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indicated that part of this support is based on the ability to level the District Tax. The approval of the equal funding plan has relieved anxiety on the part of the citizens. She spoke in favor of a District Tax that would allow all Orange County citizens to contribute to our schools. She indicated that the plan offered by the Board of Commissioners needs to do more than offer minimal funding for the schools to the exclusion of expansion. Mr. Michael Hummiston, a student at UNC and a resident of Carrboro, spoke in opposition to the user fee proposal for EMS services. He felt it was a financially unsound proposal. He stated that it was an effort to balance the budget on the backs of those who could least afford it, the poor, the sick and the dying. Mr. Robbie Smith, a citizen and lawyer in Chapel Hill, spoke in opposition to user fees for EMS service. He believed that the focus should be on how much is being saved by the volunteer service. Each squad owns a building with a combined value of approximately 1 million dollars. They have contributed 8 ambulances which is a value of $85,000 each; two wreck trucks which cost $75,000 each; two chase cars, one boat, supplies, insurance on buildings, training costs, uniforms are also provided to the squads by private donations. He also asked the Board of Commissioners to keep in mind how much is saved in labor costs by the volunteer workers. Ms. Joyce Brown spoke in opposition to what she feels are unnecessary tax increases. She questioned the process of the Public Hearing which she felt was a mere formality not a real democratic process. She also indicated that her belief is that many of the programs of the past were unnecessary. She spoke in favor of funding for the Carrboro Farmers Market and similar projects. She mentioned that the two largest land owners in Orange County do not pay any taxes and that this inequity needs to be addressed. Mr. Lloyd Senter, one of the founders of the South Orange Rescue Squad, spoke in opposition to charging user fees for EMS services. He asked the Commissioners to consider how much it would cost to replace the volunteers with paid staff, as well as the cost of purchasing the squad buildings, etc. Ms. Chris Nutter, a member of the Orange County Board of Social Services, spoke in support of the Youth Services Coordinator. The Social Services Board is in agreement that this position is needed. Mr. John Schaeman, the President of the Orange Federation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the proposal to equalize funding between the schools. The fact that the County cannot afford to finance any of the $900,000 requested by the Orange County School System for expansion programs is a clear indicator of how important it is to equalize the funding. He encouraged Northern Orange County residents to speak in favor of a countywide school tax. Mr. Bobby Green state that in behalf of both rescue squads he was presenting the Commissioners with petitions in opposition to the proposal to charge user fees for EMS services. The total number of signatures was 4,900. He indicated that the volunteers share the Commissioners concern with fiscal problems and they are willing to work with the Commissioners to solve them. However, the desires of the volunteers needs to be taken into account. Mr. David Baird, a citizen and teacher, addressed the issue of the $10,000 recommendation to fund the Orange Chatham Comprehensive Health Service. His specific