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said that no one has addressed this issue. He said that the people that own small houses are <br /> starting to convert to larger houses and he thinks that the land transfer tax could cause more <br /> people to take a small house and add on to it. He thinks that this would further diminish the <br /> diversity of housing. <br /> Jesse Berry said that he appreciates the privilege and freedom to come and speak. He <br /> asked where this money was going to be spent from the land transfer tax. Chair Jacobs said <br /> that this would be discussed at a subsequent meeting. He said that if there is a need for this <br /> tax, then it is already known where it will be spent. He said that the public needs to know this. <br /> Sammy Martin said that he read in the paper that the Board of County Commissioners <br /> took with a grain of salt the results of a survey where it was claimed that realtors do not have <br /> the needs of school children at heart. He said that there is misinformation because the realtors <br /> do have the children's needs at heart. He encouraged the Board not to single out people who <br /> are being taxed just because they happen to structure their financial life around owning these <br /> properties. <br /> Margaret Misch said that residents need to support services administered by the County. <br /> She is a resident who pays sales and property taxes to Orange County. She believes that there <br /> is not the choice to increase its funding other than by a tax. She said that it is obvious that <br /> Orange County does need a source of revenue and she supports the one-time tax on land <br /> transfers. She thinks that it is a reasonable solution and does not place a burden on the less <br /> affluent that pay sales and income taxes. <br /> Mark Zimmerman said that he is President Elect of the Greater Chapel Hill Association <br /> of Realtors. He wants to respond to some of the criticism levied against realtors by some <br /> people in previous meetings and in the press. He said that he was quite pleased to hear the <br /> criticism. He said that a former teacher once told him to be happy when someone resorts to <br /> trying to make you the issue and it means they don't think they can win on the merits of the <br /> issue itself. He said that he is happy to hear the County Commissioners say the land transfer <br /> tax will hurt affordable housing. The realtors share this concern. He said that he is happy that <br /> the County Commissioners are trying to help affordable housing homeowners with the impact <br /> fee rebate program. This program is still limited, however. He is also happy to hear about the <br /> reluctance to increase ad valorem property taxes. The taxes on property are too high and he <br /> asked why the County Commissioners would want to add a new tax on property. He said that <br /> the transfer tax is just a property tax by another name. He said that he is not happy about the <br /> attitude that if the public could be educated then they would support the tax. He said that he is <br /> here because realtors care about the clients and customers. He asked the Board not to target <br /> people who have worked hard to improve their families' lives by becoming homeowners. The <br /> sales tax option is broad-based and has the support already. <br /> Mark Peters is the Chair of the Local Options Revenue Advisory Committee, but he was <br /> speaking for himself. He said that he has seen the pressures on the local government. He said <br /> that the committee pointed out economic development and the need for this and retail leakage. <br /> He said that the reality of the land transfer tax is that it will be difficult to pass in May. The <br /> biggest pro of the land transfer tax is that it allows people on fixed incomes to defer taxation. <br /> His recommendation is to put the sales tax on the ballot. <br /> David Neal said that he came in part to listen on this issue. He said that the transfer tax <br /> is a one-time tax and the likelihood of a successful education campaign between now and the <br /> primary is nil. He said that it is true that without an added tax the County will have to raise the <br /> ad valorem tax higher. He said that it would be very bad if the transfer tax got put on the ballot <br /> and failed, considering how few revenue options there are. <br /> Adam Klein read a prepared statement from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of <br /> Commerce. He is Director of Government Relations and Economic Development of the Chapel <br /> Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. <br /> Dear County Commissioners, <br />