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this, and he also agrees that public libraries are strong and critical partners in that excellence. He said that five new schools have been built and another is being built, with no expansion of the public library. This is a large disproportion and a problem. The Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees does not want to lase ground in the excellence it has achieved and it requests that the County provide additional support when it can. Aaron Kendall said that two years ago he came to a Board meeting and talked about Cameron Park Elementary Schaal. He asked the County Commissioners to fund a Spanish teacher, and they did it. He thanked them for this. He asked for everyone in support of Orange County Schools to stand. He said that schools really need teacher assistants and he asked that all of them be kept. He said that the specials also really make adifference -art, music, computer, media, and P. E. He asked the County Commissioners to please fund the budget as requested for OCS. Faith Nager spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission. They are glad that the County voted to approve band referendums in 1997 and 2QQ1 to help develop parks and recreation facilities in Chapel Hill. To date, the money from these bonds has been spent at Scroggs Elementary School athletic field, Homestead Park, and planning for phase I of the Southern Community Park. Operations and maintenance of all of these facilities will be the responsibility of the Town. She also thanked the Board of County Commissioners for contributing $1QQ,QQQ toward the completion of the $1.4 million project at the Hargraves Community Center. She said that they do not believe the current County contribution to the Town is equitable in lieu of non-Town resident use of Town constructed and maintained amenities. Based on the County Manager's recommended budget, the per capita contribution the County may provide the Town of Chapel Hill next fiscal year is less than the County's contribution to the Town of Carrboro. The County's contribution to run the facilities is just 3.6°k, but the non-Town resident participation is 1Q%. The 1Q% participation figure does not include use of parks, greenways, or gym and pool use during free play. She made reference to the Special Olympics of Orange County and noted that over 35°~ of the 23Q+ athletes and 10Q+ volunteers who participate in Special Olympics are Orange County, non-Town residents. By policy, Special Olympics programs cannot charge user fees, and the Tawn of Chapel Hill is the only public sponsor of this program. They welcome the offer for staffing assistance by both Orange County and the Town of Carrboro and will work with them to continue this model Special Olympics program. Tom Konsler was representing the Orange County Employee Relations Consortium. He asked the County employees that were present to stand. He said that, with no glamour or heroics, Orange County employees work with trash and garbage every day from area residents and businesses, making sure it is handled safely and appropriately. When there are serious communicable disease threats such as SARS, meningitis, and other viruses, Orange County employees are there late at night and on weekends making sure control measures are in place to protect the population. Orange County employees are also there during natural disasters. He said that the employees are the heart and soul of Orange County government. He said that these are the same employees who have received only a 2°~ cost-of-living adjustment in the past three years, although the cost of living has skyrocketed. There have also been no in-range salary increases in the past three years. He urged the County Commissioners to support the Manager's pay and benefit recommendations in full. Tam Metzguer is an OCS parent and an OCS employee for 2Q years. During these years, his daughters have gone from kindergarten through 12t" grade in the school system. He is a school psychologist, and he has seen the impact first hand of unfunded needs. He said that without full funding of the proposed school system budget, the