Minutes 05-19-2026-Business Meeting

Browse Search

2 3.Announcements, Petitions,and Comments by Board Members Commissioner McKee had no comments. Commissioner Portie-Ascott provided context for the property tax conversation. She said the General Assembly is actively discussing legislation that could place limits on how counties raise property tax revenue, and that this conversation is moving very quickly through legislative committees.She said the discussion is driven by widespread community concern about the impact of rising property taxes on housing stability. She said the Board is simultaneously hearing from residents who want continued investment in schools, housing, and emergency services, and from residents who feel they simply cannot afford higher taxes. She said both concerns are real and that the Board sits in the middle of those competing realities. She said the purpose of the video was to inform the public about what is being discussed at the state level and how those decisions could affect Orange County's future. Vice-Chair Fowler expressed gratitude to all those who came to the previous public hearing to advocate for schools and libraries. She announced that she co-sponsored an amendment with Commissioner Bedford to reinstate supplemental funding to the Chapel Hill Public Library that was cut in the proposed budget. She said that in the current environment at both the state and federal levels,where critical thinking and access to books are being constrained, it is important to support and strengthen libraries and community meeting spaces. She said she had also submitted a budget amendment to add more Pay-Go funding to support healthy school environments, noting the county has a long-standing deficit in school repair funding. She said she was still waiting to hear the impact of the North Carolina Legislature's proposed teacher raises before considering an additional amendment to increase K-12 operational funding. Vice-Chair Fowler said she is aware that this is a difficult budget year with many pressures to minimize tax increases, but that she also wants to be responsive to the people who have advocated for teachers. She shared that she attended the Climate Council meeting recently, and heard a presentation from Mary Tiger of OWASA about the current drought conditions.She said as of last Thursday, OWASA's water supply was at 84% capacity, just under usual water conservation conditions, and that a stepped approach to water conservation may be required if levels continue to decrease. She said the Climate Council also heard from women who lead the Hillsborough Climate Challenge, noting growing community engagement each year.She said the collaborative Heat Action Plan was also discussed and that messaging would run throughout the summer to educate outdoor workers to find shade, rest, and hydrate frequently.She said cooling centers would also be identified on a day-to-day basis as staffing allows. Finally, she shared that the Tax Work Group met yesterday with consultants David Barnett and Josh Myers from GAR and JVG Consulting,who will review the county's tax policy, procedures, and organizational structure to make recommendations aimed at improving both vertical and horizontal equity as well as public communication regarding taxes. She said the Work Group also met with Janice Jackson from Developmental Associates,who will facilitate the hiring of the new tax administrator. Commissioner Greene shared that she visited the Hillsborough Library earlier today and noticed an SUV with an LED sign from the Governor's Highway Safety Program displaying an outdoor temperature of 96.7 degrees Fahrenheit and an interior vehicle temperature of 136 degrees. She said this was a powerful public service demonstration about the danger of leaving children or pets in hot vehicles. She said she attended an affordable housing seminar in Marion, North Carolina on May 7th, sponsored by the School of Government. She said the day-long workshop, led by Tyler Milligan, focused on county funding strategies for privately owned affordable housing. She said she plans to consult further with Tyler Milligan before sharing her notes with the Board. She shared that she attended the Piedmont Food Processing Program board meeting last Friday and that the entity is in the black for the first quarter of 2026. She said the organization is being contacted two to three times a week by potential new clients and is being selective in accepting new business, partly due to limited space,which she said is a good problem to have. Commissioner Bedford said she and other commissioners attended the Pauli Murray Awards on Sunday and that the event was rewarding and warm, particularly seeing youth receive awards. She said