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26 <br /> progress in this area, yet the county hasn't provided additional funding to support them. It's <br /> time that you do. <br /> Finally, we have Project ADVANCE. Two of you on the commission, Dr. Fowler and Ms. <br /> Bedford, have intimate knowledge of it from their longtime work on the CHCCS school board. <br /> Years ago, our Association repeatedly expressed concerns about how it would be funded once <br /> the grant from the state ran out. The staff who engaged in hours of professional development <br /> on their own time over the course of several years are entitled to the compensation for that <br /> work for the duration of their career in the district. Because this compensation is part of their <br /> salary, as stated by the district in printed and online materials, it MUST be part of the <br /> continuation budget. The local district tax has not been raised in years. Raise it this coming <br /> year so CHCCS can keep its promise to its dedicated staff, and revise current taxation practices <br /> and institute racially and economically equitable ones so that the burden of the tax increase <br /> doesn't fall on the most vulnerable property owners in our community. <br /> Thank you for your service to the people of our County. There is so much in our County <br /> to be proud of. <br /> Kim Piracci read the following statement: <br /> Hello Commissioners. Some of you already know me as the current Chair of the <br /> Commission for the environment. <br /> There is an old saying I'm sure you've heard of: "If something's not broken, don't fix it." <br /> That old saying can be applied to the distribution of the climate tax. Some of you would <br /> like to funnel some of that to the schools for climate projects. I can hardly argue with that. We <br /> could never do too much for our schools and our children. <br /> Let's consider the method itself on how that money is spent. First, a group of really <br /> smart people came up with a vetting process on how to decide who gets the grant money. <br /> Then, a group of really smart people, most chosen by the BOCC, gets to weigh in on the <br /> projects. <br /> They consider, is this project socially equitable? Do the grantees have a proven record <br /> of success? How much impact will be made on climate change? Will this group be able to take <br /> this money and hit the ground running with it? <br /> Are the Commissioners aware that there are currently $300,000. In the county coffers <br /> waiting to be spent on solar panels for the schools? This is money the school systems have not <br /> been able to get together and spend on solar panels. <br /> Then the elected commissioners, get to vote on who will get the money. Ultimately, it's <br /> all your decision. <br /> As the process stands now, if the school districts wanted to, they could write a grant for <br /> all of the money, and potentially receive all of the money. It's true they might be competing with <br /> non-profits and local governments, and that's the beauty part of this. The money never <br /> becomes a boondoggle. It goes to the organization that can verify that they will do the best <br /> possible work with it. <br /> Every person in the county benefits when that climate money is spent as wisely as <br /> possible. <br /> In summary, if something's not broken, don't fix it. <br /> Brian Link said he is the 2021 District Teacher of the Year for CHCCS. He said he is <br /> here to address the amendment filed by Commissioner Hamilton. He said last month he shared <br /> a series of four numbers of which he wanted the public to be aware, and asks the Board to <br /> closely examine them with respect to the budget: 1) $28 million in ARPA funds were awarded to <br /> the County, versus zero dollars allocated to the schools; 2) hundreds of dollars in per pupil <br /> funding requested by each school system,just to maintain services, versus no proposed <br />