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11 <br /> Stop gouging our citizen taxpayers -- cut the spending and borrowing!!!! <br /> Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director, Community Home Trust (CHT), said she is so <br /> appreciative and grateful for the Board of County Commissioners' (BOCC) support, and the <br /> proposed budget that does include funding for the CHT. She said during Covid-19, CHT is still <br /> selling homes. She said CHT has 270 homes in its inventory, and average family income of <br /> CHT homebuyers' is $40,000. She said they are also in the rental market as well, and she <br /> reviewed some of the entities that CHT manages. She said CHT is looking for additional land to <br /> be donated for future development. <br /> Kevin Giff, Community Development Manager for Habitat for Humanity of Orange <br /> County, thanked the Orange County Board of Commissioners for supporting its affordable <br /> housing efforts, and its new ownership and preservation programs. He said Habitat has been <br /> fortunate to be able to continue business during the pandemic. He reviewed Habitat's home <br /> preservation program. He said over half of the owners are over age 65, and the average <br /> homeowner income is $20,000. He said Orange County's funding enables Habitat to support <br /> these homeowners to age in place. <br /> Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board, read the following public comment via email from Kari <br /> Hamel of Chapel Hill: <br /> Dear Board of County Commissioners, <br /> Thank you to the Commissioners and to the county staff for your efforts during this pandemic. <br /> Your accessibility - particularly in responding to questions, concerns, and suggestions -is noted <br /> and appreciated. <br /> My reasons for writing are two-fold: I am grateful to the current and former Commissioners for <br /> your longtime support and encouragement toward all of the wonderful children in our community <br /> through your generous funding of public education. This commitment continues to be critical <br /> today as an increasing number of households (many with children) are reduced to one or zero <br /> income sources due to this public health crisis. <br /> I encourage you to continue to be forward thinking about generously allocating school-related <br /> funds now as well as to lay the necessary foundation for future years. Certainly, continuing <br /> conversations to ensure all CHCCS custodian are in-house so that they (and their loved ones) <br /> realize the prosperity that comes from receiving a living wage and benefits from their public <br /> employer has my full support. <br /> Secondly, it is out of this same appreciation which I raise my good faith concerns that local <br /> school funding provided by the county has been and remains susceptible to unethical behavior <br /> and misuse as the county's oversight and governance structures may be vulnerable to <br /> exploitation. The seeming design to utilize local funding on at least one problematic contract in <br /> CHCCS known about by the public is just one example. <br /> Perhaps, of some relevance, a county commissioner from another jurisdiction recently <br /> referenced the obligation of the elected board to promote orderly and efficient administration of <br /> county affairs.* <br /> To that same end, here in Orange County, what specific ideas do the Commissioners have to <br /> promote the efficient administration of county affairs by ensuring that the generous local <br /> dollars you allot to the schools are reaching the children and the professional human <br />