Stuart Smith, Mebane resident, said that the county needed to allow the tax rate to meet the needs of the county. Mr. Smith asked the county to do as much as it could to meet the school superintendent's budget, and fund county employees the full 3% cost of living adjustment.
Traci Street, Mebane resident, said the county needed to stand up for its greatest resource, which was kids. She stated that a key indicator of a child's academic performance was based on access to a rich print environment in early childhood. She said taking away the libraries would take away a child's possibility of this access. Ms. Street urged the board to consider what kids needed.
Cindy Brady, Burlington resident, said the Family Justice Center (FJC) of Alamance County had received national recognition and awards. She continued that the evolution of the FJC brought more efficiency, communication and coordination among individual agencies. She stated that FJC personnel were necessary to investigate, document and process cases of domestic violence. Ms. Brady mentioned that 13,260 victims had utilized the services of the FJC since it opened.
Tyler Whitley, Mebane resident, urged the Board not to underfund the schools and the library system. He continued that reduced funding that resulted in closing library branches created barriers for people trying to improve their lives. Mr. Whitley said he supported the recommended 1.59 cent property tax increase.
Christopher Mauney, Chief of the Alamance County Rescue Unit, said he was there as a voice for the hundreds of men and women ready to answer the call, no matter the danger. He stated that the rescue unit stretched every dollar, took care of equipment with care, partnered with state and national agencies to stay current with practices and did more with less. Chief Mauney asked the Board to continue funding the rescue unit.
Leslie Prince, Mebane resident, said the rescue unit assisted law enforcement with evidence recovery, the rescue's canine unit assisted when someone went missing, and the rescue unit was trained in search and recovery. She continued that the rescue unit stabilized vehicles and cut cars to get someone out in an emergency. Ms. Prince said that the rescue unit members made sacrifices and the least the county could do was support them.
Dawson Wall, county resident, said he was there due to the proposed rescue unit, school and library cuts. Mr. Dawson stated that these were vital services.
Morgan Baker, Burlington resident and teacher, said that as a teacher she saw the daily impact of underfunded schools. She continued that schools were understaffed. She said students who were not reading by the third grade were four times more likely to drop out. Students who dropped out were three times more likely to be incarcerated. Ms. Baker said funding schools and libraries prevented crisis.
Debra Scott, President of Alamance Friends of the Library, said that the library system was ingrained in the county. She asked the Board how a change in library funding from county to the cities would affect programs and the mobile library. Ms. Scott said that public libraries were for all the county people and not just for people in the cities.
Meredith Peffley, Executive Director of Crossroads, said Crossroads had received county funding for about three years. She stated Crossroads provided essential services to victims that had experienced sexual assault, human trafficking and or child maltreatment regardless of a person's ability to pay. Ms. Peffley said lack of government funding would hinder services.
Richard Smith, said library services did not generate revenues, but cultivated ideas. He stated that libraries were one of the few places people were not expected to spend money. Mr. Smith said withdrawing support for the libraries would weaken one of the few remaining bulwarks against social media, reduced apathy and A.I. enabled ignorance.
Robert Alvis, Graham resident, said the Alamance County tax rate was lower than surrounding counties. He stated that he wanted his kids to go to safe schools full of qualified caring adults. Mr. Alvis said that the Board should consider equal priority for emergency services to be on time with students arriving to school on time.
John Tudor, Graham resident, questioned how shifting library funding to local municipalities would affect the county residents that did not live in a town or near a library. He stated that the county needed to fund things that enriched the community. Mr. Tudor said that the county could afford to fully fund the public libraries.
Abbey Gurley, Mebane resident, said that she was shocked and disappointed that some members of the Board had recommended defunding the libraries. She stated that she questioned defunding a library branch that served a population in Mebane that had doubled in size since its renovation. Mr. Gurley said that feedback of the Mebane library had a 98% positive review rating.
Sandy Ellington-Graves, Board of Education Chair, said that ABSS ranked 89th in North Carolina for local spending in per pupil expenditures. She mentioned that the county website stated that education was of primary importance. Ms. Ellington-Graves said that the Board had the opportunity to show the community that education was important. A commitment to fund ABSS would show an investment that reflected the strength of the county and the value of its people.
