{"id":1192,"date":"2026-05-28T11:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T11:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1192"},"modified":"2026-05-28T11:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T11:08:06","slug":"orange-county-hearing-last-chance-to-speak-about-budget-schools-library-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1192","title":{"rendered":"Orange County hearing last chance to speak about budget, schools, library cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Orange County residents will get one more chance Thursday to weigh in on a proposed tax increase and the county\u2019s plan for funding schools, libraries and other programs next year.<\/p>\n

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County Manager Travis Myren is proposing a 3.75-cent tax rate increase \u2014 to 67.58 cents per $100 in property value \u2014 in his recommended $325.1 million budget<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

That would add $187.50 to the county tax bill for a home valued at $500,000.<\/p>\n

Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough property owners also pay a town tax, and property owners in Chapel Hill and Carrboro pay a special school district tax.<\/p>\n

The tax increase will help with debt over the next decade for school and county construction projects and big-ticket purchases, such as public safety radios. It will also help the county pay the same growing cost for goods and services that everyone else is facing, Myren said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s forcing the county to take a hard look at spending and priorities, he said. A hiring freeze is already in place, and the proposed budget would cut 13 jobs next year and freeze five vacant Sheriff\u2019s Office positions.<\/p>\n

A proposal to end Chapel Hill Public Library funding has galvanized library supporters<\/a><\/u>, who launched a social media campaign and filled a previous public hearing to fight the change.<\/p>\n

The proposed budget would phase out the county\u2019s $621,323 contribution over two years. Chapel Hill officials said they were not told about the cut in advance, and the town\u2019s proposed 2026-27 budget does not account for the funding loss.<\/p>\n

The county has contributed to the town\u2019s library since its 2012 expansion.<\/p>\n

The county\u2019s contribution meets about 12% of the library\u2019s nearly $5 million annual budget for operations and personnel. The town, as part of the deal, provides free library cards to all county residents, instead of charging them a $65 fee.<\/p>\n

Other Chapel Hill library services and programs are free to the public.<\/p>\n

The commissioners have talked about ending the agreement before, but waited until the county opened its Southern Branch Library last year in the Drakeford building in Carrboro.<\/p>\n

The county budget includes $3.7 million to operate the Carrboro library and the county\u2019s main library branch in Hillsborough.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford and Vice Chair Amy Fowler have proposed an additional tax increase to restore the Chapel Hill library funding.<\/p>\n

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Another issue that could draw a crowd is school funding.<\/p>\n

The proposed county budget includes $114.1 million for Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County school district operations.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an increase of $294 per student \u2014 $6,171 each in local funding \u2014 and amounts to $66.3 million for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and $47.8 million for the smaller Orange County Schools.<\/p>\n

CHCCS also gets over $30 million from a special tax charged to property owners in its district.<\/p>\n

But the spending plan falls more than $8 million short of what the districts requested from the county to pay rising costs and give wage increases to teachers and staff.<\/p>\n

No commissioners have suggested increasing school funding yet, but Fowler has proposed putting another $3 million toward school maintenance and repair needs. It could be paid for with additional taxes.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s still time to share your thoughts with the county commissioners, including at Thursday\u2019s public hearing.<\/p>\n

The hearing will start with a short budget presentation at 7 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center, at 2500 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n

Comments and suggestions can also be emailed to the board at ocbocc@orangecountync.gov<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The commissioners will discuss amendments to the proposed budget<\/u><\/a> June 4, before voting on a resolution of their intent to approve the final budget.<\/p>\n

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The final budget vote is June 16.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Share your input at a May 27 public hearing. 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