Agenda - 04-12-2011 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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As currently written, the bill would decrease the amount of remitted proceeds funding to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund from the current ~5~~~ to ~~10, and to the Natural F~eritage Trust Fund from 25~1~ to ~ 310. The amounts v~rould be redirected to the N,~. Housing Trust Fund which would row receive o~l~ of those funds}. Excise tax proceeds are a major source of funding for those two trust funds. The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to local governments for parks and recreation projects to serve the public. To date, grange bounty has received three grants from PARTF totaling ~.~ million since ~~~~ -~ for funding of land acquisition at Little River Regional Park and Natural Area ~~~~,~~~, in conjunction with Durham bounty}, and ~~ .~ million for facility construction at cedar drove Park ~~og,g5~} and the recently~opened Fairview Park ~boo,ooo}. PARTF has also funded a number of other parks projects in chapel 1-~lill and 1-iillsborough over the past decade, Many of these, such as Fairview Park, may not have had sufficient funding to open without PARTF grant assistance. The Natural I~leritage Trust Fund is a funding source for State agencies to acquire or protect land with outstanding natural or cultural heritage value.lNhlle local governments do not directly apply for grants from NI~TF, a number of grants from this trust fund have gone toward protection of sites In grange bounty, such as Eno River State Park or ~cconeechee Mountain State Natural Area. More ir~forrnation on the Parks and Recreation Trus# Fund may be found at htt ;~1www.nc arks. ovlAbout~ rantsl artf main. h ;and NHTF at http~l~www.ncr~htf.o~~~. Loss of these revenues by the two trust funds would severely hamper their ability to fund parks or natural heritage site protection, leaving both with substantially-reduced funding for future grants. Based an the issue, and on the speed with which items sometimes move forward in the general Assembly, Commissioner Jacobs suggested that the Board consider a resolution t the April ~ ~~~ tonight's} work session opposing Senate Bill 452 ~ House Bill 5l4 and an similar Y legislation which would take funding away from these trust funds. Attached is a draft resolution for Board consideration expressing grange our~ty's opposition to Senato Sill 4521FIouse Bill `~~ and any similar legislation. Other local governr~ents are being asked to consider similarresolutions tothis effect. if the BOCK approves the resolution, ~t is suggested that a signed copy be forwarded to Orange bounty's legislative delegation, leaders of the general Assembly, bill sponsors, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and the boards of commissioners for the other 99 North Carolina counties. FINA~VC~A~L 1l~PAC~': There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the resolution. PARTF has been a primary funding source for County parks projects, contributing ~,2~ million to date. R~MM~NATION~S~: The Manager recommends that the Board review the attached draft resolution, make changes as necessary, approve the resolution, authorize the Chair to sign the resolution, and authorize the Clerk to the Board to forward a signed copy of the resolution to Grange County's legislative delegation, leaders of the General Assembly, sponsors of both bills, the North Carolina Association of bounty Cornrissioners, and the boards of commissioners for the other g North Carolina counties.