Budget

[Marci Marroquin Loiselle]

I’m emailing to ask why your request for budget increases does not include any raises for the local school employees. OCS teacher supplements are funded by Orange County and have not increased in ten years—we are no longer a top paying school district. Salaries are below Wake, Durham, Guilford, and Chapel Hill schools. 

OCS bus drivers need help. There are significant staff shortages, bus delays are increasing, and more students are late for school and missing important instructional time. Proposed raises would help with recruiting and retention by making salaries competitive. Their salaries are the lowest in the region and their job is difficult and thankless. 

Teachers cannot afford to work at OCS when CHCCS, Wake, Durham and Guilford all pay more. Too many teachers are working second jobs, retiring early, leaving for other districts, or leaving the profession entirely. 

Actions speak louder than words. Higher, competitive salaries will let OCS teachers and staff know that the Orange County Community genuinely supports them. 

Orange County residents pay incredibly high taxes and a main priority is to fund schools. We expect teacher supplements and staff salaries to be competitive with the surrounding areas, and provide a living wage (which is now $20.02 in Orange County).

Marci Loiselle, PhD

Orange County resident and parent 

[Jean Hamilton]

Dear Marci Loiselle,

 

On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), thank you for sharing your viewpoints about the county budget and funding our public schools. The public school boards of education are responsible for deciding how their funding is spent.

 

We appreciate the feedback as budget season continues with Budget Public Hearings on May 12 and May 28 and Budget Work Sessions on May 14, May 21, May 26, and June 4. These meetings as well as our regular business meetings provide an opportunity for resident to learn about how our county staff and the BOCC address budget choices. There will also be Budget Information Sessions on May 14, May 20, and May 21 for residents to drop in, ask questions of budget staff, and share their perspectives.

 

Sincerely,

Jean

 

Jean Hamilton, Chair

Orange County Board of Commissioners

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From: Marci Marroquin Loiselle <marci.l...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 10:37 AM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: Budget

 

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Phish Alert Button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.

[Alden Powell]

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing to express my regret that I am unable to attend this evening's meeting. However, I would like to formally advocate for long-overdue pay raises for teachers, bus drivers, and school maintenance workers.

It is unacceptable that these staff members have not received raises in over ten years. I am concerned that the current budget does not prioritize these essential roles. Furthermore, I want to emphasize the importance of ensuring our county libraries are fully funded.

Thank you for your time and for considering these critical issues.

Best regards,

Alden Powell

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Hi Alden,

Only in the current year has there been no raises for teachers, bus drivers and other school employees. We heard yesterday that the General Assembly is close to a budget for this year which would provide raises. The county did fund a continuation budget for schools that was almost a 3% increase for wages for this year so they do have that money in reserves ready to help pay when a state budget is adopted. 

The county libraries in Carrboro and Hillsborough are making cuts to temp positions to assist with our proposed county budget. Commissioner Amy Fowler and I are proposing a budget amendment to restore the $300+K county funding for the Chapel Hill library that the town owns. I do not know if we can get 4 votes to pass the amendment. 

Best,

Jamezetta Bedford

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From: Alden Powell <abp2...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 5:53 AM

To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: Budget

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Phish Alert Button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.

Dear Commissioners,

[Alden Powell]

Dear Commissioners,

Thank you for your response and for proposing the amendment for the Chapel Hill Library.

While I am optimistic that the long-overdue state budget will include raises for teachers and staff across North Carolina, the state budget alone is insufficient to make OCS salaries competitive. Over the last decade, neighboring counties have increased their local supplements, while OCS supplements have remained stagnant. This has left our district struggling to attract and retain teachers, bus drivers, and staff. Furthermore, Durham, Chatham, and Wake counties are now using local funds to offer masters pay in addition to higher supplements.

As a taxpayer, I believe OCS staff deserve competitive pay. I urge you to consider a budget amendment to fund their request and ensure our schools remain competitive with neighboring districts.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

Alden Powell

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 4:22 PM Alden Powell <abp2...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Commissioners,

Thank you for your response and for proposing the amendment for the Chapel Hill Library.

While I am optimistic that the long-overdue state budget will include raises for teachers and staff across North Carolina, the state budget alone is insufficient to make OCS salaries competitive. Over the last decade, neighboring counties have increased their local supplements, while OCS supplements have remained stagnant. This has left our district struggling to attract and retain teachers, bus drivers, and staff. Furthermore, Durham, Chatham, and Wake counties are now using local funds to offer masters pay in addition to higher supplements.

As a taxpayer, I believe OCS staff deserve competitive pay. I urge you to consider a budget amendment to fund their request and ensure our schools remain competitive with neighboring districts.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

Alden Powell