The Orange County Board of Commissioners is set to finalize the 2016-2017 budget Tuesday, without an additional tax increase.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Board voted to increase funding for the two local school districts to approximately $5.4 million above what the county manager recommended, but was still short of what the districts requested. A .6% tax increase to generate over $1 million for school funding was proposed during last week’s budget work session but did not pass.

This puts the board on track to vote Tuesday without any additional amendments to the budget.

In addition to finalizing the budget, the Board of Commissioners plans to strengthen ties between Orange County, the Town of Chapel Hill and ‘LAUNCH Chapel Hill,’ the small business incubator. The board plans to give the company $33,500 for the next three years to support its 3,700 square foot expansion. The added space will help the company accommodate more start-ups and in turn create more jobs for Orange County residents.

The board is also scheduled to approve amendments to the Bicycle Safety Task Force. The task force was formed after community members raised concerns about how bikes are impacting traffic flow and raising potential safety issues.

The task force was charged with recruiting no more than 18 members including people from law enforcement, the school system and bike advocacy groups, to name a few. The group is also in the process of appointing a liaison to work with the Board of Commissioners and communicate the needs and concerns of the task force.

These changes, the budget and more will be voted on at seven o’clock Tuesday night at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill.

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