Commissioners direct manager to study county‑funded equity training and library funding options ahead of budget

During commissioner comments the Alamance County Board of Commissioners instructed County Manager Heidi York to examine two separate issues for inclusion in upcoming budget planning: (1) limits on county time and county dollars used for employee trainings that are not job‑related, and (2) options for the county's financial relationship with the county library system, including a phased return of responsibilities to municipalities.

Commissioner Brownell (identified in the meeting as a commissioner) led the discussion on training and said his concern arose after learning that municipal and county employees had participated in 12‑week cohorts run by the Alamance County Racial Equity Committee (ACRE). He said up to 40 people across government entities had taken the training and that 17 were county employees. Brownell asked that any future training paid for with county time or county funds be tied to an employee's job description or be taken on personal time. "If you want to take whatever training you want on your time, but not the taxpayer dollar," he said.

County Manager Heidi York said staff would investigate the funding sources, including whether any training had been funded through grants, and evaluate how to address the matter during budget development. She and other commissioners discussed drafting a resolution or direction to include policy language in the employee handbook; board members expressed a consensus to have county management research the issue and return options at the next meeting or with budget documents.

Brownell also asked the manager to analyze the county's library funding, which he described as roughly $3.5 million supporting multiple branches and two mobile units. He suggested the board study phased separation options that would return library responsibilities to municipalities and asked that staff present alternatives that prioritize core services before funding nonessential capital projects. Other commissioners cautioned that libraries serve rural residents and that any change would remove county influence over library services; several members asked for a careful study and for options to be presented to the board.

The board did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting; the action recorded in the transcript is a directive to county management to research and present options during the upcoming budget process. Commissioners agreed to place budget briefings and work sessions on the schedule ahead of the June budget adoption deadline.