Alamance County residents press commissioners to fund schools, libraries and rescue unit as manager presents 1.59¢ tax proposal

Alamance County’s proposed budget drew more than two hours of public comment as teachers, parents, nonprofit leaders and first‑responder representatives urged the Board of Commissioners to fully fund schools, maintain county libraries and keep support for the Alamance County Rescue Unit.

County Manager York told the board the document before commissioners was a manager’s recommended budget and that it did not propose closing library branches or eliminating positions in non‑mandated services. “So let me be clear that the recommended budget does not propose to close library branches, does not eliminate positions from non mandated services,” York said while summarizing the plan and tax impacts.

York said the recommended tax rate increase is 1.59¢; she estimated that change would add about $47.86 a year to the tax bill on the county’s then‑median home value and noted each penny of the tax rate produces roughly $2.6 million in revenue. York also said the schools’ formal request exceeded current funding by about $19.8 million — roughly the equivalent of a 7.5¢ tax increase if the board sought to fully meet the request.

Public speakers described concrete consequences of the draft cuts. Sandy Ellington…