CHESTER – The Orange County Citizens Foundation issued its third Quality of Life Report Card addressing a number of issues in the more than 300 page document.
The report, which took a year to compile, looks at education, health and health care, the economy, the environment, arts and culture, transportation, public safety and government.
Foundation President Nancy Proyect notes the study looks at positives
and negatives as far as the count’s quality of life goes.
“Things like our unemployment have been reduced. We are seeing an increase still in agricultural products – the number of farms has reduced but the dollar amount has increased – so farmers are making more money on the products they are selling,” she said. “Our healthcare statistics are better overall. We still see some problem areas, but overall the health of Orange County residents is improving.”
On the downside, Proyect points to the number of school age children
declining – they are the future of the county, and that the number
of children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches has increased,
which she said is not a good sign.
The full report is available on the Orange County Citizens Foundation website
