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the Special Olympics coordinator position. He said that this is the largest community-based program in the State. They are asking that the County Commissioners get behind this program that has proven itself year after year. Chair Carey said that Orange County believes that Special Olympics of Orange County is important and the County Commissioners have asked staff to work with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to make this program a truly collaborative approach with all of the governments participating. He asked the Manager to give an update. Jahn Link said that they understand and appreciate the proposal from the Town of Chapel Hill in terms of appropriating funding for this position. However, the County and Carrboro have been working with Chapel Hill staff on another alternative, which involves the staff that has specialty background in this area. He said that they have been sincere in working with the Chapel Hill staff on directly providing staff support. Judy Mathias is employed part-time by Orange County Department on Aging with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. She is also President of the Band Boosters at C. W. Stanford and is also an active parent volunteer at the Orange High School Marching Band program. She has also worked with Cameron Park's PTTO and with the PTSA at C. W. Stanford. She spoke on behalf of her children in support of the OCS Board's budget. She asked the County Commissioners to fully fund the school board's budget. She said that the money raised far the marching bands is just to maintain what they have. Orange High School's Marching Band has increased by 30 students this past year and is expected to grow by 30 mare students next year. Each uniform costs $350 and the marching band tuition is $200, which is one of the cheapest in the area. If their budget is cut, then the tuition would have to be raised and children could not afford to be in marching band. Laura Dudley spoke on behalf of the Ephesus Road Elementary School Governance Committee. They strongly urge the County Commissioners to fully fund the proposed CHCCS and OCS budget of 2005-2006. They ask that the County Commissioners work toward the funding equity in a manner that helps both school systems. Failing to fully fund the budgets as proposed would result in an overall reduction in the quality of education for all children in the community. The statement was signed by all 14 members of the SGC. Laura Dudley then spoke for herself and asked the County Commissioners to give the residents of northern Orange County the opportunity to vote on the district tax. She said that the difference in resources and educational opportunities afforded to the CHCCS students is a direct result of the funds generated by their district tax, which OCS does not have. She was surprised to learn that the residents of northern Orange County have never been given the opportunity to decide whether or not to have such a district tax. She asked for a chance to vote on a district tax on the next available ballot. Mark Peters said that the County Commissioners should decide how to address the funding inequity of the schools - a countywide supplemental tax or an OCS district tax. He said that twice last year Commissioner Gordon put forth a proposal to start working on this difference in taxation, and there was never a second. Maybe this could be considered this year. He said the problems that elementary teachers are having concerning planning time are going to get worse this year with the implementation of the new calendar. If the teachers also lose their teacher assistants, then their ability to provide differentiated instruction will be negatively affected. He has also spoken with staff members that provide gifted and exceptional instruction who have been told to look for jobs. He is very troubled by this. He asked the County Commissioners to exercise due diligence in understanding what is required to maintain the current adultlstudent ratios that Dr. Madeline Grumet used in her study of the districts. The Manager's proposed budget would result in a loss of critical teacher assistants. He is also curious as to why the percentage of the budget spent on the schools has gone down several