Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Stream test, May 4.

We'd like to call this meeting to order. So please stand for the pleasure of allegiance and then remain standing for the invocation by me. Thank you. Would you please, remain standing for invocation? I will pray, you worship and manage you, so see fit.

Oh, our gracious and heavenly father, we come to you this evening. We come to you as your humble servants. We come to you in prayer, asking you to guide us to do the people's business. For this is what you have bestowed upon us, and we continue to ask you to guide us as we move forward in everything that we do in your humble name. Amen.

Amen. Again,

good afternoon everyone and welcome to today's meeting. We'll begin today's meeting with the items of business. Before we vote to approve the agenda, Commissioner Allison, did you wish to be heard?

I do. Thank you, Chair. I would request that pursuant to rule one of the board's rules of procedure, item 16 of the consent agenda be removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration before a vote on the consent agenda. So moved. Second. Do we vote on this one?

Yes. Okay. Okay. Is the with that motion been made to agenda to be amended, Is the motion that was made by Commissioner?

I'll second. Yes, I'll

make the motion. Yes. Yes, I'll make the motion. So moved.

And a second by who? Waters. Commissioner Waters. All those in favor for approving the amended agenda, please say I.

I. I.

All those opposed, please say no. So, the motion carries. Now, I would like to have a motion for approval of the minutes of 04/06/2026, the work session of 04/06/2026, and the work session of 04/13/2026. Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

I move approval of those minutes. Second.

Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Stallis and a second by Commissioner Thomas. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the ayes have it.

Chair, excuse me. Could you go back and do the full vote for the approval of the agenda? You just amended an item, but you didn't approve the full agenda.

Okay. Let's go back then and could I get a motion to approve the agenda as amended?

Motion to approve the agenda as amended.

Okay. We've got a motion by Commissioner Waters to vote to approve. Second by Vice Chair Jackson. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Not hearing any, the motion carries. Okay. The minutes have passed. And then next thing we will have is a proclamation for National Police Week. And commissioner Adamson will be presenting that reading that proclamation.

Thank you. I will read the proclamation and we're very honored to have our sheriff's deputies here today for National Law Enforcement Month. We we appreciate everything y'all do in keeping us safe in this county and the service you provide to our residents. Whereas the Wake County Board of Commissioners recognizes the sacrifice made by the brave men and women of law enforcement who have answered the call to serve and protect our communities. Whereas, the congress and president of The United States have designated May 15 as police officer Memorial Day, and the week at which it falls is National Police Week.

And whereas the members of our law enforcement agencies play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all those who live, work, and visit Wake County. And members of law enforcement recognize their duty to serve the people of North Carolina by safeguarding life and property, by protecting against violence and disorder, and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation. Whereas, our net our nation observes law enforcement officers week and police officers Memorial Day during the month of May. And whereas whereas throughout May, law enforcement agencies and other business organizations and individuals will hold appropriate events and ceremonies across North Carolina to celebrate the selfless public servants who wear the badge and put themselves in harm in harm's way to keep us safe. And on peace officer Memorial Day, we pay respect to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and recognize with deep gratitude the critical contributions and sacrifices of all law enforcement officers and their families.

This includes the 24 fallen Wake County law enforcement officers. And whereas during this month and throughout the year, Wake County commends our members of law enforcement and honors their courage and dedication. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wake County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim May 2026 is National Police Week, and 05/15/2026 is Peace Officers Memorial Day, and urges the residents of our community and communities across the county to remember the officers who have given their lives in the line of duty and to thank those who still wear the badge. By lighting homes, businesses, and landmarks blue to honor the memory of the fallen and in solidarity with their families. Adopted this May 2026, signed by Don chair Don Miles, chair of the Lake County Board of Commissioners.

So moved.

Okay. We have a motion by commission Adamson to approve the proclamation. Is there second?

Second.

Second by commissioner Jackson. All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

All those opposed say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. The proclamation is approved. Thank you. We

thank the commission for extending this honor and recognition of the men and women who've made the ultimate sacrifice. National Police Week serves as a reminder of the dangers we face each day and also the service provided, the sacrifices made by each man and woman to keep our community safe. Again, we thank you for honoring us and we look forward to continue to work and serve this community. Thank you and God bless you. Thank you.

Mister chair, boards of the commission, I do believe the sheriff has a honor he would like to bestow on one of his deputies. Here's the original proclamation.

Yes. Please come forward.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

The sheriff's commendation is a special honor personally granted by sheriff Willie Rowe to recognize an individual who has demonstrated exceptional service, dedication, or bravery. It is awarded at the sheriff's sole discretion to those who go above and beyond and make a significant positive impact on the agency or community. On behalf of sheriff Rowe and the Wake County sheriff's office, it is my distinct pleasure and privilege to present deputy Olsen, deputy Perro, deputy Puebla, deputy Canus, deputy Polo, and deputy Peterkin with this commendation, symbolizing our deep appreciation for their exceptional service. On 04/13/2026, at the beginning of the workday, these six deputies responded to a call for a medical emergency at the Wake County Justice Center. Each one acted swiftly.

Whether it was moving the patient safely to the floor, starting chest compressions, and using the AED, they all worked together until firefighters took over. Because of the life saving efforts of these deputies, the patient, Adam Levy, is recovering well and he's here tonight sitting in the

audience. We

would like to bring light to their honorable actions. You decided to take action and not stop until help arrived. We are profoundly grateful for your service and selflessness in the line of duty. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sheriff Rowe and and the deputies. We really appreciate that y'all bringing this before us, and I know my colleagues have a comment that I'm sure they want to make. So Commissioner Starlins, did you?

Just we just so appreciate all of our law enforcement officers and all that you do every single day and this is just an example of your bravery and your courage but this goes on every single day and we just thank you for all that you do for us and we are very blessed to have you protecting our community. Thank you.

Commissioner Anderson? Okay. Commissioner Jackson?

Yes. Thank you for keeping us safe and keeping our neighbors alive. Thank you.

Commissioner Evans?

Indeed. We appreciate fast action and you being on the spot when it's needed. Thank you so much.

Commissioner Thomas.

Thank you, chair. I have no comments as I have the next proclamation to mention folks who serve in our community.

Thank you. Commissioner Warders?

As the granddaughter of a sheriff's deputy, I'm extremely grateful for your service and I understand the sacrifice that you all give every day. And so thank you.

And I as well haven't retired from the Department of Public Safety, so I understand the need in terms of what these guys do every day, but we just want to make sure we honor your service and everything you do to protect our community. Again, thank you so very much. Next, we will move on to Military Appreciation Month proclamation. That'll be read by commissioner Shanika Thomas. And accepted by Brooke Dickart, executive director of the Joel Fund.

Good evening. Military appreciation month is always meaningful to me, but this year it carries a different kind of weight. As we watch what's happening across the world, we've been reminded there are still men and women actively serving, actively sacrificing on our behalf. And as the wife of a veteran, and as the daughter of a veteran who served in wartime, here's what I know to be true. Service doesn't stop when someone comes home. For many veterans and their families, that's when a different kind of journey begins. And that's why the Joel Fund matters so deeply. Because they see the whole person. They see the family. They understand that support isn't just about a moment.

It's about walking with people through the long road of healing, transition, and restoration. It's for the whole family. As local government, we talk a lot about meeting people where they are and the Joel Fund does that every single day. So today's recognition is really about gratitude, but it's also about alignment. It's about lifting up the kind of work that truly holds our community together.

I'm honored to read this proclamation. Whereas the month of May is nationally recognized as military appreciation month, a time set aside to honor the courage, sacrifice, service of our nation's active duty service members, veterans, and military families. And whereas Wake County is home to a large and growing population of veterans and military families, reflecting North Carolina's proud and enduring military tradition. And whereas the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs works diligently to support, advocate for, and serve the needs of North Carolina's military community through programs that enhance quality of life, expand access to resources, ensure that no veteran or family is left behind, and whereas local organizations such as the Joel Fund based in Rolesville play a critical role in strengthening our community by providing essential services, mental health support, and advocacy for veterans and military connected families. And whereas the Joel Fund's work exemplifies compassion, commitment, and community partnership ensuring all of those that have served our country and their loved ones receive the care and recognition they deserve.

And whereas during times of conflict and global uncertainty including periods of war, the need for these services and for public recognition becomes even more urgent as military families carry increased burdens of service, sacrifice, and separation. And whereas it is both fitting and proper that Wake County honors military appreciation month and uplifts the organizations that stand in support of those who serve. Now therefore be it proclaimed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners that we do hereby recognize May as Military Appreciation Month in Wake County and commend the Joel Fund for its outstanding service and unwavering dedication to military families and be it further proclaim that we encourage all residents of Wake County to honor, support, and express gratitude to our service members, veterans, and their families, and to recognize the important work of organizations and agencies that serve them adopted this May 2026. Chairman, I make that motion.

Thank you, Commissioner Thomas. There's a motion by Commissioner Thomas. Is there a second?

Second it.

I have a second by Commissioner Stalin. The motion has been made. Is there all in favor, please say aye.

Aye. Those

opposed, please say no. The ayes have it. Motion carries. Proclamation is approved.

Thank you so much. Brooke, this is for you and your organization.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Please.

Good evening commissioners. This is quite an honor. I don't think I really understood what this was tonight so from the bottom of my heart I'm truly honored to be here. On behalf of the Joel Fund and the veterans and families we serve, I want to thank the commissioners for this proclamation. Military appreciation month is more than just a date on a calendar. It's a reminder of the sacrifice is made by our neighbors. At the Joel Fund, we believe that thank you for your service is just the beginning of a conversation not the end. This recognition helps us continue our mission of ensuring no veteran feels isolated or forgotten and I want to thank you for standing with us. Good evening.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Before we move on to consent agenda, does anyone have a motion as to item 16, which has been removed from the consent agenda?

