Orange County NC Website
associated fox providing new or expanded facilities necessitated by new growth and <br />development. However, any fees or taxes collected should be used to provide facilities or ,~.,„ <br />services to benefit those who paid for them. The funds should be earmarked for a <br />particular purpose and they should not be held indefinitely. He noted that the County <br />needs•to encourage more industrial and commercial development. <br />5HERYL LLOYD WYNN spoke on Ben Lloyd's behalf. (A copy of the statement she made is <br />in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). She read a statement from Ben Lloyd <br />which opposed the impact tax. <br />FRED B. CATES, Mayor of Hillsborough, submitted two letters for the record. These <br />letters are in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office. The letters from Vietri <br />Incorporated, Hillsborough and Tricor, Charlotte asked that the impact tax not affect the <br />Hillsborough area. Fred Cates stated he felt this would be a regressive tax. It has been <br />commented that with Hillsborough excluded, the town would not participate in a fair share <br />of contribution to the school system. He stated that on a per capita basis with <br />developments of these sorts, that Hillsborough will contribute much more to the Orange <br />County School systems than any other area of the county. He read a resolution from the <br />Town Board of Hillsborough in which they requested to be exempted from the proposed Orange <br />County excise tax on land development. <br />PETE THORN (A copy of his complete statement is in the permanent agenda file in the <br />Clerk's Office). stated his firm is actively involved in building affordable housing fnr <br />new home buyers in Chapel Hill. He expressed concern because .the impact tax proposal <br />threatens the affordability of these homes. He believes that new homes can actually <br />provide a net positive impact an local government tax revenue. He asked that the new home <br />buyers not be burdened with any type of tax that is especially designed just for them. <br />Rather, let everyone pay a fair share equally, since everyone benefits equally from the <br />services that government provides. .. _ <br />KENT SCOTT, a local homebuilder, spoke in opposition to this tax. He feels that a lot <br />of people cannot afford a home because already the cost of property is high. <br />ALOIS CALLEMYN, local surveyor, spoke in opposition of this tax. He spoke in support <br />of affordable housing. A lot of people live here, because of their jobs and have no choice <br />of going to other locations. He asked that if this tax is approved that there be an <br />exemption for the lower end. ..Geoffrey Gledhill stated that the committee felt there were <br />other ways to deal with the affordable housing issue. Callemyn stated that there should <br />be a fair way to finance the growth coming into this area. He asked that the Board <br />consider the small guy in this issue. <br />BOB HARTFORD,'Hartford Construction Company, questioned if there would be the same <br />impact to someone adding to an existing structure. A lot of people would rather expand an <br />existing structure than build a new one. Chairman Carey stated that, as the bill is <br />written, additions also would be affected. However, the Board of Commissioners have not <br />discussed additions to homes but he intends asking for an amendment that would exempt <br />additions. <br />SETH I'AR50NS, homeowner and property owner in Chapel Hill, stated concern with the <br />title of the proposed legislation, which refers to part of the capital improvements. The <br />purpose is to generate revenues to pay part of the cost of the capital facilities. He <br />asked what part of the capital facilities this refers to and suggested why not 100. For <br />too long, the property owners have been subsidizing new development and new growth. He <br />does not have the facts and would like to have the authorities make a study on just what <br />