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2 <br />meeting. After the public hearing, the Board discussed the potential referendum and requested <br />that staff schedule a decision on a possible November referendum at the Board's June 15, <br />2010 regular meeting. <br />It should be noted that, according to Board of Elections Director Tracy Reams, the Board of <br />Commissioners needs to make a decision on or before August 6, 2010 regarding a possible <br />November 2, 2010 one - quarter cent (1/4¢) county sales and use tax referendum in order to <br />provide the necessary time to fully prepare for the November election. This timeframe allows <br />for the coding and programming to include the referendum and appropriate time to print and <br />receive ballots. The Board of Elections is required to have absentee ballots on site and ready <br />to mail by September 3, 2010. If circumstances demand otherwise, Ms. Reams has indicated <br />that, although it creates some difficulties in planning, the Board could delay making a decision <br />until August 13, 2010. <br />Attached is a resolution for Board consideration calling for a special advisory referendum on the <br />November 2, 2010 ballot on the question of whether to levy the Article 46 one - quarter percent <br />county sales and use tax in Orange County. <br />As detailed in the resolution, the November 2, 2010 ballot question would ask Orange County <br />voters to vote for or against a local sales and use tax at the rate of one - quarter cent in addition <br />to all other state and local sales and use tax. It should be noted that the ballot question cannot <br />include language regarding proposed uses of the funds from the one - quarter cent tax. A <br />"sunset clause" can also not be included on the ballot question. Any action to subsequently <br />sunset an implemented sales and use tax would require additional /separate Board action. A <br />November 2, 2010 ballot question would appear as follows: <br />[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST <br />County Sales and Use Tax <br />Local sales and use tax at the rate <br />of one - quarter percent (0.25 %) in <br />addition to all other State and <br />local sales and use taxes. <br />The attached resolution in its current form does not include language regarding the <br />possible uses of any funds potentially generated if the sales and use tax is implemented. <br />The Board could choose at this meeting to incorporate language into the resolution regarding <br />the proposed use of the potential funds. Alternatively, the Board could discuss the potential <br />uses of funds generated by an implemented sales and use tax at a future meeting. This future <br />discussion could include scheduling a public hearing (although not required) to solicit comments <br />from the public on potential uses for the funds. <br />Pending approval of the attached referendum resolution, the Board may want to consider <br />discussing at this meeting or a future meeting any public education efforts to ensure voters are <br />knowledgeable regarding the ballot question. The North Carolina Association of County <br />Commissioners recommends that counties undertake a public education campaign to educate <br />voters. County staff envisions any education initiative to be similar to those the County has <br />undertaken for past voter approved bond referenda. The County expended approximately <br />$17,000 as part of the public education campaign for the November 2001 bond referendum. As <br />a point of information, Orange County currently has approximately 100,000 registered voters. <br />