Orange County Manager Bonnie Hammersley unveiled her 2024-25 budget proposal to the Orange County Board of Commissioners at its May 7 meeting. Hammersley’s $294.4 million plan includes a property tax rate increase of 2.81 cents.
Hammersley said slower growth in sales tax revenue and a $2.2 million shortfall from state Medicaid hold harmless funds are driving the need for the property tax increase.
“Sales taxes have slowed down to pre-COVID levels,” she said. “This year we did see a significant decrease in sales tax. Last year our sales tax growth was $8.1 million, and this year it was $1.6 million.”
The budget maintains Orange County’s commitment to public education and includes an increase of $320 per student for the local school systems, bringing the per pupil amount to $5,666. Current expense funding for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools increased by $2.97 million and increased by $2.18 million for Orange County Schools.
The budget also includes a 4% increase for county employees to help retain the county workforce and reduces the solid waste fee from $142 to $138.
The budget included six positions for the new Southern Branch Library, which is expected to open in Carrboro in the fall.
The BOCC will hold budget public hearings on May 14 and May 30 and four budget work sessions (May 16, 23, 28 and June 6) before adopting the budget on June 18. Commissioners can also propose budget amendments, which will be voted on during a budget work session.
Interested community members may view a copy of the budget at the following locations:
- Clerk to Board of Commissioners (Whitted Building)
- County Budget Office (Whitted Building)
- Orange County Library
- Chapel Hill Public Library
The budget may also be viewed on the Orange County Website (www.orangecountync.gov/714/County-Budgets).