Agenda - 09-02-2021; 4-a - Discussion and Appointment for the Vacant Position on the Orange County Board of Commissioners

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8 o As we begin to face the delta wave of the pandemic, we must continue our vigilance and invest in these areas. Furthermore, the pandemic has taken a severe toll on the mental health of our children, our elders and all who are coping with loss. The consequences of unaddressed mental health challenges have a huge and costly long-term impact on society and upon local government services. As a commissioner, I will support efforts we can take now to address these challenges proactively. 5. If you could change one thing about the current county budget, what would that be? Orange County currently holds AAA and AA+ bond ratings. These bonds have been instrumental in enabling critical investments to fund affordable housing initiatives and also to fund general obligations for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County School systems. In our current ultra-low interest rate environment, our county's borrowing power is a strategic asset that has served us well. As a new commissioner, I will support good fiscal practices to protect this asset so that our County is in a position to implement solutions that address our community's needs while assuring a sound county balance sheet. 6. What is your assessment of the county's funding practices with regard to the two school systems? How do you propose the BOCC meet over $300 million in K-12 public schools capital needs? It is crucial that our children have safe, wholesome school facilities and that we are prepared for future growth in our county.As a new commissioner, I will work with my co-commissioners and elected officials in the school boards to understand the highest priority capital needs and to determine immediate actions that can be taken in tandem to begin to address these. 7. Do you support the 1909 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools special district tax? How should it be used? My twin daughters both attended CH-C public schools, and as a resident homeowner in Chapel Hill, we continue to contribute to the special district tax. While they received an excellent education, which continues for many children in town, community members have rightful questions about how to achieve equitable outcomes in our system. As a new commissioner, I would seek to partner with the public school boards to understand concerns that various stakeholders have with the current uses of the special district tax and what changes they may be seeking. If stakeholder interests are not aligned, I would again partner as appropriate with the public school boards to engage public discourse on this tax.