Minutes 04-01-2025-Business Meeting

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2 example of the price of a bushel of wheat staying the same as in 1974 but the cost to produce the wheat has gone up and farmers make less and less. She said when she drives her kids home from school, they go past a piece of land that used to belong to her great-grandfather. She said he had seven children, and each one received land to farm. She said there are oaks still standing that she used to sit under and do homework while her dad planted but now there are homes, and it is zoned for low density residential. She said they rent land to farm. She said many farmers are grateful for the PUV benefit that allows them to keep making a living from production. She said that property that backs up to her farm hit the market last year at $25,000 an acre. She said that due to urban sprawl and subdivisions taking agricultural land out of production her dad has lost lease after lease of farmable land. She said she understands that everyone wants their own little slice of heaven but at this rate of development, the appeal and charm, not to mention the productivity, will soon be gone. She said that her property increased in assessed value by 177% and she asked the Board to take all of these things into consideration when determining tax rates and values. Steve Mahaley thanked the Board for their service and commitment to the community. He asked the Board to consider the people in the community who do not come from wealth. He said that people in the community who perform service work and deserve their consideration. He said some of these people are often the undocumented. He said the Migration Policy Institute has published data that says that Orange County has over one million foreign born residents and half of those are undocumented. He said that when taxes go up on property, rents go up, often disproportionately. He said he is also talking about teachers, mechanics, farmers, CNAs and construction workers that live in Alamance, Chatham, or Durham County because they cannot afford to live where they work. He said that he taught in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School system in the 1990's, but lived in Chatham County due to cost. He said he moved to Hillsborough and owns an old house in the Historic District. He said he recently retired and lives on a fixed income. He said his house valuation tripled with the reassessment. He said his house is paid off, but he is still required to pay taxes and insurance and that in taxes alone, he may be paying $1,000 a month on a home he already owns outright. He said that $1,000 a month was not in the budget for living expenses and he is not at all against paying taxes. He said he feels it is his patriotic duty to financially support the systems in this community. He asked the Board to consider those that will face a burden when making decisions related to tax. Allison Mahaley thanked the Board for their service and said she appreciates the balancing act they are charged with. She said that while she is the most progressive of progressives, she discussed the aspect of President Trump unleashing Elon Musk to slash and burn of government expenses and noted that while it is dangerous and wasteful, it is not entirely stupid or unwarranted. She said that many are willing to go with the slash and burn tactics because they are so fed up with the government processes. She asked the Board to prioritize common sense and efficiency. She asked them not to raise taxes. She asked the Board to say enough is enough when it comes to expanding government. drive them out of Orange County or block the door that keeps them out. She said to stop trying to take over the tasks that the federal government and state government will not do because it is impossible to do at the county level. She said when heavy tax burdens are placed on low to middle-income people that do not qualify for generous help, but also do not come from wealth, it drives them out of Orange County. She said she wants to trust they will make decisions that prioritize preserving and maybe even increasing the socioeconomic diversity of the county. She said that she does not want to live in a county that is made up of people that look like her or think like her. She said that diversity is our strength. She said there are a lot of smart people in the county who have thought about this and studied it for years. She asked them to think about how to be efficient and use the tax dollars that we already have. Earl Gurganus, a Navy veteran, asked the Board if considering the less fortunate was part of the revaluation process. He said as a third-generation property owner in the county, he is