Minutes 05-12-2026-Budget Public Hearing

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16 us living here." He recalled a March presentation by an Urban Institute consultant to the Board who advised that the best approach to affordable housing is to either provide vouchers or build housing for low-income residents, and characterized the county's proposed housing budget as pretty much flat. He expressed disappointment and noted the home repair backlog. He shared that he had been working with low-income residents on property valuation appeals and offered to share data suggesting systemic undervaluation of higher-end properties, while lower-income properties are disproportionately burdened. He called on the Board to fix what he described as a welfare for the rich methodology for property valuation. Shannon Harvey asked the Board to continue funding the Chapel Hill Public Library. She described her son's use of the Chapel Hill Public Library since he was six months old. She calculated that her son had checked out 985 books over nine years and had never been let down by staff recommendations. She praised the library's improvements over the years, including the elimination of late fees and accessibility improvements such as removing heavy bathroom doors. She noted that 100% of the library's free cardholders are Orange County residents and said that is exactly how she wants her local tax dollars to be spent. Erin Kent said she has two children in CHCCS. She expressed gratitude for the county's continued support of local schools and shared how programs, including the dual-language Mandarin program at Glenwood Elementary, which her daughter participates in, and middle school band, had shaped her children's identities. She acknowledged the difficult budget position the Board faces but urged continued and increased funding in line with school district requests, warning that world language and music programs are among the first to be cut when budgets stagnate. She celebrated the diverse public- school community and asked the Board to preserve and continue supporting both school districts at the level requested. Sutton Yarbrough said she is an 81" grade student at Phillips Middle School. She asked the Board to fully fund public schools. She praised her visual arts teacher and chorus teacher as elective teachers who give her something to look forward to every day. She said her art classes had sometimes been the only reason she came to school. She also spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill Public Library, noting that many of her friends walk there after school daily to use the Teen Room, and her family makes extensive use of the library's collection. Kim Beer said he has been a resident of Chapel Hill for 35 years. He described his family's use of the library over decades in shaping a love of books and learning in his children, and noted his recent completion of the Orange County Citizens Academy. He praised the quality of county services generally and commended the county for its youth-focused programming. He expressed clear opposition to cuts at the Chapel Hill Public Library, noting that the opening of the Drakeford Library did not reduce usage at the Chapel Hill location, but rather added new users to the system. He called on commissioners to visit the library on a weekend afternoon, and said it is teeming with children running around, looking for books, and curling up in corners. He concluded by connecting library support to support for democracy. Deborah Christie, daughter of a longtime Orange County public school teacher, honored the work of current educators and the Board. She acknowledged the difficulty of choosing between libraries, schools, and affordable housing. She said she would like to look at the efficiency of the county as a whole, and encouraged the Board to look into merging the school systems in the long-term. Maggie Wallace said she is a 5t" grader at Scroggs Elementary School. She spoke on the importance of school nurses in relation to managing her Type 1 Diabetes. She described the 180 additional daily decisions required by her condition and the vital role played by Nurse Amanda and Nurse Cecily in monitoring her blood sugar and administering insulin. She noted that school nurses serve many students with conditions including asthma, food allergies, anxiety, and other special medical needs, and asked the Board to fully fund schools and all school staff.