Orange County NC Website
/ County's Currently Authorized Debt totals about 142 million or the equivalent of about 1.6°~ of <br />assessed valuation <br />/ Projected Debt Payments for Current year Totals $15.4 Million <br />/ Since 1988, Voters have Approved 3 Bond Referenda <br />/ November 2001 Bond Package Totals $75 Million <br />/ $47 Million for Schools <br />/ $20 Million far Parkland, Recreation and Open Space <br />/ $4 Million for Senior Centers <br />/ $4 Million for Low and Moderate Income Housing <br />/ Paying the Debt on $75 Million <br />/ Anticipated Tax Impact of Bond on Residents <br />/ Addressing Other Priority Capital Needs for Schools and County <br />Rad Visser addressed the structure, timeline and background materials, which were <br />distributed to each member of the Bond Education Committee. He said that there would be 4 <br />subcommittees. These subcommittees will feed information to the Outreach Subcommittee. He <br />introduced County staff members who will support each of these subcommittees. The next <br />scheduled meeting of the full group would be Sept. 26. At that time, each subcommittee will report <br />back to the full committee on the educational materials they have developed for the band. He <br />stressed that the key in using public funds is to educate -not promote the bond issue. What is not <br />permitted is the expenditure of funds to sway a person to vote one way or another. <br />Rod Visser made reference to the information pertaining to the 1997 bond and said that this <br />was provided to give the committee some ideas for educating the public on the bonds. He asked <br />that each subcommittee think of what questions the public may ask so we may be prepared to <br />answer those questions when the outreach campaign begins. He distributed a list of the ballot <br />questions so that the committee members would be familiar with the actual language that is on the <br />ballot. He also distributed a roster of all the members of this Bond Education Committee. He said <br />that Greg Wilder, Assistant to the Manager, would take care of all administrative and logistics for <br />the Committee. <br />Rod Visser suggested that, as the Committee breaks into subcommittees, they discuss <br />meeting dates, choose a subcommittee chair and determine what guidance or help they may need <br />from the County Commissioners or staff. They need to also select someone from their group to <br />serve on the outreach committee. Anyone who can participate on the speaker's bureau would be <br />welcomed. To the extent possible, a County staff member will go with someone who volunteers to <br />speak. <br />Chair Halkiotis clarified that the ban on promoting the bond does not apply to elected <br />officials who may speak out in support of the band issue. Also, other groups that are not part of this <br />Bond Education Committee may advocate for the bonds. Sharron Hinton will take care of <br />contacting civil organizations and other groups for the speaker's bureau. <br />The Orange County Bond Education Committee separated into the various subcommittees <br />and help separate meetings of that group. The staff support took notes and answered questions. <br />The entire group did not reconvene. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />Vt(ith no further items for the County Commissioners to consider, the meeting adjourned at <br />7:15 p.m. <br />Stephen H. Halkiotis, Chair <br />Beverly A. Blythe, CMC <br />