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334 <br /> high quality school district which will lead to economic growth for the <br /> County. <br /> NANETTE FIELDS, President of the Board of Realtors, feels there is a <br /> fairness issue. The developer is paying fees from the very beginning of the <br /> process to build a house. These fees are then passed on to the homeowner. <br /> She would rather pay through her property taxes than .to impose another fee. <br /> Everyone benefits from the burden and should share it equally. She urged the <br /> Board to promote economic development and to encourage everyone to be better <br /> stewards of the County's tax money. She hopes that -the Board does not send <br /> a message that only people who can afford the higher price of housing can live <br /> in Orange County. <br /> KEN TOUW, resident of Chapel Hill and school board member feels that the <br /> impact fee will have very little impact on the sale of homes and the price <br /> range on these homes. He stated that the impact fee is fair and equitable <br /> because at the present time all citizens are being asked to pay the entire <br /> price associated with additional residential units and this fee will allow <br /> some of the additional capital cost to be paid by owners of new houses causing <br /> these additional costs. It is true that the student population is growing <br /> faster than the population of the County as a whole which is not all due to <br /> new, housing. This fee will begin to address the increased capital needs <br /> associated with the additional houses. <br /> HARVEY SADOFF, Principal of Glenwood Elementary School, spoke in favor <br /> of the impact fee. He told of the situation at Glenwood Elementary School <br /> -. with inadequate space in the cafeteria and other areas of the school. The <br /> school is not overcrowded but needs to be renovated, repaired and expanded. <br /> They are considering year-round school using single-tract planning, not <br /> multitract. The practical aspect of this fee is that for every person the <br /> school does not succeed with, it will cost money later due to crime, <br /> unemployment, job training, etc. It is a question of paying for education now <br /> or buying a security system for your house later. People who are interested <br /> in quality education for their children will not be deterred because of the <br /> impact fee. <br /> He feels that it is important. to provide a professional working environment <br />- - for -all the hard working teachers and a quality learning environment- for every <br /> child. <br /> R. ALEX ZAFFRON, Second Vice-Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party <br /> and speaking for himself, noted that the platform of the party calls for <br /> taxation to be applied fairly, equitably and progressively. This fee has <br /> Placed another obstacle in the path of ordinary working people who are <br /> struggling to buy their first home. The primary argument against this fee is <br /> that its implementation would add yet another barrier to one of the pressing <br /> problems in the County which is the creation of affordable housing. He agrees <br /> that the County should provide adequate funding for the schools but feels the <br /> sources of funding should be provided fairly, equitably and progressively. <br /> This proposal remains unfair, inequitable, unprogressive and runs counter to <br /> the solution of affordable housing. He urged the County Commissioners to find <br /> a better way to fund the schools. <br /> RUSS DAVIS, Executive Vice President of the Homebuilders Association of <br /> Durham and Chapel Hill, read some comments that their Governmental. Affairs <br />