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16 <br /> Mia Burroughs thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its support and <br /> courage to do the right thing throughout the years. <br /> Chair Pelissier said that the County Commissioners have asked the County Manager to <br /> come up with a variety of options for tax increases for this year. She said that this Board has <br /> been supportive of education through the recession these past three years. She said that last <br /> year the County made cuts everywhere except education. She said that the State should <br /> provide for education and not the counties. Orange County provides almost half of the <br /> schools' budgets and that is not right. <br /> Chair Pelissier said that she would like to see the graduation rates from both school <br /> systems. The public asks about these things. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners did not decide definitively <br /> in their work session on proposed tax scenarios. She said that she has been concerned about <br /> the older schools for a long time. She suggested starting with the older middle schools and <br /> upgrading these facilities. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that in the last few years they have stopped reporting <br /> Orange County's total effort toward funding education in their budget presentations. He would <br /> like to see this in the budget presentations again. For years, Orange County was number one <br /> in the state for funding education. He thinks that it is important for the public to know this. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that the impact of enhanced revenues for schools is that <br /> the parents of the children eligible for free lunch will have to pay if property taxes are raised. <br /> He suggested looking to the state to raise revenues for local schools. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that the media needs to get the word out about the <br /> reversion of funds from the state, etc. <br /> Superintendent Rhodes said that Orange County currently ranks fourth in per pupil <br /> funding in the state. <br /> Greg McElveen said that there is a spirit of increased collaboration in the region and he <br /> suggested seeking out opportunities to work with UNC to assist in education. <br /> Eddie Eubanks said that there is a systematic attack against public education in this <br /> state, and the public needs to be informed. <br /> 4. Closing Comments <br /> With no further items to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM. <br /> Bernadette Pelissier, Chair <br /> Donna S. Baker, CIVIC <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />