Journeys Summer 2019 | Page 12

8 Participate in the County FY20 Budget process Cabarrus County is proposing a 2-cent increase on the current tax rate of 72 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Learn more about the need for the increase and how the County allocates funding. The County’s Government 101 series brings back an annual favorite, The Budget Breakdown, on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn more about the County’s budgeting process, get answers to your budget questions and provide valuable feedback on the proposed budget before Commis- sioners vote on the matter. To register, call 704- 920-2336 or email [email protected]. 9 Immediate need for foster parents Cabarrus County Human Services is working to address an immediate need for foster families that reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of our area. Human Services provides ongoing support, train- ing and licensure for families to temporarily care for abused and neglected children. Potential foster parents receive training on dealing with child abuse and neglect, working with birth parents and helping foster children deal with the challenges they face. Classes also help potential foster parents gain insight on life as a foster parent. Foster parents must be at least 21 years old, have a stable home and income, submit fingerprints and pass a criminal records check, maintain a drug-free environment, complete all required training and receive licensure from the State of North Carolina. Foster parents receive financial compensation from the agency for a child’s room, board and other liv- ing expenses. For more information, email foster@ cabarruscounty.us or call 704-920-1400. 10 JOURNEYS Summer 2019 10 Voter ID required in 2020: Learn the facts State officials will hold two educational seminars about voter photo identification requirements in Cabarrus County on August 12. The first session is at 2 p.m. in the Board of Elections Office (369 Church Street N, Concord) and a second session takes place at 6 p.m. that day in the Kannapolis Train Station (201 S. Main Street, Kannapolis). The seminar is free and open to the public. Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls. Session Law 2018-144 requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before September 1, 2019. Attend- ees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, One-Stop early voting and Election Day voting. Informa- tion about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided. For more information on the voter ID requirement in North Carolina, please go to http://ncsbe.gov/ Voter-ID or contact the Cabarrus County Board of Elections at 704-920-2100 or elections@ cabarruscounty.us. n