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i~ ~s ~a cz~~ -/J3 7 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />Resolution Petitioning the <br />State for County Medicaid Relief <br />WHEREAS, finding a solution for Medicaid costs is universally held as a top <br />priority for counties in the State of North Carolina; and <br />WHEREAS, the statewide county share of Medicaid is projected to be $488 <br />million in 2006-07 and, at the anticipated national growth rate of 8.6%, could <br />eclipse $1 billion within the next ten years; and <br />y-f,~~c~ <br />~b <br />WHEREAS, Orange County has seen a 90% increase in Medicaid since 2000 <br />and $0.04 of the County's tax rate pays the mandated share, funds that <br />otherwise could be used to fund other critical needs such as school construction; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina is the only state that has not taken steps to alleviate <br />its counties of the Medicaid cost share - a profoundly unfair and archaic practice, <br />a financial threat to every county, and absolutely devastating to the poorest North <br />Carolina counties faced with raising property taxes on a shallow tax base, and <br />spending more money on health care than on schools; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is fundamentally opposed to the "sales tax swap" <br />proposal under discussion since it allows the State to continue passing the buck <br />to the counties, forcing counties to subsidize what the State should be doing, and <br />driving up local taxes; and <br />WHEREAS, the House Select Sub-Committee on Health Care has brought forth <br />a new proposal that would provide a permanent cap at this year's Medicaid <br />levels, target relief to the hardest hit counties, and keep the door open for moving <br />towards total and permanent relief; and <br />WHEREAS, if enacted, the Orange County Medicaid cost would be capped at <br />the present projected level of $4 million rather than facing a possible 10% <br />increase in the next annual budget <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners continues to support State action to lift the crippling burden of <br />Medicaid from the backs of its counties, and urges its legislative delegation and <br />the entire General Assembly to accomplish what the other 48 states have done <br />by removing this stranglehold from the counties and rightfully assuming Medicaid <br />as a State responsibility. <br />This the 18th day of April 2006. <br />Orange Cosrrsty Boa~r~,of G~pmmissioners <br />