BOCC adopts budget, keeps tax rate steady

The Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 2020-21 budget Tuesday that holds the line on property taxes and increases funding to public schools despite significant revenue cuts because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $239 million spending plan keeps the property tax rate at 86.79 cents per $100 in valuation.

The budget includes current expense appropriations for the local school districts of $89,012,561, which equates to a per pupil allocation of $4,367, an increase of $27 per student from the 2019-20 approved budget. Orange County traditionally ranks first in N.C. in local per pupil spending.

The county also provides almost $25 million in additional school funding for debt service, school resource officers and deferred maintenance.

Click here for more information on the budget.

Orange County Health Department unveils new COVID dashboard

A new dashboard will provide updated information on the status of COVID-19 in Orange County with historical and current data on the numbers of cases, tests and demographic date.

The new dashboard can be accessed on the county's main COVID-19 webpage (www.orangecountync.gov/2332/Coronavirus-COVID-19).

2019 Orange County Community Health Assessment Report Released

The Orange County Health Department (OCHD) and Healthy Carolinians of Orange County (HCOC) has released the completed 2019 Orange County Community Health Assessment report. The full report can be found online.

The 2019 Community Health Assessment (CHA) enables local public health officials and community groups to monitor trends in health status, determine priorities among health issues, and determine the availability of resources within Orange County to best protect and promote the public’s health.

The document seeks to be useful, relevant, actionable, and both reflective and forward-looking; as well as provide information for effective strategic community health planning.

The OCHD and the HCOC partnership, which consists of several community members, organizations and agencies, worked collaboratively to complete the CHA. The overall health of Orange County was assessed through information obtained from community members and professionals via: community health opinion surveys; focus groups and community input sessions. Health issues determined to be the highest priority to Orange County, were:

Access to Care
Health Behaviors
Health Equity

Findings from this CHA report will help influence strategic planning across the community. HCOC will assure broad dissemination of the full report so that entities contributing to the health of Orange County residents can develop new or modify existing programs, services, and resources to address the community health needs relevant to their stated missions.

Many efforts are underway to address the priority areas, but new initiatives are needed to respond to identified gaps. Progress will require total community involvement including grassroots movements, residents, government agencies and leadership, businesses, local service agencies, the university, hospitals, and health care, in order to improve the quality of life for people living in Orange County, particularly those who face racial, economic, emotional, financial, and physical hardships.

The Orange County Board of Health will develop their strategic plan based on the results from the CHA and the HCOC partnership will develop community health action plans. Together these plans will detail the steps needed to address the priority issues both at community and policy levels. Both will continue to engage in ongoing evaluation, and will encourage collaboration between agencies and community groups to achieve better health outcomes.

To find out how to become involved with work groups addressing the top health concerns in the county, please contact Ashley Rawlinson, Healthy Carolinians Coordinator at (919) 245-2440 or arawlinson@orangecountync.gov.

OCES schedules community distributions for face coverings

With the use of face coverings mandated in Orange County, Emergency Services is working to get face coverings to the public. OCES ordered 30,000 masks, with 22,000 distributed to public safety partners, human services organizations and other targeted community groups including migrant farm workers, older adults, and those who cannot afford masks on their own.

Volunteers packaged more than 21,000 masks earlier this week. Distributions will be occurring throughout the next few weeks at locations throughout the county. Here is a tentative schedule:

Orange Grove Fire Department will disperse masks Tuesday and Thursday for two weeks beginning Tuesday, June 23. Distribution will be from 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. at fire station No. 1 (6800 Orange Grove Road, Hillsborough).
Orange Rural Fire Department will host a distribution on Friday, June 19 at the DSS parking lot in Hillsborough, beginning at 5 p.m. If needed, another distribution will be held next week.
Cedar Grove Fire Department station 2 (720 Hawkins Road) will host community distribution events from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday June 25 and Thursday, July 2. Residents are asked to drive up to the front door.
Masks will be available for pick up at White Cross Fire Department (5722 Old Greesnboro Road) Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to Noon each day.

More distribution locations will be added. Each station has a limited quantity of masks. In addition, click below for information about distributions from municipalities.

Food distribution scheduled for June 25 at Carrboro High School

Orange County and the Town of Carrboro will host a food distribution on June 25 at Carrboro High School from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Customers will be first-come, first-served, and there are no eligibility requirements. The distribution is free of charge. Due to COVID-19, distributions are held on a drive-thru basis. Boxes will be placed in trunks.

Orange County’s Being Better than Before webinar series continues

The Orange County Department on Aging invites adults 55+ to a free webinar filled with optimism about our future, Being Better than Before Part II: Living a fulfilling and creative life in the new world.

As you look out at this new world, what do you see? We see the pandemic as both a tragedy—and we hope you and your family are navigating it well—and as an important reminder that we live in a world filled with unexpected changes.

We believe that whatever you intend to do living in this new world you will do it more successfully, more gracefully, even more joyously, if you approach it as the most creative version of yourself, with the goal of being better than before.

Click here for more information and to register.

Orange County Tax Office Announces Deadline for Appealing 2020 Property Value

Each year taxpayers have the right to appeal the value of their properties.

Unless you have recently received a 2020 Notice of Value Change or 2020 Informal Appeal Notice of Decision, you may appeal your 2020 value to the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review until June 25, 2020 when the Board of Equalization and Review adjourns. After that date, your 2020 value cannot be changed, and you must wait until next year to appeal the value of your property.

To appeal your value, or to obtain an appeals form:

Email reval@orangecountync.gov
Call 919-245-2100, option 2
Go to our website for a Formal Notice of Appeal form: https://www.orangecountync.gov/806/Appealing-Your-Value
Mail your request to appeal: Orange County Tax Office, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278-8181 or
Put your request to appeal in the drop box located at the door to our office at 228 South Churton Street in Hillsborough

www.orangecountync.gov