Minutes 05-17-2018 Budget Public Hearing

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Bonnie Hammersley said she does not recall that conversation, but it is the will of the board to determine what is best at that time. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Board can discuss this question during budget work sessions. Commissioner Price said the previous Manager said such an increase remains, and becomes an embedded part of the budget. Commissioner Burroughs said she does not think the current Board can bind a future Board. Commissioner Jacobs said when the Board passed bonds in 2001, the Board made a pledge to the public to not keep the tax increase once bonds were paid off. He said future Boards were not bound, but Commissioners that adopted the pledge did feel bound. Commissioner Burroughs asked if the Board at that time held to the pledge by dropping the 7 cent tax increase once the bonds were paid off. Commissioner Jacobs said he could not remember. Bonnie Hammersley said there was nothing in the education campaign that addressed this question for the bond. She said the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) can raise and lower taxes at its discretion, whoever it sitting at a particular time. 3. Public Comment Elizabeth Welsby said she has three teens in the CHCCS system, and she thanked the Manager for presenting a conservative budget. She said she is grateful for the funds being put aside for deferred maintenance, but fears it is not enough. She is here to talk about the safety of the students, and some of the expansion budget items are really important for the safety of the students; specifically the middle and high school psychologists. Carlyn Welsby (her daughter) said she is in the 10th grade at East Chapel Hill High School, and has been participating in recent demonstrations against gun violence in schools. She said she is asking the BOCC to stand with the students to support mental health professionals in the middle and high schools. Elizabeth Welsby said she hoped that the BOCC would fund the entire expansion budget, but funding the psychologists is $377,000. She also expressed support for the Compass Center’s request, of which she is part of as well. Cordelia Heaney said she is the Director of the Compass Center, and she thanked the Board for its consideration of the outside agency proposed funding for the Center. She described the services provided by the Compass Center. She said their objective is to serve more residents, and she hoped the Board would increase the Center’s funding this next year. Gillian Hare said she is the Board Vice-Chair of the Compass Center, and she asked for the Board’s support through the $7000 additional funding through the outside agency process. Denise Moody said she works for OE enterprises and thanked the Board for its funding allotment to OE, which provides services to the developmentally disabled. She introduced Aaron, who works at OE. Aaron said he works at OE, and his job is in Durham for two days a week. He picks up trash. He said he likes being outside, and he gets a paycheck every two weeks. Denise Moody read a statement from Aaron’s mom, who shared how OE has been an answer to her prayers; has helped Aaron find a place in the world; and enables her to continue to work full time. Norma White said she represents rural seniors, through the Orange County Rural Alliance (OCRA). She said, as of 2010, there are about 4000 seniors who live in rural Orange County, and they are only reaching about 1000 seniors at this time. She said OCRA’s mission is to keep seniors in their own homes as safely as they want to be, allowing them to age in place. She said OCRA helps seniors with safe homes, nutritional food, social interaction, and access to services. She said many of the residents do not eat good food for a variety of