Roy bests Coach K in popularity poll

Last month Public Policy Polling asked what North Carolinians think of Roy Williams. Public Policy's Tom Jensen says a lot of people asked how popular Mike Krzyzewski is. So they included him on their poll this month.

Here's what Jensen reports:

•52 percent of voters in the state have a favorable opinion of Krzyzewski, compared to 61 percent for Williams. Fourteen percent have an unfavorable opinion of the Duke coach, while just 9 percent had a negative one of the UNC head guy.

•While 68 percent of Duke fans last month said they had a favorable opinion of Williams, only 53 percent of Carolina fans say they view Krzyzewski positively.

"My biggest take away from these numbers is that UNC and Duke fans are not actually as hateful of their rivals as public perception would indicate," Jensen said in an e-mail. "The most vociferous of their supporters might truly hate their adversary's coach, and they attract most of the attention whenever UNC-Duke time rolls around, but the average fan actually respects the opposing coach."

"I guess you can put me in the vociferous category though because this UNC grad thinks that Roy Williams walks on water and that Krzyzewski is ... well ... just about the devil," he added. "Although he's pretty harmless when he's lost to Carolina six of the last seven times out."

PITTSBORO

Chatham budget cuts spending 3 percent

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners adopted an $80.5 million budget June 15 that lowers spending and the tax rate.

The 2009-10 budget is 3 percent less than this year's. The tax rate drops from 65.3 cents to 60.22 cents per $100 valuation to lessen the impact of the 2009 revaluation.

The owner of a house with tax value of $250,000 will pay $1,505.50 in county taxes.

Despite the overall reductions in expenses, the school budget increased 4 percent and the budget's share of funding for K-12 schools increased from 36.5 percent to 39 percent.

"Funding our schools was a top priority of the commissioners. We worked with the school system to lessen the impact of state cuts on education," said George Lucier, chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.

According to Renee Paschal, assistant county manager, a revenue neutral tax rate does not mean that all property owners' tax bills for 2009 will be about the same as their 2008 property tax bills. "Each property owner will be affected differently, depending on how much his or her real property values changed, whether the new values were adjusted through the appeals process and how the new tax rate impacts their vehicle and personal property tax bills."

The "adopted budget is definitely lean," Lucier said. "We provided no employee pay raises and departments made major cuts in their budgets."

CARRBORO

Artist will sign copies of town walking map

Artist Richard Cloudt will sign numbered copies of his hand drawn Walk Carrboro maps at the Carrboro Farmers' Market from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 27.

Some proceeds from the $10 map will benefit the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service that feeds and shelters the homeless in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

The first-ever walking map to Carrboro was introduced earlier this year with a new Web site (WalkCarrboro.com). In all, 22 downtown businesses joined together to fund the new Walk Carrboro venture. And Cloudt's colorful and playful map is the centerpiece of the new effort, which was commissioned by the Carrboro Merchants Association.

"What an honor," Cloudt said. "I've spent 20 years in this town and can think of no greater assignment than to bring Carrboro to life on paper."

"Carrboro is already a tourist destination," said Jesse Kalisher, president of the Carrboro Merchants Association, who also owns a fine art photography gallery in downtown Carrboro. "It's a destination for tourists who know about individual businesses. With the map and Web site, we're able to spread the word about everything that's here - from handmade chocolate to locally made pottery to remarkable meals, world-class comedy and all the rest."