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32 <br /> 1 The burden to redress these cuts falls on Counties and Municipalities and School Districts. <br /> 2 Budgets, after all, are social and moral documents. Along with other faith and civil rights <br /> 3 activists, I have and will continue to join many of you at Moral Monday and other State lobby <br /> 4 events to expose and reverse these immoral practices. Tonight, Moral Monday comes to <br /> 5 Orange County through the budget lens. You are challenged as our elected leaders to <br /> 6 overcome the actions of the General Assembly and make your constituents whole. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 Central to the public hearing tonight will be district school voices that plead for support for the <br /> 9 education environments upon which our children and their families depend. School <br /> 10 demographics are changing; economic hardships for many of our residents increase; schools <br /> 11 and their staff are called upon to provide not only education excellence and equity, but also <br /> 12 deeper engagement in securing the protection and well-being of our increasingly vulnerable <br /> 13 children and their families. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Orange County has a history of devoting close to half of its budget to the Orange and <br /> 16 Chapel/Carrboro School Districts, and at the same time assures a budget that supports the <br /> 17 community infrastructure and social services upon which our children, families, neighbors and <br /> 18 schools depend. Our elected Commissioners and county leaders are once again called upon to <br /> 19 find revenues to fulfill these mighty tasks with a budget that protects our children and the <br /> 20 community of adults who are mandated to protect their future and mediate the challenges and <br /> 21 struggles they endure. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 1 volunteer and help my children raise my grandchildren in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools, <br /> 24 and know the major efforts the School District is undertaking to focus on the classroom and <br /> 25 reduce non-essential services. As a social worker and retired teacher, I watch my underpaid <br /> 26 colleagues perform and honor their mission. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Tonight, we turn to you and urge your consideration of creative and fair methods the County can <br /> 29 employ to generate the revenues to help our schools meet their mission and mandate. I urge <br /> 30 your decisions continue and amplify: revenues from heightened economic development; taxes <br /> 31 that are just and do not burden the least among us; and, like the message we direct to our <br /> 32 school districts and town governments, carefully and determinedly look to how we can <br /> 33 streamline our County Government, and how we can evaluate and assure the delivery of more <br /> 34 efficient and improved services, and review current and projected capital plans. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 We are all aware that the struggles we face in the current budget season will not be the last. <br /> 37 With school and community partners, I look forward to working with all of you and the new <br /> 38 County Manager. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Miriam Thompson <br /> 42 Grandparent, Carrboro Elementary School*** and McDougal Middle School Students <br /> 43 CH/C Branch NAACP Education Committee <br /> 44 American Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter Co-Convene <br /> 45 ** I urge you review the excellent research provided by the NC Justice Center's Budget and <br /> 46 Tax Policy Center (www.nciustice.org) <br /> 47 *** See letter and testimony from Carrboro Elementary School's School Improvement Team <br /> 48 <br /> 49 <br /> 50 From: Erika Lipkin <br /> 51 Phone Number: 919-584-5518 <br /> 52 Message: <br />