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2 <br /> 1 Don O'Leary said he had been disturbed by websites, such as the republican and <br /> 2 democratic websites, as well as by television, which seem to want to strip citizens of their rights. <br /> 3 He asked the Board to take the Constitution into consideration at all times. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 <br /> 6 b. Matters on the Printed Aqenda <br /> 7 <br /> 8 3. Petitions by Board Members <br /> 9 Commissioner McKee said a public citizen asked that Board members speak more <br /> 10 clearly into microphones when speaking. <br /> 11 Commissioner Pelissier noted that House Bill 148, which allows the half cent transit tax, <br /> 12 calls for a housing plan around transit stations. She said this could only be developed by the <br /> 13 town of Chapel Hill. She had a discussion with Town Council Member Ed Harrison, who agreed <br /> 14 that it would be a good idea to petition to ask the Town of Chapel Hill to start working on this <br /> 15 plan and keep the Board of Commissioners informed of the process. <br /> 16 Chair Jacobs said this would be referred to agenda review. He noted that one station is <br /> 17 at the Friday Center, which is UNC's property; and if the other spot is at Meadowmont, there is <br /> 18 a robust housing plan already in place. <br /> 19 Commissioner Pelissier said it is important to make sure it is a housing plan that <br /> 20 everyone is aware of. She said that Durham has initiated this in their county and has had <br /> 21 special meetings related to housing and transit. <br /> 22 Chair Jacobs encouraged Commissioner Pelissier to help draft a letter from the Chair to <br /> 23 the Mayor of Chapel Hill. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> 26 <br /> 27 a. Presentation of Manaqer's Recommended Fiscal Year 2013-14 Annual <br /> 28 Operatinq Budqet and 2013-18 Capital Investment Plan <br /> 29 The Board received the Manager's Recommended Fiscal Year 2013-14 Annual <br /> 30 Operating Budget and 2013-18 Capital Investment Plan. <br /> 31 Frank Clifton said Clarence Grier will give a detailed overview of the presentation. <br /> 32 Frank Clifton noted that the one cent on the countywide tax rate equals about $1.6 million, and <br /> 33 the current tax rate is 85.8 cents. He said that one cent on the CHCCS tax school district will <br /> 34 generate $1 million, and the current tax rate is 18.84 cents. <br /> 35 He said the number 1 priority for the county is schools, with almost 50% of county funds <br /> 36 allocated here; number 2 is human services, with 16%; number 3 is Public Safety, with 11%; <br /> 37 environmental, cultural and recreational have 5%; and the remaining 18% goes to all other <br /> 38 county government functions. He said the school systems requested 10% more than was <br /> 39 budgeted in 2012-13, and the recommended manager's budget does increase school funding <br /> 40 by 2.8%. He said all of the County's growth and revenues from local tax base for fiscal year <br /> 41 2013-14 are budgeted toward education. He said this budget is $6 million short of the <br /> 42 combined requests of two school boards. <br /> 43 Frank Clifton said there are several considerations when looking at this budget and the <br /> 44 first is the flat growth rate in Orange County. There is no evidence to support optimism that this <br /> 45 will change in the next five years. He said federal and state budget decisions affect more than <br /> 46 just education. He said increasing tax rates affects individual taxpayers, small businesses, and <br /> 47 home ownership and rental opportunities in the county. <br /> 48 Frank Clifton said that taxes in the proposed budget remain at current levels, with the <br /> 49 exception of increases requested by fire departments. <br />