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17 <br /> 1 Commissioner McKee asked if either district has been notified of federal cuts. He asked <br /> 2 what the districts consider a probable loss vs. a possible loss. <br /> 3 Rhonda Rath said OCS has lost a $30,000 grant that helped get local produce into the <br /> 4 menu at the schools. She said they are already looking at how to mitigate that so there is no <br /> 5 impact to menus or lunch prices. She said that a probable loss in Title I is 15-20% as well as 15- <br /> 6 20% in special education. <br /> 7 Jonathon Scott said CHCCS has not received any notification of cuts. He said they have <br /> 8 discussed reductions and for years there has been talk about eliminating Title I funding, so that <br /> 9 would likely be where they would start. <br /> 10 Vice Chair Hamilton thanked the districts for their presentations and for their proactive <br /> 11 work anticipating possible cuts and making plans. She said that the county will also be facing <br /> 12 similar budget cuts from federal dollars. She said those are hard and they will all need to be <br /> 13 flexible and aware of how they will respond. She said that echoing Chair Bedford, it is a difficult <br /> 14 position to be in as a county commissioner because they want to invest in the children and provide <br /> 15 services for the most vulnerable in the community, but they are also aware that they can't just <br /> 16 raise taxes to do that or bring in a big company that could bail them out. She said they are going <br /> 17 to look at everything. She said there are forces at play larger than what the county can control. <br /> 18 She said they need to focus on the basics by investing in people and the infrastructure that <br /> 19 supports people. <br /> 20 Chair Bedford asked if they would see what the county's potential federal cuts might be. <br /> 21 Travis Myren said $20 million in federal funding flows through the county budget. He said <br /> 22 that some does support positions directly. He said they also support housing choice vouchers that <br /> 23 flow through the Housing Department to residents in the form of housing vouchers. <br /> 24 Chair Bedford asked if the federal government cuts Medicaid would additional money be <br /> 25 lost. <br /> 26 Travis Myren said there is about $230 million in federal funding that provides direct <br /> 27 benefits to residents of Orange County. <br /> 28 Chair Bedford said to call senators every week and to keep speaking out at state and <br /> 29 federal level. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 3. Group Discussion and Collaboration <br /> 32 Chair Bedford asked Commissioners and members of the Boards of Education to think <br /> 33 about some topics for conversation and collaboration between the elected bodies that they are <br /> 34 not normally able to have. She said their joint meeting in the spring is typically limited to budget <br /> 35 discussions, but there is opportunity at the September joint meeting to dive deeper into other <br /> 36 topics. <br /> 37 Riza Jenkins asked when the budget public hearings will be held. <br /> 38 Travis Myren said they will be held on May 13th and May 29th. <br /> 39 Laura Jensen said they will be held at Southern and Whitted, respectively. <br /> 40 Chair Bedford said the deadline for budget amendments is noon on May 28t". She said <br /> 41 the budget will be adopted on June 17th, but the decisions are made at the previous meeting when <br /> 42 the Board approved the Intent to Adopt. She thanked the school districts for their presentations. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 The Board recessed the meeting for 10 minutes at 8:33 p.m to allow school board <br /> 45 members to exit the meeting room. The Board reconvened at 8:43 p.m. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 4. Board of Commissioners' Closed Session <br /> 48 <br /> 49 A motion was made by Vice-Chair Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to enter <br /> 50 into Closed Session pursuant to G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(3) "To consult with an attorney employed <br />