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27 <br /> increase under the County Manager's budget; 3) 1% difference between Manager's budget for <br /> education, and the historical average for the last six; 4) 2014 is the last year the special district <br /> tax was raised, 1998 is the last year the rate was lower than what it scheduled to be for FY22. <br /> He said educators are thrilled that Commissioner Hamilton has offered her amendment to <br /> assign $3 million of ARPA funds to OCS and CHCCS, and thanked her for her leadership, and <br /> expressed support. He said those are just one-time funds, while ongoing needs are recurring. <br /> He said CHCCS now has every employee earning a living wage, but if the increased salaries <br /> are not accounted for then cuts will eventually have to occur elsewhere to ensure the wages are <br /> paid. He said for each of the last six years, the Board has increased the percentage of the <br /> County Manager's original quest for education to put it near 50% percent, and he hopes to see <br /> the same this year. He said he does not want to take funding away from others, to adequately <br /> fund schools, when it is not needed. He said solid revenue projections, low unemployment, and <br /> soaring property values allow the funding request to be achieved by merely keeping the rate per <br /> $100 on property taxes, what it was before the recent adjustment. He said 600 signatures of <br /> Orange County residents, voters, and workers obtained in 72 hours in full support of this <br /> statement and requests. He said residents are clear that they want schools funded first. <br /> Melissa McCullough said she is chair of the Orange County Climate Council, and is <br /> speaking tonight for the Orange-Chatham group of the Sierra Club. She said climate change is <br /> a crisis, and there is not a lot of time to address it. She said the climate tax is there to get real <br /> greenhouse gas emission reductions. She said she can support intent of Commissioner <br /> Fowler's proposal, based on her comments, but wants to stress the importance for keeping the <br /> selection process. She said climate action at schools is unimportant, but they do already have <br /> $300,000 of first year funds which have not been spent, and that is a lost opportunity. She <br /> emphasized the important of the selection process, which shows the capacity of the applicant <br /> and whether they can get the work done. She said the selection process also looks at how <br /> quickly the applicants can get the work done. She said that is really important, as giving the <br /> unrequested money to school system without a project selection, without a project plan, without <br /> designated staff, and without a project budget will lead to the money sitting unused instead. <br /> She said a responsible use of the funds would require the school to plan and prepare so that <br /> they can have a successful project. She said if the Board wants the County and schools to get <br /> more projects, direct County staff to help develop more projects and give the schools help to do <br /> so. <br /> Amelia Covington urged the Commissioners to leave the climate tax grant process as it <br /> is, and therefore continuing to allow schools to apply for grants. She agreed with Kim Piracci, <br /> and said she wants to ensure the funds from the tax are going to equitable and thoughtful <br /> projects, and the current selection system does just that. She said she appreciates the climate <br /> tax and wants to express support for continued local climate action. She said, as a young adult, <br /> she is deeply concerned for her future and for future generations and if bold actions are not <br /> taken, we are in for climate catastrophe. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to <br /> close the public hearing. <br /> Roll call ensued <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />