Orange County NC Website
335 <br /> Committee made on the impact fee issue. Although, they are concerned with the <br /> physical structures that house the student population and overcrowds_- <br /> classrooms, they do not feel that impact fees are the answer to the probler. <br /> An impact fee is a tax that is placed on a small segment of the community <br /> while the entire community receives a benefit. They feel that the basis for <br /> the school system is that everyone is entitled to a free education, funded, by <br /> a broad based tax that is shared equally by everyone. All new homes do not. <br /> generate a new burden on the school system. By looking at the enrollment <br /> patterns, the older existing neighborhoods will produce more children per <br /> household than new developments. Not all people moving into the area move <br /> into new homes. In summary, the Homebuilders Association feels that impact <br /> fees are very regressive, inflationary in nature, and an unfair tax on a small <br /> segment of the market that hurts the inability to provide housing for middle <br /> class families. The Homebuilders Association supports building the needed <br /> schools, if they are truly needed, but feel that public education is public <br /> and should be funded by broad based taxes paid equally by everyone. A copy <br /> of Mr. Davis' comments is in the Permanent Agenda File in the Clerk's office. <br /> WOODY CLARIS spoke in support of the comments made by Mr. Russ Davis. <br /> KENT SCOTT, local builder, spoke about the high price of lumber. Over <br /> 50% of the homes he builds are for retirees. The impact fee will only raise <br /> a little over $300, 000 per year for the Orange County school district. He <br /> presented figures for Orange County schools which indicated that there has <br /> been little growth in the last 20 years -- from 5, 054 students in 1973-74 to <br /> 5, 088 in 1991-92. During this same period the allocation per student_ <br /> increased from $815 per student to close to $5, 000. The school budget wer <br /> from $4, 120, 000 to a little over $25, 000, 000 in 20 years. He feels that th4. .. <br /> County has the money to fully fund education. <br /> VIC KNIGHT stated that this impact tax will provide funds for only a <br /> portion of the overall capital needs of the schools. He feels that this tax <br /> will affect the affordability issue of providing low to modern income housing. <br /> He noted that no member of the Orange County Board of Education spoke either <br /> in support or against this tax. Their absence indicated to him that they do <br /> not openly support it. <br /> A letter was received from Kathleen M. Clarke-Pearson in support of the <br /> impact fees on newly . developed residences. A copy of her letter is in the <br /> permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. <br /> s <br /> NOTE: Attached to these minutes on pages are the comments received <br /> at the May 18 , 1993 meeting which are hereby made a part of these <br /> minutes by reference. <br /> Chair Carey suggested and it was the consensus of the Board to consider <br /> this item at its meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 27 for decision. <br /> 2. VOLUNTARY FARMLAND PRESERVATION ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS <br /> Mr. Collins stated that the proposed amendment to the Voluntar. <br /> Farmland Preservation Ordinance would add a provision which would allow t1. <br /> county to round off acreage to the nearest whole acre in determining whether <br /> or not a particular piece of farmland would qualify in meeting the 80 acre <br />