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John Link said that the worst-case scenario would be that the State would do this and not enact the % cent sales tax effective July 1, 2002. If they do give counties the authorization to enact this % cent sales tax effective earlier, the County would then amend the per pupil amount for both school systems. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that the legislature should have all of this done before June 30, 2002 so that counties can set their budgets knowing all the facts. Public Comment Neal Tapp spoke against the % cent increase in the sales tax. He would rather see a food tax where everybody would pay. He does not understand why the tax is for next year and not this year. Chair Jacobs clarified that the legislature authorized this tax to start next year. Jamie Daniel said that he has read about Article 44 and that when this tax does go into effect, people out of jobs will not be able to make ends meet. He gave an analogy about a child who will not understand that she will have less because of the enactment of this sales tax. He said that we are doing this for the children, for education, but we are taking things away from the children. People are going to have to move somewhere else because they will not be able to afford to live here. He said that with 160 less students in the Orange County Schools, we are not leaving any children behind —they are leaving us. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 3. Public Hearing =2002 Orange County Legislative Agenda Geoffrey Gledhill summarized the information in the agenda packet. Commissioner Carey asked about the anti-discrimination effort from last year. Geoffrey Gledhill said that it passed the House but got stuck in the Senate. The burning bill also was passed in the House but got stuck in the Senate. Chair Jacobs made reference to advocating for the increase in cigarette tax, and said that what we are saying is that a portion should be dedicated as a funding source for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Similarly, with the alcohol tax, a portion should be dedicated for mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation treatment programs. Commissioner Gordon made reference to funding for bikeways and trails and asked if this includes sidewalks or pedestrian ways. She would like for these to be included in the legislative agenda. Geoffrey Gledhill said that it might be that the State feels that sidewalk money is for those who build roads and the County does not build roads. Commissioner Gordon asked that Geoffrey Gledhill check this and report back. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the annexation and local planning and revenue option incentives to control growth and asked for clarification on this. Geoffrey Gledhill said that this local bill would include that for any annexation the County would have a courtesy review. Commissioner Gordon asked for an explanation of the flexibility statewide in addressing the acceptance and maintenance of post-1975 recorded subdivisions with unpaved roads to address unintended exclusion. Geoffrey Gledhill said that the State law limits secondary road money to be spent on paving subdivisions plated prior to October 1, 1975. If there is a public road and a plat that dedicates the road prior to 1975, the State secondary road money can be used to pave that road. However, there are some pre-1975 subdivisions which for one reason or another the roads do not qualify and the only way these roads can be brought up to State standards is if the property owners pay DOT to do it. The two examples are where there are unrecorded plats for subdivisions before 1975 and the roads are dedicated to the public but the plats never got recorded. There was no one signed up to speak to this item.