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PUBLIC COMMENT: Robert Schreiner, Chair of the Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees, was representing the board of trustees and the Chapel Hill Town Council. He thanked the Board of County Commissioners for the continued support of the Chapel Hill Public Library. He asked for increased support for their library and for all public libraries in the County. They would like to reach the same level of excellence of the school support in the County. Last year, the support from the County helped them to circulate 300,000 books and other materials to Orange County residents who do not live in Chapel Hill. He said that the Chapel Hill Public Library continues to lead the State in the annual per capita circulation - 14 books or other materials compared to the State average of 4.4. The cost per circulation is 29% less than the State average. He said that the board has been working far years to relieve the overcrowding of the present facility and provide more space for the collection. In November 2003, Chapel Hill residents voted by a margin of 3-1 to authorize a $16.3 million band to expand the building. The Chapel Hill Tawn Council has agreed to start issuing bonds in 2004-05 and to begin the expansion. He said that the responsibility to pay for the expansion would only be that of Chapel Hill residents. They are asking that the Board of County Commissioners consider an increase in the commitment to the expansion by increasing its annual support to the library. They request an increase in the operational funding level for public libraries to the State average level of funding over the next three years. He asked that the Board also consider additional support to implement projects identified in the Library Master Plan. Michele Rivest, Director of the Orange County Partnership for Young Children (local Smart Start agency), spoke on behalf of working parents that need childcare subsidies. She said that the Orange County Partnership is well aware of the current shortage of childcare subsidies and scholarships in the County for low-income families. Their Board of Directors considers this issue its top priority. They have committed $1.6 million annually to support working families in the community. Despite this support, there have been over 200 preschool children on the waiting list this year. The Partnership has experienced five years of declining Smart Start funds, but the board has maintained its commitment to childcare scholarships. She gave five reasons for supporting working families and young children with childcare subsidies -educational opportunities of children, difficulty in families finding and maintaining employment without subsidies, every $1.00 invested in high quality childcare returns $7.00 in future casts for school remediation and public assistance, quality child care contributes to the economic growth of the County, and the childcare sector is a significant component of the economic infrastructure of the County and State. She asked for County support for this program. Alice White was representing the Board of Health as an at-large member and Chair. She thanked the Board of County Commissioners far ongoing support that enhances the health of the citizens. The support enabled the Health Department to continue to provide services to the most vulnerable populations. For the coming fiscal year, the Board of Health would like to ask for expanded support for children, pregnant women, and teens by authorizing the Health Department to begin offering primary care services for these citizens. The most recent community health assessment completed by the Health Department and the Orange County Healthy Carolinians shows that the overriding concerns of mast of the residents in the County is the cost of getting healthcare and access to adequate healthcare. Nearly 15% of Orange County residents are without health insurance, creating an additional barrier to receiving health services in a timely way. The Board of Health wants to ensure that all children and pregnant women get access to medical care in Orange County. The addition of these services completes