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1 <br /> APPROVED 718125 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> May 20, 2025 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, <br /> 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton, <br /> and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen and Clerk to the Board <br /> Laura Jensen (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below). <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> Chair Bedford made a motion to add an IT demonstration on new meeting equipment after <br /> Item 10. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McKee. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Chair Bedford read the public charge and explained the process for making public <br /> comments. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Aqenda <br /> None. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Aqenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions, and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner Carter congratulated all the recent graduates. She said she would focus <br /> her comments on the federal legislative update she received from NACo. She said the US House <br /> is currently negotiating a budget reconciliation bill, which may be passed this week and then <br /> moved to the Senate. She said there are major provisions that affect counties. She said on a <br /> positive, the proposed bill will preserve tax exemption for municipal bondholders thanks to the <br /> advocacy of NACo. She said it also proposes to increase the volume of tax credits for low-income <br /> housing. On the other hand, she said the proposed bill increases Medicaid work requirements <br /> and shifts responsibility for SNAP benefits and administration to local governments. She said it <br /> would also impose new out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid enrollees, which will increase <br /> uncompensated care in county clinics. She encouraged residents to pay attention to what will <br /> happen with SALT, which may help offset some of the changes to property tax revaluations. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she was able to go to the first meeting as a member of the <br /> Climate Council, and it was informative. She said it was all about heat, which is this year's theme. <br /> She said there is a proclamation on the consent agenda for "Heat Awareness Week". She said <br />