Minutes 05-29-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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demographics are changing; economic hardships for many of our residents increase; schools and their staff are called upon to provide not only education excellence and equity, but also deeper engagement in securing the protection and well-being of our increasingly vulnerable children and their families. Orange County has a history of devoting close to half of its budget to the Orange and Chapel/Carrboro School Districts, and at the same time assures a budget that supports the community infrastructure and social services upon which our children, families, neighbors and schools depend. Our elected Commissioners and county leaders are once again called upon to find revenues to fulfill these mighty tasks with a budget that protects our children and the community of adults who are mandated to protect their future and mediate the challenges and struggles they endure. I volunteer and help my children raise my grandchildren in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools, and know the major efforts the School District is undertaking to focus on the classroom and reduce non-essential services. As a social worker and retired teacher, I watch my underpaid colleagues perform and honor their mission. Tonight, we turn to you and urge your consideration of creative and fair methods the County can employ to generate the revenues to help our schools meet their mission and mandate. I urge your decisions continue and amplify: revenues from heightened economic development; taxes that are just and do not burden the least among us; and, like the message we direct to our school districts and town governments, carefully and determinedly look to how we can streamline our County Government, and how we can evaluate and assure the delivery of more efficient and improved services, and review current and projected capital plans. We are all aware that the struggles we face in the current budget season will not be the last. With school and community partners, I look forward to working with all of you and the new County Manager. Miriam Thompson Grandparent, Carrboro Elementary School*** and McDougal Middle School Students CH/C Branch NAACP Education Committee American Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter Co-Convene ** I urge you review the excellent research provided by the NC Justice Center's Budget and Tax Policy Center (www.nciustice.orq) *** See letter and testimony from Carrboro Elementary School's School Improvement Team From: Erika Lipkin Phone Number: 919-584-5518 Message: I am sending this message since I cannot make it to the BOCC meeting tonight. I wanted to voice my support for the funding of the CHCCS budget. Quality schools enhance the area and make people want to live in Chapel Hill, increasing property values, and thus increasing tax revenue. If the budget is not approved, the schools will suffer since they could be affected in attracting teaching talent, and they may have to cut programs that students benefit from. These valuable funds also support the growth that the area is experiencing by enabling new facilities to be built and current facilities to be expanded, so the schools are not overcrowded. Please vote to fund the budget! From: Katie Weber Phone Number: 9199420890 Message: