Orange County
Orange County has pressing local needs including education, infrastructure, social services, health, and small business support - just to name a few. We continually are forced to wrangle over restricted budgets which pit important local needs against one another. Meanwhile about $2600 per county citizen leaves Orange County annually for the national military budget. That's a total of about $351million.
Our current annual county budget is about $178 million. Imagine what we could accomplish for the citizens of Orange County if just 10% of our military contribution was retained at home for local needs? Another $35 million annually would make a world of difference for us.
Make no mistake, U.S. military spending - the U.S.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners will place a 1/4 cent sales tax on the ballot this November. Revenues generated from the tax, which is expected to raise $2.3M annually, will be allocated for economic development (42.5%), repairing older school buildings (42.5%), public safety (15%). The tax will not be applied to food or pharmaceuticals.
Of the $977,500 expected to be raised for economic development, the county manager has proposed that 30% ($293,500) go to building infrastructure within the economic development zones and 15% ($146,625) go to a small business loan fund such as the one Carrboro initiated many years ago. I haven't seen anything designating the use for the remaining $439,875 (55%) other than a report in the CH Herald about the need to offer incentives.
When we go to polls in November, we will not be voting just for the new sales tax, but also for this allocation plan. Can you support it? Does this plan signal a new day to you?
Questions that I'm interested in having discussed are is 30% enough to build the needed infrastructure in less than 10 years? How should the other 55% be spent (I am totally opposed to incentives)?
Durham Tech's Orange County Campus is offering a new Solar Photovoltaic Installation Certificate as part of the Sustainability Technologies program this upcoming fall. A solar photovoltaic installation certificate will cover energy use analysis and solar photovoltaic system installation. The intended audience is electricians or people who are working in facilities services under the supervision of an electrician. This certificate can build on the existing skills of students who are enrolled in or who have completed the Electrical, Architectural, or Industrial Systems associate degree program. An associate degree and a diploma program will begin this academic year and includes electrical and math courses for students without previous electrical experience. The diploma program will include work experience with a local company. View the Sustainability Technologies plans of study which can be completed entirely at the Orange County Campus.
To find out more detailed information about admission procedures, plan of study, etc. we have scheduled two upcoming information sessions:
Monday, July 26 5:30–6:30 p.m. Orange County Campus (OCC)
Thursday, July 29 5:30–6:30 p.m. Orange County Campus (OCC)
For additional information please contact Carlo Robustelli, carlo@durhamtech.edu or (919) 536-7238 ext. 4202.
www.durhamtech.edu/orange
Date:
Monday, July 26, 2010 - 1:30pm
Location:
Durham Tech's Orange County Campus, 525 College Park Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Durham Technical Community College’s Orange County Campus is highlighting its new Sustainable Technology program on Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Area residents will have the opportunity to learn more about this new program. They can also view solar technology demonstrations and displays and talk to solar technology professionals.
Some highlights include:
- Seeing mobile solar technology displays provided by Solar Tech South, Nature’s Energy Solutions, and Southern Energy Management;
- Learning about the proposed solar technology lab and monitoring equipment;
- Hearing music from a solar-powered amplifier;
- Enjoying fresh sun tea and locally grown food.
Durham Tech President Bill Ingram, Orange County Commissioner Chair Valerie Foushee, and representatives from Duke Energy will address the gathering at 11 a.m. Officials from the Orange County Economic Development office, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and other agencies will be on hand during the event. The new Sustainable Technology program is designed to train workers in the installation, repair, and upgrade of sustainable technology systems. These systems are used by government municipalities, corporations, small businesses, and homeowners. The Sustainable Technology program, which will include an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, prepares students for employment in environmental, construction, alternative energy, manufacturing, or other industries which emphasize energy production and waste reduction, along with sustainable technologies.
Beginning this fall, the program will offer the Alternate Energy certificate. This certificate is designed for licensed electricians, those pursuing an electrical degree, and those who are working in facilities services under the supervision of an electrician. The certificate instruction includes both energy audits and solar photovoltaic system installation.
This new program will position Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus and Orange County as a leader and model in the state for developing innovative and practical green training programs and initiatives.
For more information, contact Carlo Robustelli at 919-536-7200, ext. 4202, or cell 919 -943-2443, or robustec@durhamtech.edu.
Also, check out the Orange County Campus blog so you can keep up-to-date on the latest news about Durham Tech in Orange County! http://occnews.wordpress.com
Date:
Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 6:00am to 10:00am
Location:
Orange County Campus at Durham Tech 525 College Park Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Does anybody know what happened to the proposed dog kennel on New Hope Church Rd?
I still see signs up against it yet haven't heard anything in awhile.
Anybody know what happened?
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