
Hillsborough: Budget Updates, Data Center Moratorium, Longtime Employee Retires
News ClipChapelboro.com·Hillsborough, Orange County, NC·5/13/2026
The Hillsborough town board has enacted a 60-day moratorium on the construction of data-mining facilities. This decision allows town staff to update relevant land use ordinances. Mayor Mark Bell also discussed the town budget and a retiring employee.
moratoriumzoninggovernment
Gov: Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell, Hillsborough town board, Orange County Commissioners
Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with Andrew Stuckey of 97.9 The Hill about recent town news. Key among the updates was the Hillsborough town board's decision to impose a 60-day moratorium on the construction of data-mining facilities. This temporary measure is intended to give town staff time to review and update existing land use ordinances pertaining to such developments.
Mayor Bell also discussed the town's proposed budget, noting that it includes no tax increases but does feature adjustments to water and sewer rates. Additionally, he recognized Shawn Maines, a longtime wastewater plant operator, who is retiring after 28 years of service to the town. This interview is part of an ongoing series where local government leaders from Chapel Hill and the surrounding Orange County area discuss community events and decisions.