Orange County NC Website
Geoffrey Gledhill noted that the impact fee cannot be used for <br />current capital unless it is new space. However, sales tax revenue can be <br />used. <br />Commissioner Gordon questioned how the renovation money is being <br />spent for the Hillsborough Elementary School (formerly A.L. Stanback) and <br />how long it will extend the life of this facility. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this facility had a complete <br />retrofit four or five years ago and that part of the school is in good <br />shape. However, they will not be able to use the entire facility. <br />John Link attended a meeting on welfare services yesterday. He said <br />that there will not be any real change before June for welfare services. <br />There is a downward trend on AFDC cases in the state which means that the <br />two areas that the County and State will need to address between now and <br />June is day care and Medicaid. The focus is on getting people into jobs <br />and providing day care for these people. It is uncertain how much <br />Medicaid costs will increase. These changes will come about July 1, 1996. <br />In summary, Sally Kost said that the overall growth in total revenue <br />will be about $2 million, while the cost for just opening the two new <br />schools and other readily identifiable expenses will be close to $3 <br />million. <br />Orange County Schools would like to use impact fee monies for the <br />startup costs for the old A.L. Stanback School. This will necessitate an <br />amendment to the Impact Fee Ordinance to allow them to use these monies in <br />this way. <br />Planning Director Marvin Collins said that the technical report on <br />impact fees will be ready for public hearing in May, 1996. They are <br />waiting on the outcome of the School Construction Standards Task Force. <br />With regards to recreation fees and increasing the Payment-In-Lieu fees, <br />they will provide a report in early 1996 in time for the February public <br />hearing. The current regulation is based on assessed value when it should <br />be on the basis of true market value. It will be easier for the staff to <br />administer on a true market value basis. He mentioned that another option <br />is to establish an impact fee for recreation. The County has this <br />enabling legislation. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked that staff give some suggestions on raising <br />revenue - a laundry list of fees and other items where the County can <br />raise some revenue. It was decided that these ideas will be presented at <br />the same time the goals are presented for approval in March, 1996. <br />Chair Carey said that he does not want to increase user fees to <br />finance County government. He feels there are probably some areas like <br />EMS where the County is not collecting all it could from insurance <br />payments. He said that there is a proposal to relieve the County from the <br />responsibility of Medicaid and AFDC matching payments if the County is <br />willing to take over the total responsibility of financing new schools. <br />This idea is gaining momentum. This means that the State would no longer <br />have to approve the construction plans for all new schools. Orange County <br />is spending about $3 million on Medicaid and AFDC and receiving about one <br />half million for school construction. <br />PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT <br />The commissioners reviewed the list of goals they have been using to <br />guide land use planning and development. After discussion it was decided <br />that the list of goals should be as follows: (A) Avoiding urban sprawl, <br />(B) Preservation of protected watersheds and ground water resources, (C) <br />