I do, mister chair. Thank you for recognizing me. Mister chair, I make a motion that the board defer consideration on item number 16 WakeMed board of directors amendment to WakeMed's articles and incorporation and second amendment to transfer agreement for at least 90 and that no other action be taken on item 16. So moved.

Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Anderson. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by commissioner Waters. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please say no. The ayes have it and motion carries. So at this time, I want to make a statement in reference to item 16. And that is the Wake County Board of Commissioners. We have officially decided to delay consideration of this agenda item regarding the proposed strategic combination of Wake Med Health and Hospital and Atrium Health.

The board made this decision to provide time for the hospitals to engage with the community. So, they, along with the county commission, can hear residents' comments and concerns about this combination. The community engagement is an important part of work that we do. While the joining of these hospitals may be positive for Wake County, we want to be fully open and transparent about the process, and that include allowing ample time for the public feedback. The board hope is that WakeMed and Atrium Health will listen to the community's insights, answer their questions, and make changes as needed to address their concerns.

WakeMed is asking the commission to approve change to two legal documents, enabling the hospital to proceed with regulatory reviews. These documents are one, the article incorporation, and two, the transfer agreement. The articles incorporation define how many members the board can appoint to WakeMed board of directors and where they must reside. The amended version of this document continue to allow the commissions to appoint eight members to the 14 member WakeMed board of directors. It also confirmed that the eight appointees must live within Wake County.

This ensures that Wake County and its residents will continue to have a say in how WakeMed meets its obligation after this combination. The transfer agreement restates WakeMed commitment to maintaining or improving the level of healthcare services it provides to residents from across the region, including antigen and community healthcare. This is important because WakeMed does not meet the expectation listed in the document, the hospital reverts back to the county. The board does not have the legal authority to approve the joining of WakeMed or Atrium. WakeMed requested action is just the first of many in a detailed process that involve the Federal Trade Commission and The US Department Of Justice.

The commissions are not involved in any way in WakeMed's operation, and they will not contribute any funding or any property or access to WakeMed as part of this proposed combination. The WakeMed campus on Newborn Avenue in Raleigh was once the county's hospital. In 1997, Wake County agreed to transfer the hospital to a nonprofit WakeMed corporation on a state law that allows nonprofit to operate community hospitals if they agree to provide care to residents who are unable to pay, to continue to operate the hospital as a community general open to the public. The 1997 agreement and the statute say if the hospital ever stopped being a nonprofit community general hospital open to the public and providing energy care, it could revert back to the county. Therefore, the commission must approve any change in that structure.

So, I wanted to make sure that we went on record in terms of the board involvement in this decision making. So, I think we need to vote to go ahead and move this. All in favor, we have a motion by commissioner Adamson. We have a second, think will buy commissioner Waters. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Not hearing any, then that motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Now, we will have a motion to approve the consent. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

Motion to approve the consent agenda.

There's a motion by Commissioner Thomas to approve the consent agenda. I'll second.

I'll second that.

There's a second by Commissioner Anderson. All in favor? Aye. All opposed, please say no. The motion carries. So the consent agenda is approved. Now it's time for the general public comment period. At the regular meeting, the board of commission allocates time to hear from residents. Attendees had an opportunity to sign up using our online sign up app. We also provide opportunity to sign up here in person.

I have the list of people who sign up. When I call your name, please come to the podium, give us your name, and if you would, share what part of the county you resigned in. Then you will have up to three minutes to speak. When you have one minute left, the yellow light will go on. When your time has elapsed, the red light will go on.

If you are still speaking at the end of your time, I'll ask you to complete your sentence in the interest of fairness to everyone. I'm going to try to be consistent about that. Please know that the commissioners will not respond to comments shared today. This comment period is a time for us to hear from you. I will begin with the first name on the list. And the first name on the list is Donald Jensen, CEO of WakeMed.

Commissioners, chair, thank you very much for the opportunity to come talk to you today. Let me begin by humbly acknowledging the outpouring and support and love we have felt over the last forty eight hours from our Wake County community for WakeMed. We weren't sure before Friday. We know for certain that Wake County residents, community leaders and our elected officials from Washington and local governments value our care. Thank you all.

Naturally, matter of magnitude of this size raises questions and concerns and we expect that. We welcome and will do our best as we always have in working with you to do the best for this community. The reality is as we look five, ten, and twenty five years ahead, we know that WakeMed cannot continue to provide the health care that this county needs without a strong strategic partner. We will not have access to the capital that we need to meet the needs of one of the fastest growing communities in the country. We serve many patients who cannot afford health care and we are committed to giving them the same access and quality care that those who have means are able to access.

We face powerful competition from two large competitors, one that is owned by the state of North Carolina and one that has all the resources of Duke Health. This new partnership will mean Wake County will still be served by three strong system. There will be more competition, not less. For more than sixty five years, we have as little old WakeMed met that competition and the challenges that healthcare faces. We provide excellent care and serve everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

We cannot continue to go it alone, especially in the face of federal, state and other cuts and an ever expanding community that needs more services. Health care costs continue to rise through inflation whether it's a cost of goods, staffing, pharmaceutical, and construction costs. We understand that the federal government, state government, and even the state health plan are looking to cut reimbursement hospitals in order to deal with the hard choices they have to make. To identify the right partner, went through a long and deliberate and diligent process. We hired consultants from national organizations to analyze possible partners in North Carolina and outside of North Carolina.

We focused on finding a partner that would focus on community, high ethics, and shared values. What I can tell you is Atrium Health rose to the top of that list. They are homegrown here in North Carolina. They have a proven record of community commitment. They are well managed organization. Have strong financial capabilities. It is no, this is not a sale.

I'm sorry but I really like, please go ahead to your last sentence there of your mind, sir.

Thank you. This is not a sale. We look forward to educating the community and those involved on what this is about. And to be honest, this is about making sure that WakeMed and our community don't just survive but that they thrive.

Yeah.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you. Next up, miss Teresa Plaster. Miss Teresa Plaster. Joshua Ward.

Thank you. My name is Joshua Ward. I am a physician here in Raleigh and I specialize in hospital medicine. I'm here to raise some concerns regarding the proposed Atrium WakeMed merger. Unfortunately, there's been little time to fully review the spectrum of implications and possible impacts the community this specific deal creates, which is one of my concerns.

But thank you for considering and approving a delay in this vote. We have though had plenty of time to acknowledge the pattern of consolidation and downstream and long term consequences on health care across our country. As in almost all other industries, consolidation inevitably leads to less competition, increased prices, a worse product, and a race to the bottom for workers' pay. For other industries, this results in mostly inconveniences and customer customer dissatisfaction. In health care, the results are these things as well as actual people's lives.

One way consolidation in health care negatively affects patients is often by reducing or siloing specialty resources as a cost saving measure. This leads to worse access care disproportionately affecting rural communities and disproportionately affecting women's care, pediatric care, and mental health care. There are now four distinct maternity care deserts in North Carolina, including in South Southern North Carolina and Southeastern North Carolina. Between 2013 and 2023, nine hospitals completely eliminated labor and delivery services and at least 29 delivery rooms were cut or repurposed at rural hospitals over the last decade. When these other hospitals, these rural hospitals close services, the patients that need these services then need to be transported hours away from their homes to larger health care systems.

And unfortunately, I have witnessed firsthand how this creates more strain on our ability to treat the residents of Wake County. I ask what is Atriums and Health's plan to reverse this trend. In addition to our rural communities, WakeMed has always committed itself to providing care to our indigent population. It has prided itself in remaining independent and thus able to respond primarily to the needs of this community and all residents of Wake County. How can we expect the same from a multistate conglomerate like Advocate Health?

For health care workers either already serving this community or considering moving to the area, you will have fewer options, less choice, and less ability no with which to negotiate with your employer. Less competition, there's less incentive for them to provide competitive salaries or benefits. I also want to recognize that this proposal comes just four months after WakeMed failed to get approval to independently expand their cancer services. In 2022, WakeMed applied through the certificate of need process to add a linear accelerator or LINAC to its radiation treatment options. However, due to anti competitive CON laws, neighboring health systems were able to litigate and block the approval for this potentially lifesaving service.

By some estimates, WakeMed loses more than $30,000,000 annually having to refer patients to their competitors for this vital treatment. Of note, Jane Woods, CEO of Atrium's parent company Advocate Health, reportedly made more than 25,000,000 Can dollars last

move a little bit your last sentence there?

Sure. So the bottom line is that consolidation in health care is bad for patients and health care workers alike. This pattern across our state and country continues to drive up costs, worsen access to care, and further puts workers at a disadvantage.

Thank you.

Alright. Thank you. Miss Margaret Branton.

Thank you. I'm Margaret Branton, currently serving as vice chair of the WakeMed Board of Directors and a commissioner appointee. As we all know, on Friday, May 1, WakeMed and Atrium Health announced plans to come together in a strategic combination. At its core, this means we've made a thoughtful decision to partner because we believe that by working together, we can do more for our patients, our communities, and our teams than we could ever do on our own. I appreciate that considering this for the first time can be overwhelming.

It can be a shock. It was to us as well. Out of respect to you, the commissioners, the board felt it was important to wait until this was formally on the agenda before sharing more publicly. And now we have the opportunity to be open and transparent about what this means and why the board unanimously believes this is the right step forward. I had the privilege and responsibility of serving on the exec committee that carefully and painstakingly explored WakeMed's options.

We spent two years asking tough questions and looking honestly at the challenges facing us in health care today and thinking about what WakeMed needs not just for today but for its future. Above all else, one priority guided us, making sure WakeMed can continue providing outstanding and compassionate care for all. This mission remains at the heart of every decision we've made. WakeMed is a strong and successful organization and we're proud of the care we provide. It is such an integral part of Wake County and from the comments posted, it is obvious that the community feels the same way.

We also have to recognize, however, that our size can limit how quickly and how much we can grow, especially as our community continues to expand. Partnering with an organization that shares our values and our culture, and Atrium Health does, gives us the opportunity to build on that strength and prepare for what's ahead. We are choosing to do this from a position of strength so that we can help shape the future rather than react to it. We also know that our facilities and services need to grow with our community. Parts of our Raleigh campus are decades old and need significant investments to meet today's needs and tomorrow's demands.

Not only will this partnership give us an opportunity to renovate, but also to expand access and services. And it gives us the opportunity to invest in Wake County in impactful ways, creating new jobs and strengthening our mental health resources. This partnership enables us to do even more for people we serve while staying true to who we are and what matters most. I, like the rest of our WakeMed board, am committed to continuing this conversation, answering any questions and making sure our community both the understands both the why and the how behind this crucial step forward. Thank you.

Thank you, miss Bracken. Next, miss Octavia Rainey.

Good evening. My name is Octavia Rainey, and I am from Southeast Raleigh. I would like

to

say to the Wake County Board of Commissioners, I think there was a little mistake made when you start talking about I want you to take you back when there was Saint Agnes Hospital. When Saint Agnes Hospital closed in the sixties, it merged into That wasn't mentioned when you were talking about WakeMed, so I have to bring that to your attention. And during this time, we had just passed the Fair Housing Act. There wake Medwood sitting with the first integration of the hospital system. They did that with courtesy, kindness, and they served black people before Rex did.

Let's be clear on this. They served black people, so don't ever forget what WakeMed is doing, and they are continuously serving the underserved black people in Southeast Raleigh. Not only do that, they have never forgotten about Saint Agnes Hospital, and I don't ever want y'all to forget about Saint Agnes Hospital. I got a little hot under my collar right then. But when you talk about that, talk about the merger.

Now here's where it is again, wanting to merge with Atrium. I think it's a perfect idea. It'll give them the opportunity to really expand and to do more. It will also give them the opportunity to take another look at St. Agnes Hospital. We need this merger. This merger is going to benefit Southeast Raleigh. Not only are they a health provider, but they do other things in Southeast Raleigh. They celebrate Saint Agnes Hospital. They have never forgotten Saint Agnes Hospital.

They know how important Saint Agnes Hospital is to the community. Not only that, they provide programs for youth. They help celebrate our history. They help preserve our history. When we had COVID, WakeMed opened up their doors for COVID, and we all know how devastating that is.

They have their mammograms that people really women really need. When you look at weight med, you don't only think of a health care service. They provide other services to the community. They serve people who could not get service anywhere else. And speaking of the black people, I really know that. WakeMed is my health care provider. I put all my faith and all my trust in WakeMed. I welcome the opportunity to have public conversation. I would join WakeMed in those public conversations. Believe in WakeMed.

Alright. Thank you, miss Rainey. Next, Dan Blue.

Commissioners, Mr. Chair, I am Dan Blue III. I reside in Wake Forest. My office is here downtown. And on behalf of WakeMed's Board of Directors and as a member of the Executive Committee for WakeMed, having been appointed and served on WakeMed's board for the last ten plus years.

I'm honored to offer comments tonight in support of WakeMed's proposed partnership with Atrium Health. As a member of the executive committee, I have been involved in the process of identifying the need for a strategic partner and was charged with finding the right partner. That's the executive committee, not just me. We particularly were looking for a partner who shares in WakeMed's mission of care for all. A partner who is recognized for their clinical excellence, a partner who is financially and ethically sound, a partner who prioritizes patients, teammates and community partnerships.

That's important to us because that's the relationship that we have with this county. To identify that right partner, we went through a long and diligent process. Went The Board, recognizing the importance of this decision, commissioned an independent study by a healthcare consulting firm. After looking inside of North Carolina and across the nation for a partner, the study recommended a partnership with Atrium and the proposal that's in front of you. Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the nation's third largest nonprofit academic health system with Wake Forest University's School of Medicine as its academic core.

It has roots and strong presence here in North Carolina and its leadership understands and supports our commitment, WakeMed's commitment to our community. This strategic partnership with Atrium will be right for WakeMed and right for the people of Wake County as well, the patients, the consumers and the taxpayers as we try to confront a challenging healthcare environment coming in the years ahead. Thank you very much for your consideration. Thank you for the time and the opportunity to engage the public with this. We think this is the right deal for us. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next one up would be Doctor. Brian Klarschner.

Thank you. So my name is Brian Klausner. I am a public health physician for WakeMed and run our Center for Community Health Innovation and Equity. And part of what we've been doing over the last ten plus years is innovating models that better manage our sickest patients. The really cool thing about what we've been able to do is we realized to better manage our sickest patients or residents we have to get outside the walls of our hospital systems.

And so the work that we've done with community partners including Wake County has been truly kind of national model type of stuff. It's been awesome. If you think about the familiar face initiative, Oak City Cares, Cornerstone, some of our efforts around housing first models, Hopefully respite coming soon. The street outreach teams that we developed, our work during COVID. We have worked intentionally to kind of merge our efforts in terms of population health with the evolving efforts of health in all policies with the county.

And in doing so one of the things that we constantly ask ourselves is how can we better stop hemorrhaging money, tolerating the expensive suffering of our highest risk individuals, our marginalized, stereotyped, labeled. And the only reason we've been able to do that throughout the years is because we do have a very unique leadership that is uniquely dedicated to mission, to serving our highest risk patients. And so I am admittedly oblivious in a lot of things in life. So I had no idea about this until last Friday. But my initial reaction was I was confident and you heard it today that our leadership and our board of directors had that perspective as they were evaluating this because that's really true to who they are.

And I was also reassured because I've worked with Atrium. Just this past week, two days before the announcement, we had a two day symposium at WakeMed last week where we got six hospital systems across the state to come together to talk about how we can better build these models. And Atrium was there and Atrium is part of that. We had DHHS, we had Denise Forman there, great innovative speakers that talked about how can we leverage this collaborative partnerships across North Carolina to improve how we manage our sickest patients. We've also worked with Atrium.

I've been very aware of their focus. My specialty is around people experiencing homelessness. Their investment in housing is well documented. Not only direct investment in housing but also sponsoring community initiatives that address root cause and something called Home For All that they've done over in Charlotte. We worked with them on their street outreach teams. WakeMed will engage almost every patient who gets shot or stabbed in the community, victims of violence. We engage with our case management team and we provide trauma informed care. They have a similar program out there. So we already have a lot of systems and a lot of collaborations in place.

Go ahead and finish up your last sentence.

So in finishing, I am very confident that I think we can leverage our experience and our expertise to really scale this and using the resources and the funding that Atrium bring to the table. Thank you.

I appreciate it. Thank you. Next up, mister Tom Oxon.

Good evening commissioners. Andrew Ellis, good to be back here with you and not talking about public schools. For those of you who think of me that way, I must tell you that I've been involved at WakeMed even longer than public schools. So to give you an idea, I've spent twelve years on the foundation board, chaired that for two, raised money for the other ten, was on the hospital board for ten years, chaired that for two during the Obamacare ACA crisis where UNC tried to take over WakeMed and following that went in six years as the on the ACO board as required by the Affordable Care Act to get doctors and hospitals working together. Worked with three different CEOs, many board members and I can tell you that WakeMed is the true gem of Wake County that most people do not know all the things they do.

But I'm going to talk to you today more about money and because I'm an accountant and that's what I tend to look at first. So back in nineteen ninety five, ninety six, chairman of the commissioner set up something called the Luddy Commission to look at spending by the county commission on local things like public schools and WakeMed, which at the time was a public hospital. And the county commissioners were spending $6,000,000 a year to reimburse the cost of indigent care. They didn't want to spend that money. They asked the hospital, should we stop doing it?

Should we sell it to a tenant who has made an offer to buy WakeMed? 12 Republican business leaders looked at all that, looked at all the numbers, talked to everybody and said no. Whatever we would get would be a one time thing. WakeMed would go away. An entity would buy us, it would never be the same. Plus the antigen care price is going to go up in the future. Don't sell it. Years later, one year after we finished our work, they worked out an agreement with WakeMed to become a private not for profit. And it's been that way since 1997. The commissioners have had to put no money in.

You all get an annual report as to what's given back to the community and the uninsured care, the indigent care is still covered except the cost of that instead of being $6,000,000 a year now is a $100,000,000 a year. Price of healthcare has gone up in the last thirty years. So when they asked me eighteen months ago to come in and take a look at this to see what I thought, I said I'll take a look at it but if it means selling WakeMed, no way. There's no way I'm going to agree to that. And then I looked at the numbers and here's an accounting lesson.

Hospitals are non profit but they make a profit if they do things really well and they don't have a pandemic. They take that profit and they add back depreciation, a non cash expense. That total cash goes to pay for their capital improvements and keeping their cash level where it needs to be to have an A rating for their bond issuances because they are constantly borrowing as much as they can for capital. Why do they need to do it? I don't know.

You all didn't run this county so well, maybe we wouldn't have as many people moving here. But the county is doing well. It's growth, more people, 45% market as the home hospital for this county, we must deliver what's needed. UNC has Orange County, Durham has Durham County, and then they like to come to Wake County to take important things that pay well. We, WakeMed, must have. So why? Why would I now be standing before you saying this is a good thing?

Yeah. Could you go ahead

Because this is a good thing, because we will not be able to keep up with the future with the slim profits that are available in healthcare today and having survived the pandemic losses hospital in order to continue doing what we are doing and $2,000,000,000 of already documented needs, we must have this partnership while maintaining control and assurances that anybody who we are committed to working with will do what they say. Thank you for your time.

Thank you

for your service.

Thank you. Next up, miss Sharon Edmonson. Miss Sharon Edmonson. Next stand be missus Sid Hutchinson.

Good evening, mister chair and commissioners. I'm Sig Hutchinson, former Wake County commissioner, here to speak in support of the partnership between WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Atrium Health. As you begin to deal with decision this decision, ultimately, it comes down to three things, trust, leadership, and partnerships. Starting with trust, as we collectively think about WakeMed Health and Hospitals and the million dollars millions of dollars of health care and services provided to all of our residents, including and especially our most vulnerable as the county hospital, I believe that we would all say, yes. We have nothing but trust and admiration for the services that these great professionals provide to our residents every day.

So, yes, we do trust WakeMed 100%. But that trust comes from years of great and strong leadership, starting at the top with Donald Jinsig. For thirteen years, Donald Jinsig has created a culture of service where he often says, it doesn't matter if you're a CEO or an unsheltered person in our emergency room, you're going to get the same level of service, and he means it. As a result, he's attracted an amazing collection of talented physicians, nurses, practitioners, PAs, staff who all believe the same way. Right?

And as a result, is financially strong, profitable, and delivers some of the best, if not the best, health care services in the county today. But commissioners, health care is changing, and we need to be ready. We need to be ready for those changes. So with that trust in WakeMed and its leadership, including the board and Donald Jynzig, they are all telling us that is the time is right for a new partnership, a partner with the same cultural identity as ours who believes in serving all residents with compassion and care. Also, this partnership gives us access to new capital where we can continue to grow and expand our quality health care with services for every person in Wake County that we desperately need.

So our leadership tell is telling us that the time is now. The partner is Atrium Health, and the opportunity is before us like never before. And commissioners, I believe them. I believe at the end of the day, this decision will ultimately cold ultimately come down to trust, leadership, and partnerships. To that end, let's make it happen. Thank you, commissioners.

Thank you. Next up is Ms. I think it's Elsie Riyatz. Elsie? I'm not seeing next in, just got the initials LR.

Carlin Craig, Rebecca Moore, Michael Rudinen.

Hello, board of commissioners. My name is Michael Rudd, and I'm from Raleigh, citizen of Raleigh. So I prepared a statement that was essentially going to say, could we please have more time to deliberate this? I look forward to the public comment process. Just a couple of thoughts that I wanted to share was I deeply value the medical staff at WakeMed, their facilities, and their overall quality of care.

They've taken care of myself and my family members since late twenty sixteen, and both of my children were born at WakeMed Raleigh. Many of these comments are now not necessarily relevant, but what I would say is we would wanna make sure that any merger of WakeMed with Atrium realizes the benefits that they're they're promising. There's not a lot of details that were available over the weekend when this was announced. I think my biggest concern was, is this decision a one way street? And, you know, what would we lose if it didn't go well?

So I look forward to the public comment process and learning more from the parties involved. But thinking about how to structure the deal in a way where maybe there's an off ramp or a look back period or some kind of measurable success, I think would be really important. And yes, I just want to thank you for

Thank you. Damian Wu?

Hello, Damien Gu. This is my first time coming before the county board of commissioners. So thank you for welcoming me here. I actually came late so I actually have no idea what is going on with the agenda. I've also not been here before, so I guess it's general public comment, but I've signed up for item number 15, which is the proclamations requested, which I'm also not sure how that works.

But based on my comment on that is wondering if there's a proclamation for, let's go, AANHPI heritage month. That's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders month, Heritage Month. If there is not, I would really like it if there is one. So please consider that. And the second item I signed up for was number 16.

I think I've heard that it's the vote's gonna be delayed, maybe. Not sure. I hope it's delayed. If it's not delayed, I hope you guys vote against it because I care a lot about health care. Like, a third of my doctors are WakeMed doctors.

My primary care provider is a WakeMed doctor, and I've seen them pretty much my entire life. As you can tell, I did not prepare a speech because I had no idea how this works. I'm familiar with some of you guys because I am very active in the Wake County Democratic Party. I serve as a Wake County Democratic Party state executive committee member, precinct eighteen o one vice chair, which makes so I have I'm on the Wake County Democratic Party County Executive Committee. And I recognize some of your names because I voted to appoint some of you guys.

Tara Waters, Sofia Jackson. So it's good to see you guys in person and not on Zoom. But I'm getting sidetracked. So also did not like how I mean, I do appreciate I'm doing minutes of time, but that's quite a lot of time.

But basically,

WakeMed is a public good that we need to keep, save, maintain. I think this merger with Atrium Health, I it might be good, but I I am not sure, but I don't like the process that which this seems to have come out nowhere, at least to the general public, has come out nowhere. It seems like there have been lots of discussions between the people involved, but not the general public. So I do thank you guys for delaying the vote, and thank you for hearing me.

Thank you. Next, miss Victoria Mandrill. Victoria? Not seeing her. Mary Dunbar, Ruby Floyd,

Good evening commissioners and thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm addressing you tonight as a resident of Wake County, also in Southeast Raleigh right across from St. Agnes Hospital actually. I want to be clear that I support the continued growth success of WakeMed. Even as someone who has only had three days to process this, not three years.

I also understand that WakeMed may need the scale and resources that a system like Atrium Health can provide. But growth and resources should not come at the expense of access to care for the community it serves. The amendment to the transfer agreement references preserving WakeMed's unique culture and commitment to serving all in the county. If that commitment is genuine, it must be clearly defined and enforceable. Today WakeMed provides full financial assistance up to 300% of the federal poverty level.

Atrium Health's current policy provides full assistance only up to 200% of the federal poverty level with partial discounts above that. That is a meaningful difference. In Wake County where the cost of living is roughly 16% higher than most of the state, many working families above the 200% of the federal poverty level are still struggling to afford basic needs. Federal poverty levels do not reflect local housing costs. In practical terms, 300% of the federal poverty level in Wake County functions more 250% elsewhere in North Carolina.

The transfer agreement also states that care must be provided without regard to their ability to pay. At the same time, this agreement on a 4.8% indigent care requirement that is based on financial calculations, not clearly defined patient access. It does not specify what care must be provided, whether that includes primary care, specialty care, ongoing treatment, or just emergency services. So my question is simple. What protections are in place to ensure that patients of Wake County who can't afford care today will still be able to access the same level of care tomorrow, not just on paper but in practice, because meeting a percentage is not the same as meeting the needs of this community.

My request is straightforward. Before approval, require that the full WakeMed Board of Directors, all 14, have the authority to review, set, and approve patient financial policies, including financial assistance programs, discounted and sliding scale policies, and collection procedures, as well as any changes proposed by Atrium Health, and that current financial assistance standards remain intact. Thank you.

Thank you. Next person, Adam. There was no last name, just Adam. Okay. Next, John Adcock.

Mr. Chair, Board of Commissioners, good evening. Thank you for this opportunity. I live in Southern Wake County in Holly Springs. Announced on a Friday buried in a consent agenda for the following Monday without public engagement, without evidence of any independent analysis, without consultation with stakeholders, this Board was prepared to approve a merger of WakeMed that will have significant potential impacts to the healthcare provided to the residents of Wake County.

This is not a strategic combination as described in agenda materials. This is a merger and notwithstanding the potential adverse impacts on healthcare in Wake County, a merger that transfers significant control over a healthcare system that's purpose is to provide healthcare services to the residents of Wake County. By way of example, under the proposed changes documents, the county's appointments to the WakeMed Board of Directors would be subject to a two third vote by the WakeMed Board of Directors and require the county appointees to meet and maintain certain director eligibility qualifications. Atrium Health's appointees to WakeMed's Board of Directors would not be subjected to the same conditions. If Atrium Health determines a WakeMed director does not meet the director eligibility qualifications, Atrium Health can remove such director for calls.

The county has no such power over Atrium Health's appointees. WakeMed will be converted to a nonprofit with a member and the sole member will be Atrium Health. As the sole member, Atrium Health will have the power to amend WakeMed's articles of incorporation and have all the powers entitled to a member of a non profit under the North Carolina Non Profit Corporations Act. Upon dissolution or termination of WakeMed, all of WakeMed's assets go to Atrium Health or any entity controlled by Atrium Health. In regards to the $2,000,000,000 investment Atrium Health intends to make, what if the new WakeMed borrows all or substantially all this money and Atrium Health walks away from WakeMed?

Under the proposed terms of this merger, Wake County could potentially assume such debts. The Board's planned action earlier today would transfer substantial control of WakeMed without compensation. Ignores the diverse and wide ranging implications and impacts of this merger, fails to include any transparency, fails to include any stakeholder involvement and potentially could lead Wake County to taking on billions of dollars of debt if Atrium Health were to walk away. This transaction should not move forward without extensive public and stakeholder involvement. An expert and independent analysis to fully comprehend how this transaction will affect the healthcare system residents of Wake County, and the taxpayers of Wake County.

My comments tonight are not in opposition to the proposed merger, but to the process that has got it to this point. Thank you.

Thank you. And let me add also those of y'all that had written statements or comments, if you would like to leave them with our clerk before you leave, please do so. Thank you to everyone who signed up to speak during this general comment period. That completes the list of names that was provided for this meeting. We also offer residents the opportunity to submit general comments online. This process is managed by the clerk. Ms. Gilliard, will you kindly share any online public comments that you received for this meeting?

Yes, Mr. Chair. There were two comments about WakeMed not in support of WakeMed merger, and one for you all to support the transitional housing in the new budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Gilliard. We will now transition to our regular agenda. We only have one item on our regular agenda this afternoon. It's our county manager, David Ellis, will be making his budget presentation for the fiscal year of 2027. Can

I officially request a break while we transition into the budget discussion?

Yes. Yeah. Okay. I have a motion to take a, what, five minute break? Five minute break. Second.

Second.

This is the ninth budget I presented to the board since I became county manager, and I'll be honest, it's been the most challenging one yet. Our revenue is well below projections and we've had to make tough decisions on what we can afford to fund without overburdening our residents, especially those on fixed incomes. My message to you today is different than in years past. It doesn't include many areas where I propose making strategic investments. Instead, it will explain the many constraints on our funding for FY '27 and show you why fiscally cautious approach is necessary.

The US economy is volatile. One of the main reasons why is the conflict with Iran. A ceasefire is in place, but it's tenuous. The Strait Of Hormuz is still not fully open, so about 20% of the world's oil supply is stuck. That's driving up prices at the pump here in Wake County. And I don't know about you, but the last time I filled up, it cost me about $4 a gallon. Our inspectors and social workers drive a lot throughout the county and the additional cost to fill up their county vehicles adds up quickly. We must account for the rising cost for gasoline in this budget. Budget. The war, tariffs, and other decisions made at the federal level are driving up inflation.

In March, inflation hit 3.3%. That's up threefold from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years. As inflation rises, so do the prices of everyday items and services for all of us. The county feels the pinch each time we buy construction materials for our facilities, pay for health care health care coverage for our employees, and finalize contracts for security to keep our staff and residents safe. There's only so much cost escalation we can absorb which is why we have to factor these increases in the into the FY '27 budget.

Inflation is also impacting consumers behavior. A survey by the University of Michigan found out that consumer sentiment has dropped to a record low of 47.6%. That's lower than any rate seen in the post World War two era including during the great recession, the pandemic, and historic inflation surge afterwards. Fears of stagflation or another recession are growing. We're seeing the ripple effects.

More people are coming to Wake County government for help. Some can no longer afford the basics. As public servants, we're dedicated to helping residents who can't meet their basic needs in this volatile economy. But the reality is that the more support we offer, the more it costs us. Perhaps in a typical year, these increased costs wouldn't be such a budgetary challenge.

Unfortunately, as you know, 2026 is anything but typical. As you know, the property tax is our main source of revenue and it comprises about 75% of our funding each year. We've come to expect the property tax to generate 40 to $50,000,000 in new revenue annually from growth in the tax base. That's not the case for FY '27. We're looking at only $8,000,000 in new revenue.

The property tax usually generates 40,000,000 to $50,000,000 In FY '27, it's only $8,000,000 There are two main reasons why we're seeing this revenue shortfall. The first one is appeals. Each time we complete a revaluation cycle, folks can question the new value we place on their property. About 2% of property owners appeal to the county's board of equalization and review, which is very low and reinforces how accurate their appraisals are. But 2% in Wake County is still about 8,900 appeals.

Property owners who didn't receive the ruling they wanted from our board of ENR filed more than 1,500 appeals with the North Carolina Property Tax Commission. It's the highest number we've ever seen at that level. Most

of

the tax values in commercial properties which have trended downward in value. For context, appealing to the state is a lengthy process. It's very formal, involves a lot of time and meetings. So the pace of this process is not swift and counties have no control over any of it. As of May, there are still more than 750 open appeals leaving a large amount of our tax base undetermined.

It will take months for the remaining appeals to be processed. Millions more property tax dollars are still hanging in the balance. That unknown creates a lot of risk for the county. Overall staff estimate a revenue loss of $18,000,000 in FY twenty seven from appeals. The other major factor influencing our property tax revenue shortfall is exemptions.

Currently, state laws allow nonprofits that provide housing to residents with lower moderate incomes to be exempt from paying property taxes. This is a good thing for our nonprofit partners who help connect people with affordable housing, but the law is vague which can create issues when it's not used as it was likely intended. A great example is the North Carolina Court of Appeals in case involving Mitchell County, North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Housing of Bakersville LLC. The issue centered on ownership, the ownership structure of an apartment complex that house low income folks. 99.9% of the apartment complex was owned by a for profit investor, Blue Ridge Housing.

The remaining point 1% was owned by a non profit. The owners applied for a property tax exemption from Mitchell County and the county said no. So, Blue Ridge Housing took the county to court. The court did a balancing test weighing factors like control operations and intent of participating parties. Ultimately, the court decided that Blue Ridge Housing and the nonprofit should be exempt from paying property taxes in Mitchell County even though the nonprofit had less than 0.1% ownership.

The court also did not define what the law means when it says low and moderate income residents. The law's ambiguity has created a loophole and it has significant implications for our revenues. You can see that over the past two years, the number of exemptions has skyrocketed. Overall, in FY '27, we expect to lose $12,300,000 to this loophole. And let's be clear, most of these are not what we would call traditional affordable housing.

They're old apartment buildings that have been fully taxable for decades. The rents they charge their tenants are already less than 80% of the area median income and we've seen no sign that the apartment owners are passing the savings that they receive onto the residents. So here's a good example. This local apartment complex is 40 years old. In 2024, it was not exempt.

Therefore, it represented more than a $100,000,000 in property value to our tax base. In 2025, it's a different story. Ownership and qualified for a 70% exemption leaving us with just little over $31,000,000 in taxable value. This trend doesn't seem to be going away. If you look at the picture, the picture up on the screen, it's a picture of applications for exemptions we received in FY '27.

Each envelope represents an apartment complex that the owners believe should not be taxed. In our tax administrators opinion, the growing number of exemptions is the biggest threat to the county's revenue that he could ever imagine. The North Carolina General Assembly formed a house committee to discuss the Blue Ridge housing loophole and other property tax issues. Some members have publicly said they're committed to closing a loophole which is great and we support their efforts to clarify the statute so it can be applied as originally intended on true affordable housing properties. However, if nothing changes and a loophole remains the same, then our largest revenue stream will remain a trickle in FY '28.

We could face significant financial impacts that will put our existing programs and services as well as education funding at risk. I'm not saying this to you all to be an alarmist, but it's my duty as county manager to share the realities of our budget situation with you as elected leaders so you can make informed decisions. A few weeks ago, the house committee also recommended a cap on future property tax increases. They want to put a question on the November ballot asking voters statewide if they want to change the North Carolina constitution to limit how much local governments can increase the property tax each year. If it passed, it would take away local control over local budgets.

The property tax is the only tax that counties, cities, and towns have authority and discretion over and it's our largest funding source. Putting limits on it would take away the flexibility we need to plan for the future as the third fastest growing county of our size in the nation. Let me repeat that. We're the third fastest growing county of our size in the nation. We don't have a crystal ball.

We can't always see what's coming around the corner. As an example, no one predicted that we go through a global pandemic in 2020. Maintaining control over our top revenue source gives us options happens. It also allows us to prepare for the demands of growth and build a multi year budget forecast that supports our residents and sustains the high quality of life they enjoy. A better way to keep the property tax low is for the state to increase its investment in areas like education, public safety, and foster care that are chronically underfunded.

Then county governments wouldn't have to step in and fill the financial gap. The Wake County Public School System superintendent and the school board come to the Board of County Commissioners every year asking for financial support because they have nowhere else to turn. Without our help, they can't pay staff sustainable wages or provide student support services. They also won't have the one nurse for every two schools which our public health department staffs at a cost of $15,000,000. Our board believes that a top notch education is vital to the success of Wake County's youth.

Strong schools are also good for the local economy. Businesses want to expand in communities with a vibrant school system. That's why education is a top local priority. We cannot allow our schools to falter. But it's not statutorily our role.

We're required to fund school construction, which comes out of our capital program, and facility maintenance, which comes out of our annual school appropriation. We're not required to fund employee pay increases, student support services, or anything else that improves school performance. That is the state's job, but they're not doing it and we've got the receipts. Look at the latest per pupil data. It shows the state invested only $7,400 in each Wake County student, ranking the school district a hundred and tenth out of a hundred and sixteenth.

Compare that to the counties per pupil investment in Wake County Public Schools during that same period. It was more than $4,300, the fifteenth highest in North Carolina. The difference is striking. Year after year, our investment in Wake County Public Schools grows because the state hasn't stepped up and fully funded K through 12 education. In FY '26 alone, we could have saved nearly $530,000,000 and avoided a property tax increase if the state had fulfilled its obligation and provided the school system with the funding it needed.

The same goes for Wake Tech. We routinely invest county tax dollars in Wake Tech operations for increased instructor pay, new classroom technology, and more IT staff to oversee network infrastructure and security. Again, this goes beyond what general statute requires, But without it, the largest community college in the state and its students would not be successful. That's not what we want for Wake Tech, which trains the workforces of the global life science companies across our region. If the state filled the gap instead of the county, it could save us about $8,000,000 annually.

Another place where we're spending county dollars on state responsibilities is our jail. It currently houses more than a 100 inmates who should be in state custody. Due to staffing shortages, the state prison can't house them, so they remain in county custody. If these inmates could go directly to prison, state prison, we would save $3,000,000 a year reducing jail operational costs and lowering demand for additional beds. The state also doesn't provide enough funding for resources to support foster youth.

Their needs are complex and there aren't enough foster families and treatment providers who have the skills to care for them. Because the state is not providing adequate placement for youth in need of treatment, Wake County is buying and renovating a facility where they can be safely housed. It'll have a more appropriate amenities to mirror the feel of a home and it will be much better solution office building. We've committed 6 and a half million dollars to buy and upfit the building and 2 and a half million dollars to staff and operate it. That's $9,000,000 we would we wouldn't have had to spend if the state better supported these youth in need.