Avery Pickard, Burlington resident, advocated for better funding for the school system. She stated that proper funding was vital for proper student success. Ms. Pickard said that the Board should reconsider any cuts or pauses to benefits for county employees.
Reagan Gural, Alamance Chamber President, said that she supported a balanced tax framework that was fair, efficient, and transparent. She stated that she supported the adoption of sufficient, effective policies and investments that cultivated a skilled workforce. She continued that ABSS ranked 89th in North Carolina in per pupil spending. Ms. Gural said that Alamance County deserved strong investments in education, infrastructure and the county's future; they were the foundations of a forward looking community.
Ryan Moffitt, Burlington resident, said that the Alamance County that he knew invested in itself. He stated that there was not a more important investment of county dollars than ABSS. Mr. Moffitt said that the Board should fully fund ABSS.
Sandra Cooke, Haw River resident, said that a funding reduction would mean a $500 reduction in per pupil spending by ABSS. She stated that county property owners could apply for tax exemptions or exclusions. Ms. Cooke asked if the county could increase the property tax rate and also increase tax exemptions.
Griffin McClure, Graham resident, said the proposed budget was a drastic decrease in per pupil funding in ABSS and charter schools. He stated that a sales tax referendum was a viable way forward. Mr. McClure said that he hoped the Board finds solutions and finds pride in making the county better.
Tracey Grayzer, Impact Alamance President, said that the proposed county budget did nothing to move the county forward. Instead of strengthening the community, the county was proposing unnecessary and devasting cuts to public schools and many other services. Ms. Grayzer said that the Board was the architects of the county and should build on the strong foundation that was laid by leaders before them.
Nicole Lester, Mebane resident, said that the county barely used 21% of its budget for public schools. She stated that several studies showed that communities that invested in public education and public libraries drastically reduced crime. Ms Lester urged the Board to fund the public schools and public libraries.
Bob Byrd, former County Commissioner, said he supported ABSS and shared that he was part of Vision Alamance that helped craft the goals for public education in Alamance County. He stated that the county could fully fund the ABSS budget request and still be competitive and reasonable in the tax rate. He said Alamance County's property tax rate was the 18th lowest in the state. Mr. Byrd asked the Board to fully fund the ABSS budget request.
Greg Scott, Burlington resident, said that his father was the county manager in the 1980's. He stated that his father was never asked to prepare two budgets, one with no tax increase and one that met the bare minimum. His father was asked to prepare a budget that met the needs of the county. Mr. Scott said that his father's legacy was all over the county and asked the board where would theirs be.
Sheriff Terry Johnson, said that he intended to fight hard for the employees and citizens of Alamance County. He stated that the time had come where there was no choice, but to implement a tax increase or make cuts to the budget. He said that the 2023 census showed that Alamance County was the fastest growing county in North Carolina. Sheriff Johnson said that the Board held the future of the elderly people, children and the entire county.
Jackie Fortner, Alamance County Sheriff's Office, said he was there on behalf of Alamance County employees in reference to their longevity pay. He stated that county employees must be employed for over 5 years before they received this pay. He said that that cutting employee benefits saved a little bit of money, but the county lost qualified and loyal employees. Mr. Fortner asked the Board to reconsider and not cut longevity pay for Alamance County employees.
Brenda Pattison, Mebane resident, said that she supported a tax increase, but did not support when county government grew and took over private sector activities. Ms. Pattison stated that there was no reason why there could not be a no tax increase budget.
Dan Ingle, Board of Education Vice-Chair, said that the county needed to raise property taxes. He stated that the county had a great school system. Mr. Ingle asked that the Board take what he said to the heart.
Josh Shumate, NC Association of Rescue and EMS Commander, said that the Alamance County Rescue Unit offered highly specialized rescue capabilities that included technical rope rescue, swift water rescue, trench rescue and wilderness search operations. He stated that there were few rescue organizations in the state as widely respected and well known as the Alamance County Rescue Unit. Mr. Shumate urged the Board to take into consideration the services provided by the rescue unit.
Walter Allison, county resident, said that the county had one of the least funded school systems in the state. Mr. Allison said that the county needed to fund the school system for the sake of the children.
Tom Stern, county resident, urged the Board to fully fund the ABSS budget and keep the libraries a county funded system. He stated that inadequate funding caused ABSS to lose staff, hindered replacing staff, and critical positions remained vacant. He continued that these practices undermined the superintendent's efforts, burned out existing staff and hurt the students. Mr. Stern said that by keeping the library system a county funded system, the county could assure that every county resident had equal access to the libraries.
