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

Browse Search

4 1 systems fail, it is county government that provides the safety net to provide for people. She said 2 as someone who proudly supports public schools and has been involved in public schools when 3 her children attended, she knows what is at stake. She said the state is failing children and has 4 for over a decade now. She said families of students must also be supported, and risk making 5 their homes unaffordable by increasing taxes. She said housing, mental health services, and crisis 6 response, are essentials. She said every voice of residents who have spoken out stay with her, 7 and she hopes they understand that this budget is a balancing act for the Board, and they will 8 continue to work for the residents of Orange County. 9 Commissioner Carter said she is also grateful there have been so many engaged 10 residents who advocate for their community and for staff who provide services that impact so 11 many areas of our lives. She said she also understands many residents may not know how to 12 engage in this process. She said she was grateful to hear that long time homeowners on fixed 13 incomes who are concerned about being able to pay their tax bills and repair their homes. She 14 said she is also grateful to hear from those who say they would be willing to pay higher taxes 15 towards schools. She said as someone who deeply supports public schools, it is vexing to know 16 that federal cuts that support children in school are likely to come, like for nutrition support. She 17 said local governments are going to be severely strained and will only be able to respond if there 18 is some capacity to buttress the social safety net. She said she has also been grateful to see so 19 many staff that support emergency response. She said their work reduces overall costs. She said 20 Orange County Elections staff ensure that residents are able to cast their vote in free and fair 21 elections. She said 153,000 Orange County residents are depending on the Board to balance all 22 needs across the county. She said she commits to faithfully consider all as budget season ends. 23 24 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 25 a. Juneteenth Freedom Day Proclamation 26 The Board approved a proclamation designating June 19, 2025 as Juneteenth Freedom Day in 27 Orange County. 28 29 BACKGROUND: On June 19, 1865 — more than two (2) years after the signing of the 30 Emancipation Proclamation — U.S. Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, 31 to inform the last enslaved African Americans that they were free. This day, now known as 32 Juneteenth, marked a powerful moment of delayed liberation and became a defining milestone in 33 the struggle for Black freedom. The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Texas in 1866, where 34 communities gathered for prayer, food, music, and dance. As Black families migrated from Texas 35 to other parts of the country, they carried Juneteenth's cultural and historical traditions with them. 36 37 In 2007, North Carolina approved legislation that allowed Juneteenth National Freedom Day to 38 become an official state holiday once federally recognized. In 2020, Orange County and the 39 Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough affirmed Juneteenth as a local holiday. Today, 40 Juneteenth is celebrated as a federal holiday across all 50 states, recognized as a time of both 41 jubilation and reflection. 42 43 Juneteenth not only honors freedom — it invites us to reckon with the ongoing legacy of slavery 44 and the long, unfinished journey toward justice. Historian Ira Berlin, in The Long Emancipation: 45 The Demise of Slavery in the United States, argues that emancipation was not a singular event, 46 but "a near century process" driven by the resistance, resilience, and determination of Black 47 Americans. Freedom was not granted — it was fought for. Through centuries of struggle, Black 48 Americans have expanded the meaning of citizenship and reshaped the promise of American 49 democracy, redefining who is included in the phrase "We the People." 50 51 This year, Orange County will host a Juneteenth celebration on June 13, 2025.