When it comes to sales tax, the state isn't doing us any favors. Wake County is a donor county. That means we're required to give up 8 to $9,000,000 in sales tax revenue every year so the state can redistribute it to other counties. Counties. We've added up all the areas where the county steps in and fills the budgetary holes left by the state.

The total in FY '26 was $600,000,000. If we didn't have to stand in that gap, we could have lowered property tax by 19¢. Let me repeat that. If the state did its part, we could have lowered our property tax rate by 19¢. That would have saved the owner of a $450,000 home almost $900.

And this dependence on county support is only going to get worse. The One Big Beautiful bill is cutting federal funding to administer SNAP, a vital food assistance program, by 25% and pushing the responsibility for funding the remaining 75% down to North Carolina County starting in FY '27. We'll lose about $3,000,000 in reimbursements annually. The bill will also impose stricter requirements on Medicaid participants. Starting in January, they'll have to go through more recertifications and more work requirement checks to get benefits.

The paperwork strain on counties will be tremendous. We plan to add 25 new positions in FY twenty seven in our social services department just to review and process that information on time. We'll have to spend more money to provide the same benefits to the 220,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in Wake County. We're taking on all this additional burden because we can't let local residents and families in need go unserved. But, it's another example of the state legislature and congress falling short of their fiscal responsibilities and passing the buck to us.

County taxpayers should be aware of the financial burden the state is placing on them. The General Assembly can reduce that burden by passing a budget that fully funds education, public safety, and social services. It would help us keep the property tax low while ensuring our residents are healthy, safe, and supported. Unfortunately, can't wait for the legislature to do the right thing. We have to make decisions based on current conditions and so therefore I recommend investing $8,000,000 we have in new property tax revenue in public safety for FY '27.

I propose creating 16 new EMT positions for Wake County EMS to meet the growing demand for service. As our population increases and ages, 911 calls for emergency medical care on the rise. Last year alone, they jumped by 4%. These new positions will ensure that every resident continues to get the help they need when they need it. I also recommend continuing to fund our fire services training manager position which leads the recruitment and training of new firefighters.

We funded this important role using American Recovery Plan Act or ARPA dollars, but since they're going away in December, we're shifting our county dollars to cover the cost. The highly successful Career in a Year program launched in October 2022. 53 graduates of the program continue to work in Wake County keeping our community safe. Our largest public safety investment in FY twenty seven will be expanding Wake County's detention services. The jail population has increased steadily over the past few years and some of that simply due to growth of our community, more people, more crime, but as I previously mentioned, we're routinely housing more than a 100 inmates who should be in state prison and not the county jail.

Another issue is offenders are remaining in our custody for longer periods of time. The types of crime they're committing are more serious and magistrates and judges are less likely to release them while they await trial. IRENA's law, which went into effect in December, restricts bail for violent crimes and increases the length of stay for offenders. A lack of state funding and staffing shortages in the court court system also slow down the speed of justice. All of these factors increase the need for more beds.

That's why we're reopening the jail annex. It will add 240 beds to expand capacity. While we've already appropriated funding to renovate the annex before we open it, we will have new costs associated with opening the facility. In consultation with sheriff Rowe, we're adding 92 detention positions to staff the annex and ensure safety. With salary and benefits, that will cost us about $7,000,000 in FY twenty seven.

It's a significant investment, one that state law requires the county to accommodate. To recap, all of the county's $8,000,000 in new property tax revenue is going to public safety. Funding additional investments like education will require a property tax increase. The biggest request for financial support came from the Wake County Public School System. Superintendent Taylor is asking for $25,300,000 in additional funding for FY '27.

That's on top of the $743,000,000 we provided them in FY '26 for facility maintenance and operating expenses. Although $768,000,000 is a lot of money, it's necessary. Without it, the school district would have to make significant cuts that would impact students ability to learn and achieve academically. Sadly, even though Wake County Public School System is North Carolina's largest school district, it remains at the bottom of the state's list for per pupil funding from the General Assembly. No one wants to risk our children's success and since the state has not fulfilled its responsibility to fully fund our schools, I recommend that we step in once again so that the school district can continue to give students the excellent education they deserve.

Wake Tech has also asked us for more funding in the FY '27 budget. Doctor Rawls and his team need 1,800,000 more dollars to continue to support facility maintenance, pay IT and administrative staff, and cover rising utility costs. I propose providing these additional funds on top of the $42,000,000 we gave them investment in Wake Tech's operating to $44,000,000 Smart Start is the final education provider that requested additional funding in the FY '27 budget. I recommend investing 2,000,000 more dollars in this organization to support Wake three school for three year olds and pre k for four year olds who meet income requirements. These new dollars would be on top of the $8,000,000 we invested in Smart Start in FY '26.

This $10,000,000 investment would fill funding gaps left by the state and add 50 new seats to Wake three school. Currently more than 2,000 children are enrolled and 900 others on a waiting list. If we don't step in and help, we risk our youngest and most vulnerable residents falling behind before they even get to kindergarten. In all, my budget recommendation would invest $823,000,000 in education for operating expenses. That's about 65% and about 65% of that is directly due to the lack of financial support coming from the state.

Looking ahead, county staff will ask the board to continue meeting its statutory responsibility by placing a referenda on the November ballot for the school system in Wake Tech. Totaling $833,000,000 the bonds would fund much needed building construction, IT infrastructure, and facility maintenance. Just like our education partners are concerned about attracting and retaining top teachers, I'm also focused on recruiting the best employees and keeping them here at Wake County and I can't do that if I can't provide competitive pay. Team Wake is more than 5,000 employees strong. Our staff is smart, skilled and passionate about serving our 1,200,000 residents every day.

Our employees are essential to achieving the county's mission, meeting the goals of your strategic plan, and providing excellent customer service. Without them we can't make progress in critical spaces like affordable housing, public safety, social services, and public health. I want to remain competitive in how we pay our staff. Not only is it the right thing to do, but as the county grows by 66 people a day, we can't afford to lose team members to another employer who pays better. That's why I recommend in the FY twenty seven budget a market range adjustment and pay increase for team weight.

Well performing members would receive a one to 3% raise while outstanding performers would get a 4%, a pay increase of up to four and a half percent. The new investments in education and county staff come with the cost. To find the additional funds, we scrubbed our ledgers, delayed some projects like the opening of Kellam Wyatt County Park. We also said no to about 40 budget expansion requests this year totaling $10,500,000. Items we're not funding include additional food and lodging inspectors to conduct more timely inspections of restaurants, hotels, and childcare facilities.

Customer service representatives in social services to support rising call volumes. Environmental consultants to meet the increasing demand for septic system inspections in our fast growing community, and the food security pilot programs we launched during the pandemic with federal ARPA dollars. They serve more than 3,400 people annually. While Wake County is an urban area that some consider affluent, more than a 100,000 residents fall below the federal poverty line. And so let me just repeat that.

More than a 100,000 of our residents fall below the federal poverty line. We need every dollar to help support education, education, public housing, health, and public safety. In my eight years as county manager, I've never proposed using one time funds to cover ongoing operating costs because it's not sustainable. But we're facing a unique property tax base challenge. I'm hopeful the state legislature will do the right thing and fix the Blue Ridge loophole and other state funding gaps.

And that's why I recommend using $35,000,000 from our reserves to plug the hole in our general fund so we can continue county operations. Even with that one time investment, we still need to increase the property tax rate in FY '27 by $02 to meet the needs of our growing community. That would raise the property tax rate to 53.71¢ and generate an additional $62,000,000. As an example, the owner of a $450,000 home would see a $90 increase in their tax bill. Out of all 100 counties in North Carolina, 67 of them had a higher tax rate than Wake County did in FY '26.

Even with my proposed tax increase, estimates show we'll still be in the bottom third in FY '27. My proposed FY '27 budget totals $2,282,021,000 It accounts for rising costs that stem from federal decisions including the conflict in Iran and tariffs on foreign goods. The recommended budget also subsidized areas where state funding continues to fall short. It will support the growing needs of Wake County Public School System, Wake Tech, and Smart Start. And it will ensure the housing needs of foster youth and offenders in our jail are met.

As a reminder, if state leaders fully funded these areas and others under their purview, our property tax rate would be around 30¢. Let me just repeat that one more time. Our property tax rate could drop to 30¢ if the state did its part. But by pushing financial responsibility to the counties, they are forcing our hand and causing us to raise your taxes. I also want to point out that for the last three years, this board has advocated to expand property tax relief for low income residents, veterans, and elderly, and the state has been unresponsive.

We invest in these important areas and many more because it's the right thing to do and because it takes funding to move the needle on the goals and initiatives in your strategic plan. With this budget, we also commit to doing all we can to sustain our programs and services within our current fiscal constraints. Before I close out this presentation, I want to offer some words of warning about the FY '28 budget. If the state doesn't close the Blue Ridge loophole and if the state caps the property tax, we will have to make cuts. That could look like reducing operating hours for certain programs, scaling back certain program investments, and potentially cutting funding for education.

These are not steps I wanna take and I know they're not steps you want to take either. The good news is there's still time to prevent them from happening if the state acts accordingly. Just wanna take a brief moment to thank the budget and management services department. Will the group in the very back stand up? They worked extremely hard in this proposal.

We spent some late evenings trying to get the budget balanced and they just did a yeoman's job and really appreciate this effort. I also want to applaud the staff and the county manager's office for their leadership and everything that they've done in the decision making process. Your time, energy, and thoughtfulness have resulted in a data driven recommendation that we presented today. And so now I want to switch a little bit and talk about the next steps in the budget process. We hope residents are watching the live stream and following our social media because their thoughts and feedback on this recommendation are important.

