Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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26 1 can keep its promise to its dedicated staff, and revise current taxation practices and institute 2 racially and economically equitable ones so that the burden of the tax increase doesn't fall on 3 the most vulnerable property owners in our community. 4 Thank you for your service to the people of our County. There is so much in our County 5 to be proud of. 6 7 Kim Piracci read the following statement: 8 Hello Commissioners. Some of you already know me as the current Chair of the 9 Commission for the environment. 10 There is an old saying I'm sure you've heard of: "If something's not broken, don't fix it." 11 That old saying can be applied to the distribution of the climate tax. Some of you would 12 like to funnel some of that to the schools for climate projects. I can hardly argue with that. We 13 could never do too much for our schools and our children. 14 Let's consider the method itself on how that money is spent. First, a group of really smart 15 people came up with a vetting process on how to decide who gets the grant money. Then, a 16 group of really smart people, most chosen by the BOCC, gets to weigh in on the projects. 17 They consider, is this project socially equitable? Do the grantees have a proven record 18 of success? How much impact will be made on climate change? Will this group be able to take 19 this money and hit the ground running with it? 20 Are the Commissioners aware that there are currently $300,000. In the county coffers 21 waiting to be spent on solar panels for the schools? This is money the school systems have not 22 been able to get together and spend on solar panels. 23 Then the elected commissioners, get to vote on who will get the money. Ultimately, it's 24 all your decision. 25 As the process stands now, if the school districts wanted to, they could write a grant for 26 all of the money, and potentially receive all of the money. It's true they might be competing with 27 non-profits and local governments, and that's the beauty part of this. The money never becomes 28 a boondoggle. It goes to the organization that can verify that they will do the best possible work 29 with it. 30 Every person in the county benefits when that climate money is spent as wisely as 31 possible. 32 In summary, if something's not broken, don't fix it. 33 34 Brian Link said he is the 2021 District Teacher of the Year for CHCCS. He said he is 35 here to address the amendment filed by Commissioner Hamilton. He said last month he shared 36 a series of four numbers of which he wanted the public to be aware, and asks the Board to 37 closely examine them with respect to the budget: 1) $28 million in ARPA funds were awarded to 38 the County, versus zero dollars allocated to the schools; 2) hundreds of dollars in per pupil 39 funding requested by each school system, just to maintain services, versus no proposed 40 increase under the County Manager's budget; 3) 1% difference between Manager's budget for 41 education, and the historical average for the last six; 4) 2014 is the last year the special district 42 tax was raised, 1998 is the last year the rate was lower than what it scheduled to be for FY22. 43 He said educators are thrilled that Commissioner Hamilton has offered her amendment to 44 assign $3 million of ARPA funds to OCS and CHCCS, and thanked her for her leadership, and 45 expressed support. He said those are just one-time funds, while ongoing needs are recurring. 46 He said CHCCS now has every employee earning a living wage, but if the increased salaries 47 are not accounted for then cuts will eventually have to occur elsewhere to ensure the wages are 48 paid. He said for each of the last six years, the Board has increased the percentage of the 49 County Manager's original quest for education to put it near 50% percent, and he hopes to see 50 the same this year. He said he does not want to take funding away from others, to adequately 51 fund schools, when it is not needed. He said solid revenue projections, low unemployment, and