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22 <br /> equipment. She said the simplified boarding would make routes run more quickly, benefiting <br /> passengers and drivers. She said the program would actually save about $32,000 annually. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she is supportive of the fare-free option. She asked what <br /> times the fixed routes run, thinking about families who engage with the Juvenile Crime Prevention <br /> Council, who identified transportation as a barrier to accessing services. <br /> Sarah Williamson said the county runs fixed routes from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. She said on- <br /> demand routes cost between $3 and $5, and would be more relevant for those clients. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler asked whether they'd still have cost savings during a pilot if the <br /> equipment remained <br /> Sarah Williamson explained the timing was particularly good because the operating <br /> contract ended in July and they'd been going month-to-month, plus the fee collection equipment <br /> was "at the end of life." If they were to continue collecting fees, they'd need new equipment <br /> regardless. The $30,000 cost shown was annualized over the equipment Iifecycle. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked which company fees are collected through. <br /> Sarah Williamson said UMO. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he would just assume put fare-free fixed routes it in place going <br /> forward instead of a one-year pilot program. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked if savings from this can be applied to Mobility on Demand <br /> rides, which could help with what Commissioner Portie-Ascott was mentioning. <br /> Sarah Williamson said they could look at it, but noted those services cost $70-90 per <br /> response while only charging $3-5. <br /> Commissioner Greene supported the proposal, recalling from her time on the Chapel Hill <br /> Town Council that the fare box was only a very small percentage of what it costs to operate a <br /> system. She wondered why more systems hadn't gone fare-free and said she would be prepared <br /> to vote to make it permanent. <br /> Chair Hamilton said it is important to have a pilot because we don't know what the impact <br /> will be on demand and how that will change the calculation of cost. She said she wants to be able <br /> to manage the expectations of residents. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Greene, to <br /> approve the fee changes and the implementation of a one-year pilot program for fare-free fixed- <br /> route transportation service effective January 2, 2026. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 7. Reports <br /> a. Update on Revaluation Appeals and Neighborhood Reviews <br /> The Board approved fee changes to implement a one-year pilot program, making Orange County <br /> Public Transportation (OCPT) fixed routes fare-free. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners received the second update on property tax <br /> appeals and neighborhood reviews at the October 21, 2025 Business meeting. This report <br /> provides a status update on the property tax appeals and neighborhood reviews that have been <br /> completed through November 26, 2025, the value adjustments resulting from those reviews, and <br /> the geographic distribution of both the informal and formal appeals. <br /> Appeal Status <br /> The Tax Office received a total of 3,346 informal appeals during the informal appeal window that <br /> was open from March 21 to April 30, 2025. Following the informal appeal window, the Tax Office <br /> received an additional 1,109 formal appeals for a total of 4,455 appeals. Of that total, 3,966 are <br />