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Residents tell commissioners to protect social services and demand budget transparency
Summary
Residents and local leaders urged Alamance County commissioners to protect social programs amid state and federal cuts, pressed for a public-facing dashboard and opposed local tax increases; officials acknowledged fiscal pressure and pledged follow-up information.
Several residents and local officials used the public-comment period at the Alamance County Commissioners meeting to press the board on budget priorities, transparency and the county’s role as a safety net.
Sarah Edmonds, a former ABSS teacher, told commissioners she had experienced homelessness and gaps in benefit access and urged the board to protect schools and life-sustaining programs such as SNAP, WIC and Medicaid. "Compassion must also move quickly," she said, citing local figures for residents below the poverty line, people receiving Medicaid and students on free or reduced-price lunch.
Major (ret.) Richard Ojeda, who identified himself as the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 9th District, said massive cuts to Medicaid and other lifelines were "raining down from this current administration" and called on the county to be transparent about how cuts will affect services.
Kevin Farrell asked the board not to raise local sales or property taxes this year, warning higher rates would further strain working families during inflation. Emily Conway and other speakers asked the commission to adopt a transparency resolution and implement a dashboard so residents can track budget pressures and potential service reductions.
Commissioners responded that the county publishes a dashboard and videos of meetings online and said they would seek to present clearer information to the public. Several commissioners acknowledged budget constraints, noting that teacher salaries are primarily a state responsibility and local supplements and capital transfers have tightened local flexibility.
Commissioner Powell said the county provides a significant local supplement for teachers and emphasized the challenge of balancing school needs with limited local resources. Finance staff and the auditor later agreed to provide follow-up detail on transfers and categorical spending requested by commissioners.
No formal action was taken on a petition or resolution during the meeting; commissioners said they would consider the transparency requests as they proceed through the budget cycle.
