Recently, I listened to a couple of longtime friends reminisce about their early days as first-graders at Glenwood Elementary School. Both of them entered first grade already knowing how to read. They were put into the Dick and Jane reading group. Average readers were sent to the Spot and Puff group. Those not yet able […]
All posts in category Budget
See schools run
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 21, 2014
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2014/04/21/see-schools-run/
Money, money, money
I read over the agenda for tonight’s Town Council meeting and felt the way I often feel when I pick up the mail this time of year – everyone wants my money. Over the past few months, council has heard about some wonderful plans to make our town a better place. And now it comes […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 27, 2014
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2014/01/27/money-money-money/
Back of the line — again
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? For being able turn on your faucet and drink a glass of clean water that doesn’t taste funky and leave you worried about what sorts of toxins or carcinogens it contains? For never having to budget for pumping out the septic tank and remediation efforts when it fails? […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 25, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/11/25/back-of-the-line-again/
Business as usual?
Bonnie Hauser, the president of Orange County Voice, sheds light on Orange County Commissioners’ budget deliberations. Here’s what she has to say about the commissioners’ season finale: On Tuesday, the BoCC will approve increased taxes and fees for 2013-14. On top of Chapel Hill’s 2 cent tax increase, the county will add 2 cents for […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 17, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/06/17/business-as-usual-2/
Budget busters
The town can’t afford to keep the larger library open as many hours a week as the pre-renovated space without raising taxes or cutting other services. From the beginning the plan for funding the increased operating costs was to raise taxes, but the economy hasn’t exactly bounced back. Now state laws are hitting some of […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 10, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/06/10/budget-busters/
Price vs. value
When I heard about the 120 or so taxpayers who showed up at the County Commissioners meeting on May 23 pleading to pay more in taxes to fully fund the schools budget, I recalled a scene from Crocodile Dundee wherein New York City street thugs brandish a switchblade in an attempt to rob the protagonist […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 3, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/06/03/price-vs-value/
Putting the priority in budgeting
My husband has wanted a new couch for years. And I agree we could use one. But something always elbows ahead of it on our priority list. An immediate emergency – the washing machine breaks and the estimate for the repair equals the cost of a new one. A capital improvement – our very expensive […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 27, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/05/27/putting-the-priority-in-budgeting/
Feature presentation
We’ve gotten spoiled. With Town Council’s newfound determination to end council meetings before midnight, and breaking out council discussions in midweek work sessions at the library (which are not on TV nor videoed and accessible by computer), the regular Monday night meetings end two to three hours after they begin. Tonight may be an exception. […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 20, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/05/20/feature-presentation/
A representative view
Former Town Council member Julie McClintock, who also worked for the EPA, has participated in many planning efforts. She offers her reaction to the town’s priority-budgeting survey: In a recent email from the Town, I was invited to take a budget survey to show “what [I] value.” Since I’m an engaged citizen, I took the […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 18, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/18/a-representative-view/
What’s another $50 million?
Watching Parks & Rec director Butch Kisiah and various paid consultants and volunteer committee chairs present the master plans for Parks & Rec and Greenways, I learned that I’m not the only one with Lexus tastes on a Civic budget. The plans looked great: adding 10 miles of greenway trails to the town’s existing 13 […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 19, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/02/19/whats-another-50-million/