So starting tonight, they can submit comments on our website wake.gov/budget. On May 11, we'll hold a board work session dedicated to the proposed budget at two p. M. At the Wake County Justice Center. Later that evening, we'll hold our first budget public hearing at seven p. M. At the Wake County Commons Building. Our second budget public hearing will take place on May 18 during the board's regular two p. M. Meeting.

The public can submit online comments through May 20. We'll provide every comment we receive to the commissioners for review. On May 21, the board will hold a second budget work session to consider public feedback and identify any changes budget for consideration on June 1. And that's the day I'll bring the proposed budget to you for a vote during the regularly scheduled five p. M.

Board meeting. As always, the materials that explain what's in the FY '27 budget are on our website, wake.gov/budget and we encourage you to read through them and learn how funding allocations will move the strategic plan forward and you'll see why our vision statement says we're passionate about these proactive purposeful investments in our community. So, wanna thank you for your time and your consideration today and that's it. Thank you.

Thank you, manager Ellis. Okay, board members. There's a need to a motion to instruct the county manager to organize a process for receiving virtual public comments on the recommended budget and to hold public hearing and budget work session on the dates provided and to consider the budget for adoption at the June 1, Board of Commission meeting. So is there a motion to approve this action?

Mister chairman.

I hear who made the motion?

Susan, so moved.

Commission. And then we got a second by commission Thomas.

I was gonna read the entire motion for the record, but that's fine if you are okay with me not doing that.

No. Go ahead, please. I think it's important.

I move that the Board of Commissioners receives the recommended fiscal year twenty twenty seven budget for consideration and approves the following. Number one, instructs the county manager to organize a process for receiving virtual public comments on the recommended budget, and number two, holds a public hearing on the budget on A, Monday, May 11 at 7PM in the Wake Commons Building, and B, Monday, May 18 at 2PM in Wake County Justice Center. Number three, holds budget work sessions on Monday May 11 at two p. M. And Thursday May 21 at nine a. M. In the Wake County Justice Center Room 2800. Number 4, considers the budget adoption on Monday, June 1 during the Board of Commissioners regular meeting which begins at five p. M.

Thank you.

I'll second that.

Okay. We got a motion by Commissioner Thomas and second by Commissioner It is. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye. Any

opposed, please say nay. Not hearing any, the motion carries. Thank you. Now, let's move on to appointments. Madam vice chair Jackson, does the board of commission have any appointments to make to the citizen advisory board or commission at this time?

Yes. We do. Let me just get this Chair, there are several appointments that need to be made. I therefore move that the Board of Commissioners appoint the following individuals to the respective boards or commissions for the terms as set forth below: Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee, one reappointment Kay Costillo, and one resignation William Lamb. City of Raleigh Dix Park Commission won vacancy and one recommendation made for Damian Circosta to fill the vacancy.

The Energy Advisory Commission is one reappointment of Jeffrey Lippert and one term completion of Larry Nunnery. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council with two vacancies, one parks and rec designee and one chief of police local designee, and then one reappointment of Duane Holder, county manager designee. Have the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee with six reappointments: Anne Schick, Sarah Lynn Raha, Carol Durembacher, Bennett Cotton, Sandra Duchess and Marilyn House. Have the Town of Apex Planning Board with one vacancy for the ETJ and one recommendation received by the town of Apex for Mark Spernoli to fill that seat. Mr.

Chair, I re state my motion that the Board of Commissioners appoint the following individuals to their respective boards and commissions.

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. We have a motion. Is there a second?

I'll second that.

Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Jackson, a second by Commissioner Adelson. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye. All

those opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion passed. Now before we move on, Vice Chair Jackson, please let us know which vacancy will be coming up for next month.

Yes, I'm happy to name those and also encourage everyone to please constantly check our website for available opportunities. What we have coming up in June is the Agricultural Advisory Board with six reappointments, the Capital Area Workforce Development with nine reappointments and two term completions the City of Raleigh Design Review Commission, one ETJ vacancy the City of Raleigh Planning Commission, one term completion and one recommendation Durham Wake County's Research and Production Service District Advisory Committee, three reappointments, Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, three reappointments, Fire Commission, one reappointment and one term completion Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority, one reappointment Library Commission, three reappointments Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee, a District 5 vacancy. Wake Technical Community College Board of Trustees, one reappointment. Wendell Planning and Zoning with one reappointment and one term completion. And that's it.

Alright. Thank you, madam Vice. Now we'll move on to other business. Commissioners, would anyone like to share an update from an advisory or regional board that you are appointed to? Commissioner Waters.

I wanna salute Wake Ed partnership for their recent symposium that was held on Friday, May 1, which was an opportunity to uplift great work that is happening in our public schools. And I also want to talk about the great work that they do year round to help ensure that educators have classroom supplies. I was able to go out to Tools for Schools recently where North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls was also volunteering and see educators from schools all across Wake County at the elementary, middle, and high school come out for resources that are critical to ensure that kids finish the school year strong. And so they are continuing to do that work and just put a plug that they do have an Amazon wish list out there that helps resource our schools. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other board members? Commissioner Starlin's, Commissioner Adamson.

Thank you, Chair. Just some public health and behavioral health updates. We had our quarterly Wake County Drug Overdose Prevention Coalition meeting recently, and that was to get updates on the overdose prevention work that's going on in the county, and that was hosted by our staff, and many community partners were there. And good news is we are moving in the right direction with drug overdoses. They are decreasing. We're still not where we need to be, but we are moving in the right direction. And just to add that on June 24, we'll have our annual opioid settlement community meeting at the McKimmons Center, June 24 from 10AM to 3PM, and be taking a deep dive into our opioid settlement work. So thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Stalin. Commissioner Addison?

Yes, thank you. I attended the our convention and visitors bureau board had their monthly meeting at the ribbon cutting for the Omni, which is very exciting that we are we cut the ribbon. It'll be 600 rooms and over 50,000 square feet of meeting space. It'll be a great asset for downtown. And at the same time, we cut the ribbon we turned the dirt for the Omni, but we cut the ribbon on the new plaza in front of the Martin Marietta Center.

And so now if you have mobility challenges, there is a driveway where you can be dropped off very close to the door. You don't have to park and walk or park in the street like you do now. So that'll make it much easier for our mobility challenge residents to attend events there. And it's also very pretty they completely redid it and- it doesn't look anything like what we remember. And they actually had some students who designed the flowers and the gardening there.

And of course, it's all native plants. And it was really nice to meet the folks from Omni. I think they're going to be great partners of ours going forward. We had our monthly Live Well Wake action team meeting. And it was a lot of questions about funding because WakeMed is a big funding partner and what will happen to that.

And they also received some ARPA money. And I went to Phoenix with the Raleigh Chamber for their inner city visit in Phoenix, and I always learn a lot when I go to those. It was very good. Visited some of their homelessness facilities, and it was good to see how they support because they're five times bigger than us, and their homeless population is about 10,000, which is in line with five times hours. So it was it was good to see that. Thank you.

Thank you Commissioner Haslam. Commission Jackson?

Yes, okay. I just have one report for advisory and regional boards but when we circle back to other reports I'd like to circle back to them. Regarding the advisory board and regional board, I want to share passage home just completed their most recent workforce development cohort. This was their fourth. And I was able to attend the culminating celebration, and it was just amazing to see our mission alive and to hear the stories of impact.

So I'm just here to let you know that Passage Home is thriving, is really helping neighbors in our community, and to also lift up that they were able to secure Kerwin Pittman as the keynote speaker. If you all haven't I see some nods. He was there to inspire and speak into the cohort members. And so we're just really proud of what the new leadership at Passage Home has been able to do. We were just celebrating as a board just the progress that's been made over the last year, significant progress to a vital community asset or asset in our community.

And just to let you all know, they will have another cohort kicking off at the end of May, at the end of this month, and they are often looking for folks to come and be trainers and contribute to the content. So this is an invitation for my fellow board members and the public that Passage Home is looking to connect the members of their cohort with different kinds of experiences and other folks within our community. Please reach out to passage home. I know I am going to contribute. So thank you and just very happy to bring back such good news on behalf of that board.

Thank you, Madam Vice. Commissioner Edmondson, I believe that you had on the other?

Yes, under general items activities, the most exciting of which was on Tuesday, April 21, Wake County hosted a housing symposium titled Aligning for Impact and I was delighted to be able to attend that day. There were many, many nonprofit partners, many municipal partners there and we spent the day hearing from a variety of different panels of folks who had expertise in different areas that were all very insightful and good partnerships were melded through the collaboration that took place that day. So hats off to our Housing and Community Revitalization Director Morgan Mansa and her staff who pulled that together. I've heard nothing but accolades for the event since. Also on the twenty third, I participated in the ribbon cutting for the Birch And Branch apartment neighborhood in East Raleigh and that's a great place that has now opened that will be providing affordable housing I think for a couple of 100 apartments and the county was a partner funder on that project so it's always good to see those things when they finally get built.

Also attended one of my favorite events of the year which is the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year luncheon. This is when each of our Boys and Girls Clubs in Johnson And Wake Counties selects a leader that they put forth for the year. Many of these folks are getting ready to go to college or they're juniors in high school and they give speeches and we get to hear from them and they're just so amazing and get to share about what a difference the Boys and Girls Clubs have made in their lives. It's always a heartwarming event and we appreciate our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. On the twenty fifth I was privileged to participate in an event with Arise Collective.

