannot afford to. She asked for continued support of childcare programs. <br />Charlene Wade, Director of Wade's Family Child Care Home and Center, thanked Orange County for <br />the matching program because it helped them to maintain enrollment. <br />Kay Swann, owner and operator of Country Kid's Daycare, thanked the County Commissioners far <br />their support of the matching funding program. This helped her to increase her enrollment by two children. <br />She would like to continue in this field, but she is afraid that, without the matching funding, she will not be <br />able to continue. The matching funds program also benefited the parents. <br />Mark David, a graduate student of anthropology at UNC-CH, a representative of the Graduate <br />Employee Union UE-150A on child care issues, and a member of the Chancellor's Child Care Advisory <br />Committee thanked the County Commissioners for the child care subsidy. Every year several dozen <br />students get childcare funding for child care services. He said that this funding is crucial for them because <br />the majority of public voucher funds far Orange Caunty are off limits to students of the University. He gave a <br />report of developments at the University this past year. He asked the County Commissioners to please <br />maintain the current rate of $40,000 for matching funds for childcare services and increase this amount if at <br />all possible. <br />Jack Chestnut, a representative of the Orange County Advisory Board on Aging, said that they were <br />trying to be creative in trying to keep the senior center programs open in the evenings. The area where they <br />are having most difficulty is the Elder Care Program and the Friend to Friend service. He made reference to <br />the Adult Day Care Center and said that they have gotten a contribution from Carol Woods and the hospital. <br />To delay this program would mean that the 18 people on the waiting list may be forced into a nursing home. <br />