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12 <br /> not want any of that to change. He said he is trying to reconcile how they can without increasing <br /> the taxes to a level that would force citizens out. <br /> Anne Purcell said she and other school board members hear from residents that feel they <br /> are taxed too high and those that have moved out of the county due to affordability. She said they <br /> are aware of this, but they felt they still had to ask. <br /> Commissioner McKee said his concern is that the impact will be felt on the lower wealth <br /> and minority populations disproportionately and he does not want to make this county harder to <br /> live in for those populations. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if all bus routes are covered or if there are absences <br /> caused by lack of drivers. <br /> Danielle Jones said people that are not technically drivers are driving and that is how they <br /> have kept the routes covered. <br /> Rani Dasi said she appreciates the conversation and the care for the community. She said <br /> that the converse impact of not funding the expansion budget would mean not increasing school <br /> counselors. She said that is a critical need in the schools. She said it is a hard choice to make, <br /> and they do not want to push community members out but also do not want to hurt students either. <br /> She said the state does not fund public schools the way they need to. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that given the last five years and all the changes that continue, <br /> he said the angst levels are higher than he ever remembers. <br /> Vickie FornviI le-Feaster said she appreciates sentiment of Commissioner McKee and said <br /> that she is an Orange County resident with family here for generations and while Commissioner <br /> McKee said that he does not want to turn the county into a place that only the wealthy and white <br /> can live, she said it has been that way. She said they are here to speak about what they can and <br /> cannot do for their students. She said that the achievement gaps need to be addressed and not <br /> having the staff needed to educate all the students is harmful. She said they need to have a <br /> broader conversation as two school boards and the Board of Commissioners as to what they can <br /> do to keep the schools healthy and to not tax residents out of the county. She said the minority <br /> population continues to decline. She said they need to find a way to get beyond where they are <br /> now and if they do not look at what they are doing and being intentional with the budgets, they <br /> will find themselves in a deeper hole down the line. <br /> Chair Bedford said next week the County Manager will present his recommended budget <br /> to the BOCC. She said they are trying to look at the full picture. <br /> Slide #9 <br /> Orange <br /> County <br /> Schools <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> -NGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE. <br />