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<br />DRAFT <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />~e~~ufion Expressing ~rana~e o~nfy' ~~poi#~on Ta Sena#~ ~i114~ and <br />~1o~e ~~Il ~7~ Regarding Redirecf~an of Excise Tax Proceeds sway frorr~ <br />htort~ aroiina ~rI~s and Rcreaff~n Truf fund and hifural Heri#age Trus# <br />Fund <br />vi~hereas, the provision of parks, recreation and open spaces protects quafity of <br />rife and enhances public health by promofin outdoor activity, sports and <br />exercise opportunities, as v~ell as immense social, natural and econon~lc benefi# <br />and an appreciation of our natural resources; and <br />Uvhereas, the North ralina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund ~PARTF} and the <br />Natural heritage Trust Fund ~NHTF} ~rere created to preserve natural areas, <br />protect ~vater quality, create and expand parks, trails and gage lands; and <br />vllhereas, legislators created these trust funds nineteen years ago and <br />recognised the ecor~om`rc irnpartance of baiar~cing conservation and <br />development, and in so doing dedicated a funding source far the trust funds, <br />~vhich receive almost ail of their funding from the deed stamp excise tax fror~ the <br />sale of real estate; and <br />1~lvheres} grange bounty has specifically benefited fror~ funding assistance for <br />the acquisition of parks and open space, the construction of parks and recreation <br />facilit[es, and the protection of important natural areas and ~vildlife habitat <br />receiving ~.~ million in PARTF grants since nogg for ~.ittie River Regional Park <br />and Natural Area, cedar drove Park and the long~a~vaited and recently opened <br />Fairview Park -- as Drell as ether facilities within the r~unicipalitie of grange <br />bounty including a future segment of the 1Vlountains to ova Trails; end <br />vvhereas, nevtr legislation filed in the North Carolina House ~H~ 574 and senate <br />B ~~} would take away half of the dedicated funding for the Parks and <br />Recreation Trust Fund ~PARTF} and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund ~NHTF}, <br />redirecting this revenue to the North aralina Housing Trust Fund largely as a <br />result of lobbying by hornehuilders anal realtors groups; and <br />Uvhereas} tourlsrr~ in North Carolina generated ~7 billion in o~o,n~uch of ~rhich <br />comes from visitors to state parks, beaches and outdoor areas ~-areas #hat exist <br />thanks #o investment from these trust funds, anal tourisrn brings ~~50 r~illlon <br />annually to grange bounty, much of it recreation-related; and <br />lhereas, ~ study by the Trust for Pubic .and found that investing in <br />conservation lands more than pays for itself ~uith every ~ invested [n land <br />conservation refurning 4 in economic value from natural resource goods and <br />services alone; and <br /> <br />