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Lynn Lehmann read a prepared statement. "I am a parent of two children in the Chapel HilUCarrboro City School District. I am currently a member of the Carrboro Elementary SBC and PTA, the Chapel Hill High School PTA, the school district's PTA Council, and I am the incoming President of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro's Public School Foundation Board. I am here tonight to ask the Commissioners to please rework the County Manager's recommended budget and to approve the superintendent's request for a fully funded school budget. With each year that we are faced with this situation, I wonder why we are continuously challenged to provide the money for services to all children of both the Orange County School District and the Chapel HiIltCarrboro School District. I do realize that there are issues that are beyond the control of local government, but as we repeat this process year after year, I believe there is one factor that is undeniable and that is the citizens and officials of this county have a social responsibility to provide funding for each generation of those in need of services...including quality educational services. It is true that our local student population continues to grow, new schools are opening, new teachers must be hired, and the cost of simply existing and getting the bills paid is increasing each year. However, the County Manager's recommended budget does not allow the school districts to meet those obligatory casts. The Manager's recommendation could do harm to our students by reducing funds and causing the school boards to cut staff, programs, and services that are critical to the success and personal growth of students. I understand that there are complexities with your task; politics; fairness; a list of "have- to's"that must be prioritized. But this is a matter of putting the value of education first; of putting our children first. Please make a statement that education is your first priority in our County. It is the responsibility of this generation of leaders to provide for the next generation of citizens and leaders. Funding our school districts is something that we should not have to fight far each year. It should be that important to citizens and elected officials to make it the number one budget priority. So, I ask that you reconsider the County Manager's recommendation for school funding and that you fully fund the school superintendent's requested budget for our children. Thank you." Carole Andrews said that she has a daughter finishing up her first year at Stanford Middle School and she spent the year in a small, cramped room with poor air circulation and where everyone was basically on top of one another. She said that this school should have been upgraded a long time ago. She said that the students are denied hands-on science labs because of na water and the science resources are limited. She is tired of the double standard that exists between the two school systems. She appreciates the committee, but it goes on year after year. She asked the County Commissioners to please give the OCS what has been asked for. She said that if the County Commissioners have concerns about money allotments, then they should come and visit the schools and see far themselves the problems that exist. She said that there was an article in the Chapel Hill Herald this past week about redoing tracks at a middle school in Chapel Hill. She said that Stanford is the only middle school in the County that does not even have a track or a regulation playing field. Students have to use the car rider circle or bus parking lot to walk around. She said that the Board of County Commissioners is the gatekeeper of funding and is a significant part of the future of the children. Bill Kaiser is a member of the Commission for the Environment and said that on May 3, 2005 the Board of County Commissioners approved the water resources initiative in principle without funding it. He said that the Commission for the Environment urges the County Commissioners to fund the initiative by hiring aHydro-geologist to work in the Environment Resources and Conservation Department. He said that ERCD is the lead department for developing the natural and cultural systems element of the comprehensive plan, which includes the water resources component. He said that the proposed Hydro-geologist position is critical to implementing the initiative. This person could advise the County on drought, flooding,