Minutes - 20060822 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I The Board received the tax collector's annual settlement on current and delinquent taxes and considered approving the accounting thereof. Chair Jacobs said that they wanted to bring this to the public's attention. He said that Orange County levies taxes equally to every citizen in the County. John Link said that the Board of County Commissioners has to make the decision to levy the taxes and the Tax Collector has to collect these taxes. He said that Orange County has the finest Tax Collector and staff in the state and the total tax collection rate is 98.97%. He publicly congratulated Jo Roberson and her staff. The process of tax collection is dictated by the Machinery Act. He asked Jo Roberson to tell what the Machinery Act prescribes for her to do and what the County Commissioners are supposed to do in response. Jo Roberson said that she is supposed to report to the Board what her settlement is in the present year and back year collections. In turn, the Board charges the Collector with the resolution to collect the taxes, which includes enforced measures. She stressed that they truly try to administer as fairly and as evenly as humanly possible. They offer a number of alternatives to the taxpayers. They want to work with people, but they also have a very stringent set of laws that require that they do certain things at certain times if people do not respond. She said that the office is always open to people coming in to talk about their situation. Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners appreciate the fact that this office wants to work with people, and he stressed that they are not trying to drive people out of their houses or take away their cars or property. Jo Roberson introduced her staff: Deputy Director of Revenue Linda Strickland- Jaubert, Deputy Collector Bobbi Underwood, and Deputy Collector Valerie Current. Jo Roberson pointed out that the Revenue Department could not accomplish the job that they accomplish if it were not for the outstanding work by the Register of Deeds, the Land Records Department, and the Assessor's Office. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to receive the tax collector's annual settlement on current and delinquent taxes and approve the accounting thereof. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 8. Public Hearings-NONE 9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda a- for Additional Childcare Subsidy Funding The Board considered approving a reallocation of$100,000 from anticipated Medicaid savings to serve families waiting for child-care subsidies. Social Services Director Nancy Coston said that last year they had a difficult situation with not enough money for child care subsidies to take anyone off the waiting list. There are 539 children and 451 families who are on the waiting list. They hope to get some off of the waiting list as attrition occurs and children go into public schools. They come before the Board to ask to use $100,000 in one-time funds this year to help reduce the backlog. The funds are from the Medicaid relief that the General Assembly passed. Commissioner Carey asked if they were expecting a reallocation later this year as was received last year. Nancy Coston said that they have heard that reallocations are no longer received, but last year they prevailed upon the state to bail them out and they did receive $150,000 last year. The General Assembly also changed the rules that should there be any funds to reallocate, counties must now provide a match. Commissioner Gordon supported this request. Commissioner Foushee said that one of the goals of the task force was to increase the awareness of the County need for providing subsidy for childcare. This is an opportunity to