Mandy Moore, Burlington resident, said the county should stop the cuts to the schools. She stated that students deserved consistent full-time support from a school nurse, school social worker and school counselor. Ms. Moore urged the Board to stop these dangerous cuts now.
Blair Helms, Mebane resident, said that every dollar spent now on the school system could lead to future cost savings. He stated that a 7.5 cent property tax rate would be $20 a month for each county resident. He asked the Board to have a plan if the county lost federal and state low wealth funding.
Brody Cameron, Ossipee resident, said that the county was woefully underfunded and unprepared for significant events. He stated paramedics and EMTs were unhappy with the compensation and treatment they were receiving. Mr. Cameron said that Alamance County was not ready if a disaster occurred.
Tasha Miles, Elon resident, said that money being used toward upgrading the courthouse should be used for the schools and public libraries. She stated that citizens needed to think about the children and make them feel more supported. Ms. Miles asked the county to reconsider fully funding ABSS and public libraries.
Levon Barnes, Mebane resident, said that the county's future hinged on the investment in public education, libraries and community services. He stated that when the county short-changed schools it sends a message that a whole generation does not matter. Mr. Barnes said that if the only options the county offered was to either cut from schools or raise taxes, then it was a failure of vision and planning from the county.
Janna McGrit, Eli Whitney resident, said that she was disappointed with the proposed ABSS cuts. She stated that the proposed cuts would make Alamance County fall into the bottom ten for North Carolina counties in per pupil spending in schools. Ms. McGrit said that additional staff was needed to support students with special needs.
Raven Ford, Elon resident, said she was there to advocate for an increase in the schools system budget and continued support for the libraries. She stated she probably would not have graduated high school and been able to practice consistent study habits without library resources. Ms. Ford said that the Board could approve a budget that showed that they cared not just in words, but in action.
Brianna Young, Burlington resident, said she was concerned with the potential funding cuts to the school system and libraries. She stated that budget cuts may be a short-term solution that leads to long-term problems. Ms. Young asked the Board to do everything they could to keep the school and libraries fully funded.
Joseph Floria, student, said that teachers at his school helped him thrive. Mr. Floria pleaded with the Board to find a way to figure out how to fully fund ABSS.
Camille Mikkelsen, Haw River resident, said that she was concerned with the 19% cut to the ABSS budget. She stated that the county was in a crisis, and that the $90 million general fund money could be used now. Ms. Mikkelsen said that she supported a tax rate increase to fully fund the budget.
Windy Lampson, Burlington resident, said that she was worried, because the proposed budget would cut $11.7 million from schools, a 19% reduction from last year. She stated that the county had the power to control funding for local supplements, support positions, transportation, facilities, and student safety in schools. Ms. Lampson said that schools were not asking for luxuries, schools were asking for what they needed to function.
Denise Neaveux, Mebane resident, said she was there to speak about students with disabilities. She stated that her older sister with significant disabilities was well served by public schools and would not have been accepted by private schools. Ms. Neaveux said that underfunding public schools were felt the most by kids with disabilities and their families.
Henry Vines, Snow Camp resident, said he supported a zero property tax increase. He stated that people were in tears because they were afraid that they would not be able to pay property taxes. Mr. Vines asked the Board to take into consideration and give the citizens a break.
Katie Graves, Eli Whitney resident, said she was concerned about the future of public education in Alamance County. She stated that without adequate funding and resources, the county would continue to lose strong educators in the classroom. Ms. Graves said that children should be the greatest investment.
Sawyer Jones, student, said he was there to speak on behalf of the entire student body of ABSS. He stated that cutting funding for ABSS risked undoing progress that the county worked hard to build upon. A well educated community was a strong one, it attracted new businesses and created a strong workforce. Mr. Jones asked the Board to listen to students and stop playing politics.
Valerie Mason, county resident, said she was concerned about the proposed budget cuts to ABSS, the rescue unit and public libraries. She stated that public funding for education and essential workers was crucial. Ms. Mason asked the Board to rethink the proposed budget cuts.
Chairman Paisley seconded by Commissioner Allen moved to close the public hearing.