Instead of climate change, why doesn't the Board do more to eliminate poverty?

The adopted county budget funds many programs to combat poverty in our county, through our Aging, Child Support, Social Services, Housing and Community Development, Partnership to End Homelessness, Criminal Justice Resource, Public Transportation, Human Rights and Relations, and Health Departments as well as nearly $1.5 million in funding to outside agencies, many of whom address poverty.

This year’s budget includes a new Restoration Legal Counsel position that will expand and enhance the efforts already underway by the District Attorney and judicial stakeholders to assist eligible individuals that have driver’s license suspensions based on an inability to pay traffic court debt. In addition, this attorney position will provide legal assistance for residents eligible to seek relief under North Carolina’s expanding expunction statutes. The revocation of driving privileges and a criminal charge, even one that has been dismissed, create significant barriers to employment, education, housing, health care and family stability.

In the 2018-19 fiscal year, the commissioners appropriated $100,000 to create a new local voucher program for affordable housing. The program will be continued in the 2019-20 budget.

Show All Answers

1. How does the county budget process work?
2. What is the relationship between the BOCC and school budgets?
3. How much influence does the Board of Commissioners wield with school budgets?
4. What are property tax rates in Orange County?
5. How will you spend revenue from the 1/4 cent increase for climate change?
6. Instead of climate change, why doesn't the Board do more to eliminate poverty?
7. What role do the commissioners play in the budget?
8. Why doesn't the county attract more commercial development to reduce the burden on personal property owners?
9. Can the public get involved?