Residents pack Alamance County Commissioners meeting, voicing budget fears

Dozens of residents spoke out at an Alamance County Commissioners meeting on Monday, calling for more support in the budget for schools and libraries.

The concerns came after a recent presentation showed that keeping the tax rate flat would require deep cuts to services. Officials clarified at the meeting that no decision has been made.

But the current property tax increase recommendation is not enough, though, to fulfill the school system's request for more than $78 million.

Reagan Gural, president and CEO of the Alamance Chamber of Commerce, said investing in education is important for a growing community.

"A low tax rate may sound appealing, but if it prevents us from making essential investments, are we truly serving the best interest of our citizens and our business?" Gural said. "We must make decisions that do not place our community at a disadvantage compared to others in the region."

Commissioners are expected to vote on the budget on June 16.