Arise Collective is a nonprofit that does work helping formerly incarcerated women re acclimate into the community providing a lot of different support services and the event they had that day was at Dick's Park and it was highlighting an art project called Stitching Stories and it was a compilation of art pieces that originated when 62 women together in prison worked on crocheting things that represented their lifetime experiences and then it's now been redesigned into a traveling mosaic tile art thing. So if you see an opportunity to visit and see the stitching stories reimagined art exhibit, please you'll find that very inspirational. And I also participated on the Raleigh Chamber intercity visit to Phoenix last week and always good to hear about what other cities are doing that are growing like we are and always good networking with business partners and nonprofit partners and all the folks that go along on that trip. Thank you.

Thank you Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Jackson?

Okay. Yes. In other business. A couple of exciting things since the last time we were together. One, want to acknowledge some activity going on in the faith community in Wake County and want to recognize the United Holy Church of America celebrating one hundred and forty years getting started here in Wake County and having a legacy and history.

It was a pleasure to meet members of that community. And then the very next day to support you, Share Mile, with the preservation ceremony of good hope. I'll let you speak a little more to that, but it was just wonderful to be part of both of these long standing faith communities because we know how important those communities are to sustaining the well-being of our community and our county. I also want to acknowledge that I've got to hang out with some farmers. You all may not know I live in Well might be a battle the most rural part of the county, but it was just a joy to be able to visit some of the farmers in Southern Wake County and really get connected to the challenges that they're facing and their perseverance and the way they are pivoting and also an important contribution to our community.

Faith Community to Farms then to the high school was able to cross paths with Commissioner Stallings at Green Hope High School, which is one of the best activities to be in front of high school seniors who are thinking about civic engagement, economics, and their role in it. It's just a wonderful opportunity to be there and to hear their thoughts, to provide and share experiences that we're having as commissioners, and just a wonderful opportunity. Last, the trails. Triangle Trails held a summit last week that was just a great reminder of one of the key things that make Wake County so wonderful, and that's our open space and greens, green canopies and trails and everything like that. And it was just wonderful to meet members of that community that have worked long and hard to get to 300 miles of trails in Wake County and to be thinking about what trails can do to transform the Triangle area more broadly.

So that wraps it up in terms of what I'd like to highlight for other business. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Starlins.

I didn't want to go before you because you hadn't had a chance yet. So this just an attestation of so many wonderful things going on in our county. So I'll just highlight a couple of additional ones. Housing, we continue to have houses come out of the ground. We're still chipping away, we're gonna keep chipping away at housing needs, so I had an opportunity to provide some remarks with the Southeast Raleigh Promise groundbreaking on April 24, and that's going to be 25 mixed income rental homes across nine properties here in Raleigh.

It was a wonderful event and glad to be a part of that. I'm gonna be part of a mental health task force that's just launched in APEX called the Peak Resilience and Well-being Task Force. We are Peak has to be in the name because APEX is considered the peak of good living. So Peak is in almost everything in APEX. But really looking forward to launching this task force to create awareness and support for people dealing with any kinds of stressors or mental health challenges from mild to moderate to severe.

And in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, which is in May, we will be having our first community event on May 29 from six to eight m. At the Apex Senior Center. Nami will be our keynote speaker and we'll have personal stories from an adult and a youth sharing their journeys with mental health needs and there will also be a number of community resources there available for the public as well. So looking forward to that work that'll probably go for about one to two years in Apex. Yes.

Earth Fest was in Apex on April 25. It was fun to be there, and also Ms. Mackie and colleagues from Green Hope always invite us every semester to go and visit with their high schoolers, and it's such an engaging, wonderful time, and I'm always, my hope is renewed whenever I'm with our young people. It is such such a good time and I believe that is it on updates from my end. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you Commissioner Stalin. Commissioner Waters. I

want to highlight that May is foster care awareness month and lift up children who are in our care and all those who do work to ensure their safety and to ensure stability in their lives. I also want to lift up nurses appreciation week as a sister of a nurse the critical work that nurses do is unmatched in service and lastly want to lift up teacher appreciation week I see a couple of our fine educators in the room with us this evening and want to really salute all the educators that came downtown on May 1 to give voice to the needs of students across our state. It was quite an emotional experience and unfortunate that it is required to get the minimum and basic needs that our public schools require, but really grateful for all who took their time to come out and advocate for children like my own, and particularly was meaningful to see so many signs advocating for funding for special education and that is my lived experience. So thank you to all educators for the work that you do day in and day out. And also appreciate the opportunity to have attended the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children Gala along with Commissioners Adamson and Evans and to lift up the important work that that foundation does to fill critical gaps that we may not realize exist within our public school system.

I was taken aback to learn that some of our school children are often missing school because of health assessments and then also the barriers for things like hearing aids that are addressed by the organization. So I really appreciate the work that goes on there. And I appreciate also being able to be a part of the Ligon Legacy Committee along with Ligon alum, Chair Miles, to ensure that we have opportunity to weigh in on such a special and unique project that is critical to our community. And lastly, I had a chance to attend my first Kentucky Derby event, was a fundraiser for Violet Love, which is supporting women and girls in North Carolina, Sierra Leone, and Ghana and was quite impressed to see our own Sheriff Roe and Roseville Mayor Ronnie Curran there in support and dressed to the nines and celebrating and supporting needs of vulnerable communities. And so great things are always happening in Awaken.

I'm glad to be a part of those.

Thank you Commissioner Waters. Think Commissioner Jackson, you had another item you wanted to add?

Yes. A couple of things that I missed adding. One, I want to recognize that this week kicks off small business week, and we know how vital small businesses are to our community and to our economic vitality. So come to Southern Wake County and shop at some of the small businesses there, and I'm sure you will be delighted. I also want to acknowledge that the comment period is open for public libraries.

I know I've been sharing and posting and encourage many everybody to weigh in and tell us what our public libraries should be and what your needs are and what's working for you. And then lastly, in the name of acknowledging milestones and celebrations, I want to acknowledge the North Carolina Black Alliance for celebrating their twentieth year. It was a wonderful time and they continue to do good work mobilizing in our state. So I want to just say acknowledge their milestone as well. And that wraps it up for me. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Jackson. Commissioner Admison?

Yes, I was just going to mention that Commissioner Waters and Evans and myself were at the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Gala. And one of the things they also do is when the state of North Carolina cut the funding for the teacher cadet programs, they picked it up. So we got to meet these lovely young people who were in high school who aspire to be teachers and it's really heartwarming to see those.

Thank you. Commission Thomas.

Thank you Chairman. There are lots of things going on and while I will not update you on all the things I have been at this week, we are talking a lot about recognition and so I do want to acknowledge that this week May 3 through May 9 is professional clerks to the Board of County Commissioners and I want to shout out as manager Ellis talked about our staff and how important it is for team Wake to be recruited and retained. I did want to shout out all of the hard work that our clerk and our deputy clerk do. They are models for they both serve with the association and they are models for other clerks across the state. So thank you both for all of the work you do and in all of the recognition I want to make sure that we acknowledge and recognize them. Thank you, sir.

You. Any other comments? Okay. I'm just gonna add a couple things, which a lot of us have already been mentioned. Of course, the boys and girls event is something that we attend every year, which is always a great event.

I enjoy attending and listening to what the kids have done in terms of their aspiration and some of the hardships that they have experienced. Some of the stories you you hear from those kids is just unbelievable. But they're able to persevere, and they're able to move forward, which gives us a lot of hope in terms of where our community is headed. Also, a great trip to Phoenix. Anytime we're able to go on the inner city trip, we always learn so many different things that are going on in other parts of the country that helps us when we come back home to try to help make good sound decision.

And I know commissioner Waters did not talk much about it, that she did a great speech there for the housing out there at Birch. I think that was added a 180 more units to that. I I know there were several of us there because commissioner Thomas, commissioner Edmonds, and myself was there, which is great. And, of course, on yesterday, I had the the pleasure of giving the speech there for the historical proclamation there for the VFW one forty eight and also the historical recognition of Good Hope Baptist Church. And I must confess it it was a great, well attended event.

And, of course, I have my colleague there, commissioner Jackson. She always added a a pleasure there and had a chance. And for those y'all that did not know or was not aware, that was my home church. And so the church was a 162. And to have the opportunity to bring and greet on behalf of this board for me was just awesome to be there and have my mom there, have my dad's last sibling, my dad's first cousin.

And all these envy I'm talking about, my my aunt is 97, My uncle, he's 92, and my cousin was 98. So to have that type of history there and to be honored, it was just an awesome event y'all state. And sheriff Willie Rowe was there as well because he has family on that end as well. So it was just a great homecoming there for everyone yesterday. So I just want to say thank you for all those that was had a part in that.

And, of course, to our comm staff, you guys always do a great speech. And, gosh, I hope I delivered it in a respectful manner. But you guys, we definitely appreciate what you do. That that just speaks volume of what Team Wake does, whether it's in our comms, whether it's in our accounting area, whether it's in our attorney's office. We just got a great team and especially our clerks because you got seven of us that y'all try to keep up with. And I know it's like herding cats at time, but we just want to say thank you. Really, really thank you for what y'all do to support us as what we do throughout the the year. Okay. Now, mister Askew, is there a need for a closed session today?

No, mister chair. There is not.

Bless god.

I take it that was a glea hope there that came from everyone. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Attorney. Yes. Yes, David. I'm sorry, Ms. Manager.

I just want to take a moment. This is also Public Service Recognition Week and give a shout out to all the members of Team Wake and all

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18 at two p. M. I have a motion to adjourn?

Motion to adjourn. A second. Aye.

Is there a second?

Second. Several seconds.

Okay. There were so many of y'all there. Who made the motion? Who are going to got it. You got it? Okay. In favor?

Aye.

Anyone opposed? Not hearing any. The ayes have it. Meeting adjourned.