Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> increased by 35%, and the number of persons reached by the community <br /> education programs increased by 145%. With growth comes increased needs <br /> and services which results in increased cost. Since 1984, the allocation <br /> from Orange County has increased by 5%. She asked that consideration be <br /> given to the increased request in the budget. <br /> 14. RICK EDENS , Minister of the United Church in Chapel Hill and the <br /> President of the Board of the Inter-Faith Council, spoke about the <br /> community shelter. He referred to some information he distributed to the <br /> Board and stated that the community shelter is now housed in the old jail <br /> facility in Chapel Hill. Because of the inadequacy of the facility, a <br /> task force was appointed and has presented a proposal which encompasses a <br /> partnership between the Inter-Faith Council, the Towns of Chapel Hill and <br /> Carrboro and Orange County. This proposal would take care of and house <br /> the homeless and hungry of the community. He asked that the County <br /> allocate a financial commitment for this project. <br /> 15. ALAN CROSS , father of four students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br /> School District, a pediatrician, and co-president of the Estes Hill PTA <br /> spoke in support of the entire budget requested by the Chapel Hill- <br /> Carrboro City School District. He focused on the capital needs stating <br /> that Orange County is growing and buildings need improvement and expansion <br /> conductive to good education. He supports a tax increase. <br /> 16. JACE CUTTINO , mother of three and co-president of the PTA <br /> Council in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, expressed concern with the ability of the <br /> Manager's proposed budget to serve the community. The budget for the <br /> school system will not fund the existing programs. She asked for full <br /> financial support for the continuation budget. She spoke about the low <br /> teacher salary and the difficulty in attracting quality teachers. The <br /> salary for school bus drivers needs to be increased in order to keep <br /> reliable drivers. The support staff salaries are not competitive in the <br /> County. She asked that if all else fails, that the district tax be <br /> increased to meet the financial needs of the schools. <br /> 17. CHARLES BROOKS , member of the Chapel Hill High School Vocational <br /> Advisory Committee, spoke in support of the vocational program at Chapel <br /> Hill High School. He asked that the budget be continued in this area at <br /> the level it has been funded in the past. <br /> 18. MARY SCROGGS spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School <br /> District. She stated that if equalization can not be achieved between the <br /> two systems, that the full amount requested by each system be funded. She <br /> talked about the supplemental tax and stated the purpose for levying this <br /> tax back in 1930 was that Chapel Hill wanted more for their students and <br /> were willing to pay for it. Now they want more and they are willing to <br /> pay for it. She spoke that as an elderly, retired widow, she does want to <br /> pay more tax for the purpose of public schools. <br /> 19. SUE BAKER , Chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, <br /> stated that the Manager' s budget is $81,279 short in revenue for the <br /> continuation budget and has no provision for an expansion budget. She <br /> explained the planning and evaluation process followed by the Board in <br /> setting and determining goals. She explained that programs are evaluated <br /> in terms of how they meet the current needs of the students. A large <br /> portion of the current request is for an increased hourly rate for the bus <br /> drivers. <br /> 20. LISA BERLEY , President of the Board of the Women's Health <br />