[Durham INC] TODAY DEADLINE to Comment at County Budget Hearing - Ask the County Commission to Help All of Us Stay Safe at Home

[Lorisa Seibel]

Dear Neighbors, Please spread the word across Durham County.
TODAY, SATURDAY, 5/23/20, is the deadline to Comment at the County Budget
Hearing on Tuesday.  Please send a short comment to:
www.dconc.gov/20-21budgetportal OR mtoomer at dconc.gov
Here is an example:
---
Dear County Commissioners,
With COVID-19, people will need more help with rent, mortgages, and taxes
to keep their homes this year.  I ask the County to help by:

- Increasing Eviction Diversion Funds.  DSS will use all $180,000 in the
Eviction Diversion Fund this year.  People who lost income due to COVID-19
need all the help they can get to stay in their homes in the coming year.

- Helping Long-time, Low-Income Homeowners with Tax Assistance up to $1.2
Million.  The County helps homeowners pay mortgages (which include
taxes), but does not help long-time homeowners without mortgages.  Taxes
are rising faster than incomes, which puts senior, disabled, Habitat, and
other low-income homeowners at risk of losing their homes and their
neighborhoods.  Across Durham, high taxes due to high home prices are
displacing residents.  Gentrification raises taxes faster in Historic
African-American neighborhoods.  This is a Fair Housing and Race Equity
issue.

- Reaching out to all residents to offer help with applications for housing
and taxes.  With COVID-19, many people will need help to get the help they
need.

Please let us know how we can help the County help our neighbors. Thank you.
---
FYI:
Tuesday, 5/26, 7:00pm, is the County Commission meeting.  The Budget is the
1st Public Hearing, after the Consent Items, so it may start after 7:30pm.
The Agenda is here
<https://www.dconc.gov/government/departments-a-e/board-of-commissioners/commissioner-meetings/bocc-live-archived-media-library>
.
The meeting is broadcast live on the Durham Television Network live on
Spectrum Channel 8.  The meeting will also be streamed live on the County’s
website
<https://www.dconc.gov/government/departments-a-e/board-of-commissioners/commissioner-meetings/bocc-live-archived-media-library>
.
For more information about the Board of Commissioners’ meetings and
agendas, visit here
<https://www.dconc.gov/government/departments-a-e/board-of-commissioners>.
Contact the County Clerk (919) 560-0025 or email to mtoomer at dconc.gov.

ANYTIME, you can email County Commissioners at: *Commissioners at dconc.gov
<Commissioners at dconc.gov>*
Thank You and Stay Safe,
Lorisa Seibel
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