Minutes - 19890418 - Laserfiche WebLink

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__.,, ~... .-_,1 Chairman Carey stated that this option would help deal with the concerns that the legislative delegation has expressed and would serve as an overlay for non-school capital..,-:, construction purposes. The municipalities would be allowed to opt in by resolution. This would create a two-teen.system -- one that would be applied countywide for school capital construction purposes and another that would have one ar more holes based on whether or not one or more of the municipalities decides not to opt in. Commissioner Willhoit expressed a concern that for school construction this tax would not be countywide. School funding is a countywide issue and something the Commissioners are charged with. He feels the two district approach is the best solution with one district countywide for school capital and the other one with the option to opt in by resolution. Chairman Carey feels the two district approach is a viable option . Gledhill stated that if a countywide impact tax for schools had the support of all the local governments and the town it would not have to be a district at all. The only reason for the creation of the district is that there is not support for the Impact Tax everywhere in the County. He stated that the 25~ figure that would be retained by the County was determined by taking schools into consideration. That number would have to be discussed. The twenty-five percent includes in addition to schools, county facilities that are used by all people in the county that some of that twenty-five percent could be used for. In answer to a question from Chairman Carey, Gledhill indicated that the bill that is in Raleigh naw would need to be amended to create the district and to have an impact tax countywide for schools. Mayor Cates spoke on behalf of the Town of Hillsborough opposing the Impact Tax. Commissioner Hartwell stated he does not favor the proposal being. presented. His objection centers around the fairness to schools. The only way he could support this is if it is for schools and countywide. He does not think this tax would raise a large - amount of money and the complexity and symbolic aspects of it don't please him. With reference to Slue Cross - Blue Shield, there are plans to expand that facility and they don't feel that this expansion will bring on the need far mare schools in Orange County. They feel they would employ local people, add to the tax base and the economic vitality of the Town and the County and therefore alleviate and not aggravate the problems of the County. With reference to residences, it does not help provide affordable housing. He would support a plan that was countywide, funded only schools and had no special governmental districts. Commissioner Maxshall stated that one of the problems about the statements made about affordable housing is that the cost of affordable housing is viewed up front instead of the year-by-year maintenance of affordable housing. There is enabling legislation for impact fees but instead of having everyone go theix separate ways on impact fees, it was decided to go together. Without the impact tax, the County will need to move toward the impact fees or continue to put the burden on the ad valorem tax which is hurting people who have been here a long time and also those who bought a house yesterday. While the County understands schools and the impact of the schools, the municipalities don't always understand that relationship. Commissioner Halkiotis noted. that there was an agreement at the public hearing on the proposed Impact Tax legislation that samething needs to be done and someone needs to take the first step in saying what that should be. He discussed affordable housing stating that there is no affordable housing in this County. Discussion ensued on changes to the proposal to allow Hillsborough to opt in if they desire to da so at a later date and to amend the bill to include an impact tax for schools countywide and include a tax district for other services eliminating the schools. The County Attorney will revise the bill to include these suggestions. It was the consensus of the Soard to continue this item to Monday, April 24 at 6:30 in Superior Courtroom, Hillsborough, North Carolina.