Minutes - 20070119 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 Commissioner Jacobs suggested saying to "target" tax increase to no more than debt service. He could support this. Commissioner Gordon said that there is already $92 million of proposed debt. She said that if the increase was no more than the dollar amount for that debt service, she could agree with it. Chair Carey said that there is a target for debt service over the years, but the actual cost may be less because the estimate is conservative. This gives some latitude to pay operational expenses. In addition to that cushion, there is the normal growth in the tax base that will help. He thinks that there is a lot of room built into the limit that he would like to agree on, because it sends the clearest message to the staff, and the staff can work out the details. He does not care whether the word is "target" or "limit". Laura Blackmon said that a target will give the staff some flexibility. The County currently has debt, there is $92 million to issue, and the staff can start with that. Geof Gledhill asked for clarification on what the Board agreed to regarding taxes. Andy Sachs said that the Board has consensus on targeting the tax increase to no more than what is needed for the debt service. The focus is on target rather than limit. At this time, the Board took a break for lunch. 11:58 a.m. The Board came back from lunch at 12: 36 p.m. Loose Ends Commissioner Gordon made reference to #21 under Loose Ends, which says, "Ask Manager to identify projects that have fallen behind, and to complete them." She suggested asking the Manager to identify the loose ends and see if there is agreement. Commissioner Jacobs said that he circled the items that he would consider loose ends. Laura Blackmon said that she could do this. There is a list of follow-up items, and staff should be able to help her identify projects that are loose ends. The staff could bring back the list for prioritization. Commissioner Jacobs suggested giving all of the loose ends a timeframe. All of the issues need a closure date. Diversity/Justice Commissioner Foushee said that affordable housing would be first for her, since they want to maintain diversity in Orange County. She said that most of that is predicated on a diverse group of people being able to live in Orange County. In order to do that, there must be affordable housing. Besides that, she would like to continue to work on issues that involve mental health, childcare, and aging. She would also like to move from living wages to housing wages. Commissioner Jacobs said that the County Commissioners had a goal at one time for the Human Rights and Relations Commission to survey the citizens about social justice, and this group is supposed to be coming back to the Board with its results in the coming year. Commissioner Foushee said that she would like to include in the affordable housing issue is establishing aland-banking program. Commissioner Jacobs said that there should be a process in place for people in mobile home communities when a development comes in. There is no strategy for where these people would go. An example is the mobile home community in the Daniel Boone area. Andy Sachs asked for more clarification on the mental health issue within this goal. Commissioner Nelson said that there is a great fear in the community that people are falling through the cracks with the new mental health reorganization within the state. Chair Carey said that it would be good to get the Mental Health Director to update the Board on this issue.