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have now been Senate and House bills introduced to ask local governments to recover <br />their money. He suggested also sending the letter to the newspapers. <br />Commissioner Gordon thanked Jahn Link and staff for the budget. She also <br />mentioned that this is Rod Visser's last budget. <br />Commissioner Carey said that staff has been consistent for the last 18 years and <br />the budgets have taken care of people and that education has been at the top each <br />year. <br />Commissioner Carey said that at the OPC Board meeting he found out about <br />another unfunded mandate, that the State requires mental health agencies to serve as <br />guardians far special needs individuals. He said that it is wrong for the State to require <br />them to da this and then not provide any assistance. <br />Commissioner Foushee commended John Link and his staff far this budget <br />document. She said that this is her second process and it is different than last year's <br />process and is much improved. She reiterated that this is a proposed budget and not an <br />adopted budget. <br />1. Agricultural Center Work Group Report <br />The Board received a presentation summarizing the Agricultural Center Work <br />Group efforts to evaluate the need and justification for an Orange County agricultural <br />center. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this group was charged by the Board of County <br />Commissioners and Betty Tam Davidson led this group. <br />Ag Economic Development Coordinator Noah Rannells made reference to the <br />executive summary in the report starting on page 5. <br />Betty Tom Davidson, Chair of the Work Group, made a PowerPoint presentation. <br />She said that the face of Orange County agriculture is changing and the Orange County <br />farmer is aging, with the average age being 55. The farming community also faces <br />increasing negative impacts of globalization. Commodity prices are stagnant and <br />farmers are succumbing to increasing energy costs, increasing borrowing costs, <br />increasing competition from Brazil and China, fears of increasing inflation, increasing <br />health care costs, and the largest trade and budget deficit in American history. She said <br />that the inception and work of this task force is important. <br />Exploring Agricultural Needs in Orange County <br />Agriculture Center Work Group <br />25 May 2006 <br />Ag Center Work Group <br />Charge <br />• Investigate & explore needs and uses for an Agricultural Center, utilizing new <br />information and current I future agricultural needs <br />Stakeholder process <br />Develop report <br />Review recommendations of previous Agricultural Center work group <br />