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21 <br /> Library. He said that he wants to mention again that this is an ongoing expense outside of <br /> construction. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said she looked at the CIP to try to find projects, but there is not <br /> flexibility in it without additional debt capacity. She asked what the current cost is per parking <br /> spot. <br /> Travis Myren said $48,000 per spot. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said she supported the parking deck a year ago when it was not <br /> this much. She recalled that Commissioner Fowler tried to get the Board to decrease parking at <br /> that point and she wishes she had listened. She said she cannot justify $48,000 per parking <br /> spot when there are so many other critical county needs, including supporting RENA and <br /> affordable housing. She noted that every year since she has been a commissioner, the Orange <br /> County Partnership to End Homelessness asks the Board for less than $2 million to address <br /> community needs, and additional money has not been budgeted. She said that they were able <br /> to receive COVID federal funds and those were used to start the street outreach team. She said <br /> that team has been very successful but that because the federal funds were a one-time <br /> allocation, those positions will expire on June 301h. She said that when they go over in Capital <br /> and don't raise taxes, the debt services have to be reduced at operating. She said that at the <br /> county level, the Link Building was condemned because of mold and still needs to be taken <br /> down. She noted that CARES money has all be spent and ARPA money will be used for <br /> broadband. She said that the behavioral health crisis center needs the service now. She said <br /> there is $50,000 for sustainability projects in the capital budget — but for climate that is not very <br /> much. She said the money that is already spent is sunk costs and that is not how to make a <br /> decision going forward. She said she does not see the capital reserve covering the costs. She <br /> said that she does not see the parking spots rising to the need to spend $48,000 per spot. She <br /> said this is a wonderful project, but the county has greater needs. She said they did not give <br /> employees raises two years ago. She said that they did not do a raise in the per-pupil spending. <br /> She said that the children have gorgeous libraries at school, so they do have those books to <br /> take home during the day. She said she won't be supporting this project at this point but thinks <br /> the county can still work with Carrboro to get additional library services there. She said she <br /> does not believe the building is doable at this point. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said it is hard being a commissioner and to weigh all of the <br /> needs of the county. She said she thinks about those who are most vulnerable in the county, <br /> and there are a lot of residents who fit that. She said she has been passionate about the capital <br /> needs of schools, and there are old schools that are not safe anymore—it is more than just <br /> school repairs. She said the schools that have the open campuses, like Estes Hills, were once <br /> wonderful, but now are no longer safe. She said it would take millions of dollars to address <br /> these issues. She said children are on the list of the most vulnerable. She said that if the school <br /> environment that helps them learn then that impact will roll on for years. She said that the <br /> community has failed many children because they have not addressed the capital needs. She <br /> said now that schools are not expanding, it is the time for the community to commit to spending <br /> money on decent schools. She said that cannot be done without millions of dollars and making <br /> tough choices. She said another important potential project is the Crisis Diversion Facility for <br /> residents who are experiencing mental health crises. She said this will keep people out of jail <br /> and it will keep those who are suicidal out of emergency rooms. She said this is a need that the <br /> county does not have in the CIP and will be millions of dollars. She said that they need to make <br /> hard choices. She mentioned the current events in Ukraine and the unknowns. She asked how <br /> that will impact the future and citizens will have the ability to pay for taxes if the county needs to <br /> raise the. She said that as an economist, one of the first things they teach them is about sunk <br /> costs. She said in behavioral economics there is discussion on how people want to continue to <br /> follow through on projects because of the invested time, money, and energy without regard to <br />