Water/Sewer Boundary Extension Passes

On April 11, the OWASA Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a proposed expansion of the Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (WASMPBA). Their vote was the final step in a multiparty approval process that allows the option of water/sewer access for property owners along Hwy 15/501 from Southern Village to the Chatham County line. The area is not in the rural buffer and under zoning authority of the Town of Chapel Hill. Allowing access to water and sewer will open the door for affordable housing and transit-oriented development along this major corridor.

Several proponents of water/sewer extension gathered at Southern Community Park to thank local elected officials for their leadership on this important effort:

Marking Earth Day

Today is the 54th annual Earth Day, an occasion to celebrate our remarkable planet and take action to promote a healthier, most sustainable, and brighter future for humankind. You can mark the occasion at Carrboro’s Earth Day event at Town Commons from 5:30-7:00pm, or stop by the public art display at 140 West Franklin Plaza in downtown Chapel Hill.

$300 Million School Bond Headed for 2024 Ballot

Earlier this month, the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution stating intent to proceed with a $300 million school bond referendum on the November 2024 ballot. The proceeds of the bond will fund facility needs for both Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The funding breakdown between school districts and list of anticipated projects are still pending. Bond debt service is projected to add 3.41 cents to Orange County’s property tax rate. Final vote by the County Commission to approve the school bond ballot measure is expected on June 18.

Read more on Chapelboro.com

Orange County is seeking volunteers to serve on a newly charted committee to educate the public about the proposed school bond. Click for more information about service on that committee.

County Manager Announces Retirement

Last week, Orange County Manager Bonnie Hammersley announced plans to retire this July. She has led Orange County Government for the past decade and stated the proudest was “dedication and commitment” shown by her colleagues serving residents during the pandemic. She previously held similar local government leadership roles in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Read the news release from Orange County: Manager Bonnie Hammersley Announces Plans to Retire in July

Chapel Hill Council Debates Bond

At a workshop last Monday, Chapel Hill Town Council received a presentation from Town Manager Chris Blue and Business Management Director Amy Oland about the FY2025 budget and a possible bond referendum. The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing the prospective bond, specifically the timing of the referendum (2024 or 2025) and what priority projects to fund. With no change to the anticipated tax rate for next year, the Town has capacity to issue $50 million in bond debt. Identified projects across multiple categories (affordable housing, public safety facilities, sidewalks, greenways, parks, etc.) total at least triple the available capacity. The discussion will continue at work session this Friday.

Read more on Chapelboro.com

Federal Funds for Local Projects

The federal government funding bill passed in March included $11.75 million in targeted funding for initiatives in North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District. Several local transit and affordable housing projects were funded including:

• Tanyard Branch Trace ($1,500,000) which will help build 48 rental units on Town of Chapel Hill-owned land.
• Durham Tech Affordable Housing Initiative ($620,000) which aims to build a 124-unit affordable housing development on land owned by the College serving eligible students at Durham Tech and community members.
• Bus stop improvements for Chapel Hill Transit ($850,000)
• Weavers Grove Community Center ($500,000) which will help construct a facility to provide community services and a new public bus stop construct in the mixed-income community.
• Ephesus Church Road Sidewalk ($500,000) to add 3,200 feet of new sidewalks and connect existing sidewalks

Share Your Thoughts

Several open polls give you a chance to weigh in on local issues. Complete these online surveys to let government policymakers hear from you.

• Share how you would prioritize transportation resources in this survey for the Orange County Transportation Multimodal Plan, open through May 3.
• Chapel Hill has opened comment board for community input on their recently launched downtown streetscape and public-right-of-way planning process.

 Triangle Blog Blog has published a poll asking Chapel Hill residents how they’d allocate $50 million in bond funds.

Meet the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee, read the policy platform, contact your local officials, dive deeper into the issues, and contact The Chamber's Vice President for Advocacy Ian Scott for questions or concerns.