Agenda - 03-15-2011- 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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or mechanism, for counties to share the additional one-quarter cent sales tax with municipalities. Between November 7, 2007 and December 31, 2010, ?'? referendums an the quarter-cent sales tax have been held in 53 counties. Gf those 7~, 18 were approved and 59 failed This year one referendum has been held to date and the quarter-cent sales tax was approved in Halifax County on February 1, 2011. There is currently only one referendum scheduled for the remainder of 2011 and itwill be held in Buncombe County on November 8, 2011. A Special Advisory Referendum Concern"rng the Levy of a Gne-Quarter Gent X114¢} County Sales and Use Tax was held in Orange County on November 2, 2010. The election results were 20,896 votes cast FGR and 21,953 votes AGAINST an additional one-quarter cent X114¢} county sales and use tax. The first possible date the Board can consider for a Special Advisory Referendum Concerning the Levy of a Gne-Quarter Cent X114¢} County Sales and Use Tax referendum, is November 8, 2011. North Carolina General Statutes 105-465 states that "The county board of elections shall fix the date of the special election, except that the special election shall not be held on the date or within 60 days of any biennial election of county officers, nor within one year from the date from the date last preceding special election under the section." Although a public hearing is not required by the North Carolina Genera! Statutes or any other provisions, the Board has determined that hearing from the public would provide the Board with additional perspectives and assist the Board in the decision-making process. After the public hearing, the Board can discuss the potential referendum as necessary and be in a better position to make a decision on a passible November 2011 referendum. It should be noted that, according to Board of Elections Director Tracy Reams, the Board of Commissioners needs to make a decision on or before Au ust 23 2011 regarding a possible November 8, 2011 one-quarter cent X114¢} county sales and use tax referendum in order to provide the necessary time to fully prepare for the November election. This timeframe allows for the coding and programming to include the referendum and appropriate time to print and receive ballots. The Board of Elections is required to have absentee ballots on site and ready to mail by September 19, 2011. Attached as information only is a draft resolution calling for a special advisory referendum on the November 8, 2011 ballot on the question of whether to levy the one-quarter percent county sales and use tax in Grange County. The draft referendum resolution is rovided for reference ur oses onl and the Board is not bein asked to consider the resolution at this meetin . As detailed in the draft resolution, the November 8, 2011 ballot question would ask Grange County voters to vote for or against a local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter cent in addition to all other state and local sales and use flax. It should be noted that the ballot question cannot include language regarding proposed uses of the funds from the one-quarter cent tax. A "sunset clause" can also not be included on the ballot question. Any action to subsequently sunset an implemented sales and use tax would require additional Board action. A November 8, 2011 ballotquestion would appearas follows: