Agenda 08-26-2025; 8-a - Minutes

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3 1 available to ensure greater vertical equity and ensure commercial property values are equitable 2 when compared to residential. She said she respects colleagues that have proposed 3 amendments to lower the tax increase, but believes getting the tax valuations right is the most 4 appropriate means of ensuring vertical equity. 5 Vice-Chair Hamilton thanked everyone who has come to a public hearing, written, and 6 commented on the budget. She said the last Budget Work Session will be on Thursday, June 5t" 7 where the Board will approve an Intent to Adopt Resolution. She said according to state law, the 8 County Manager recommends a budget, and commissioners can propose amendments to the 9 recommended budget. She said the Board will go through the budget amendments on Thursday 10 and approve them or not. She explained that this is the perfect storm for a budget cycle with the 11 federal and state cuts and the property revaluation. She said she attended the Central Pines 12 Board of Delegates meeting on May 28t" and was shown an economic analysis that underlines 13 the unprecedented economic uncertainty. She said she is looking to have a balanced view of the 14 budget that supports and invests in the future, and also projects that support the most vulnerable 15 residents. She said because of the revaluation, the Board will have to hold the line or retract on 16 other projects. She said the County Manager's budget does not fully fund the schools'continuation 17 budget, but how the funds are spent is the determination of the school boards and residents 18 should speak to the school boards directly if they have questions about financial decisions and 19 why fund balance was spent. She said there will be sacrifices that will have to be made, but unlike 20 the federal budget, the Board is not going to ask those with the least resources to make the 21 greatest sacrifices. She said the "big, beautiful bill" is not sound policy but is also a type of 22 gaslighting. She said as Commissioner Fowler mentioned, she heard and shares concerns about 23 the fairness of the revaluation. She said she is looking forward to conversations about vertical 24 equity in future revaluations. She said she is glad she attended the Memorial Day service in 25 Chapel Hill and heard the inspiring words from Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray that 26 reminded attendees that our Democracy was a vision, and all are responsible to manifest that 27 vision. She said in the face of tyranny to remember that others have sacrificed, and we will have 28 to make sacrifices. 29 Chair Bedford said there is a gathering on Friday at the Peace and Justice Plaza on gun 30 violence prevention. On Saturday, she said there is a similar event at Fairview Park where she 31 will read the proclamation approved by the Board. She said gun violence is the number one killer 32 of children in this country, and this Board supports common-sense regulation. She shared that 33 the Local Government Commission (LGC) approved the county's annual financing package. She 34 said Travis Myren will share comments about tax appraisals during his report this evening. 35 Commissioner Greene said she attended the Visitors Bureau Meeting last week or the 36 week before and the guest speaker was Ivy Taylor, who is the UNC representative on the board. 37 She said that Ivy Taylor indicated the University is committed to the Day Center Idea on 38 Homestead Rd. She said she also talked about UNC's budget, which is facing a lot of threats, but 39 their goal is to increase the undergrad population by 5,000 students over the next 10 years. She 40 said they are also working on a master plan for Carolina North, which in addition to Dean Dome 41 2.0, would be a living-learning campus that would include housing, campus recreation, dining, 42 etc. She said tomorrow she is having lunch with the new GoTriangle CEO. She brought the 43 Board's attention to the cover of the County Quarterly, which shows work by Hillsborough's Max 44 Dowdle, who is embarking on a plan to paint murals in all 100 counties. 45 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she will use her time tonight to reflect. She said there 46 are 55,259 households in Orange County according to the 2020 Census, and they include real 47 people with real issues. She thanked those who have reached out to say they can pay more and 48 are willing to support a tax increase for schools and the social safety net. She said that generosity 49 means a lot, and wishes those who can, could, but state law does not allow for a graduated tax 50 rate. She said she must think about all constituents. She said she is also thinking about those 51 who cannot afford to pay more, especially in a year with so much uncertainty. She said that when