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14 <br />Representatives Hackney and Insko <br />Senators Kinnaird and Lee <br />Page 2 <br />March 18, 1997 <br />No one spoke in opposition to the local initiatives which <br />would provide Orange County with additional sources of revenue <br />for capital expenditures. As each of you know, Orange County is <br />experiencing tremendous growth. It needs now and will need in <br />the future new schools, improvement and expansion of its existing <br />schools and new judicial and other government facilities to <br />adequately provide the services demanded by the people of Orange <br />County and those visiting it. Revenue Orange County would <br />receive from the land transfer tax and the entertainment tax <br />would be focused on these capital needs. Land transfers almost <br />always impact the schools of Orange County and forecast the need <br />for new school facilities. Persons using the large entertainment <br />venues in Orange County significantly increase the demand on <br />Orange County's judicial and other government facilities. The <br />facilities are being expanded now and will soon need to be <br />expanded more. <br />One of the resolutions enclosed seeks introduction of and <br />support for a bill revising Orange County's occupancy tax <br />authority to make it applicable generally to facilities owned by <br />the University of North Carolina. The Orange County Visitors <br />Bureau is funded wholly from occupancy tax revenue. The Visitors <br />Bureau promotes Orange County businesses and particularly the <br />businesses catering to visitors to the County. The Carolina Inn <br />is a significant beneficiary of the promotion work of the <br />Visitors Bureau. The revision to the occupancy tax authority <br />sought by Orange County will clarify that this tax applies to <br />persons, other than the University itself, buying accommodations <br />at the University in the same manner as it applies if the <br />accommodations where purchased, say at the Hotel Europa. The <br />Town of Chapel Hill has adopted a similar resolution. The Town <br />and the County expect to work together with the University on the <br />final language of the bill to ensure that it accomplishes its <br />intended purpose, without unintended consequences to the <br />University. <br />Orange County also seeks your support for several statewide <br />initiatives. The Smart Start Program has been very successful in <br />Orange County. Orange County seeks your continued support of <br />this early childhood program and at the increased levels proposed <br />by Governor Hunt. <br />The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners is <br />seeking legislation which would authorize counties to levy an <br />excise tax on instruments conveying real property as an <br />alternative source of revenue for counties. Orange County <br />supports this initiative. And, if it is successful, Orange <br />County's local bill to authorize this excise tax can fall away. <br />Enclosed is information received by Orange County from its <br />ABC Board. Orange County supports the initiative of the State <br />