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Commissioner Jacobs pointed out that the amount of money the County <br />Commissioners decide to put toward affordable housing could be a specific amount and not tied to <br />one quarter of a cent or another amount. The appropriation should be within the budget context <br />and also the demand context -how affordable housing competes with other demands, visions, <br />initiatives, etc. He also would like for the County to seek partners in this effort. He agrees that the <br />appropriation should be matching funds. <br />Chair Carey clarified that Commissioner Jacobs was saying that the Board should see <br />the Manager's recommendation on the entire budget before a decision is made on the Housing <br />Trust Fund. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he feels everyone is interested in a revolving fund to <br />ensure housing affordability. <br />John Link mentioned the possibility of using the sales tax as part of the appropriation. <br />Discussion ensued on using a specific amount rather than a percentage of a cent as the <br />appropriation for affordable housing. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that regardless of the amount of money being appropriated, <br />she feels it should be matching and that it should be an amount and not a percentage of the tax <br />rate. <br />Chair Carey said that there should be incentives in the affordable housing policy that <br />include the matching requirements to put pressure on other people to provide matching money, <br />from the private sector or otherwise. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he would feel comfortable if the Manager gave some <br />scenarios about how much would be needed in a revolving fund. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a document from Triangle J which is setting <br />up a task force to study how to reduce the cost of public buildings, i.e. schools. He feels the <br />schools should be asked to tighten their belts. The County has other needs besides the schools. <br />The County Commissioners need to get a copy of the letter from Triangle J and send a <br />representative to that task force. <br />At the work session on May 24tH, the Manager will bring scenarios on the budget for the <br />Housing Trust Fund. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about what was going to be discussed at the upcoming <br />work sessions and John Link clarified the items for discussion as listed below: <br />April 24tH <br />1. A written instrument will be discussed for planning for schools, i.e., construction <br />criteria, siting schools, etc. <br />2. The Board is scheduled to decide what parameters the Manager will pursue on <br />school current expense. <br />3. The Board will give instructions to the Manager on the various scenarios the <br />Commissioners want to include in the budget, i.e., housing trust fund, amount of <br />appropriation toward lands legacy, and new positions. <br />May Stn <br />1. Complete the discussion on new positions and other positions. <br />2. Spend some mare time on the CIP. <br />3. The Board will give the Manager direction on multiple requests for library funding. <br />4. The Board also needs to talk about school parks and the criteria for school sites. <br />VI. Leciislative Initiative Process <br />Commissioner Gordon feels that the Board should be polled on legislative items to be <br />submitted. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the Board was going to generate a list of what the <br />Commissioners want the legislators to pursue. He said that the Board needs to send the <br />legislators a clear message that we need to push this as hard as we can. There are some issues <br />