Agenda - 04-16-1996 - X-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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' 11 Funding for outside agencies should be managed in the following manner: a) The purpose of these grants should be to provide startup monies with a "sunset' provision for length of funding. b) A requesting agency should develop a business plan that outlines purposes for which the grant is to be used, estimated budgets, and expected outcomes that can be documented. c) A definite amount of money should be allocated for outside agency grants before requesting agencies present their proposals. d) A hearing process to review applications should be established prior to development of the county budget. Recommendation 10 : Conduct an annual review of non-taxable property to categorize, identify, and value marketable properties. A report from the Tax Assessor's Office (February, 1996) lists 1,207 non-taxable parcels of property in the County, excluding most churches. Significant numbers of parcels are listed under Orange County (71), under the North Carolina Department of Transportation (152), and under the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (142). To enhance the County tax base the Committee recommends that such property be reviewed annually. For example, a sample of the Seven Mile Creek area reflected four County owned parcels of about 150 acres total that are estimated to have-a current market value as high as almost $500,000. The Committee is aware that considerations such as perkability, building restrictions, and access affect market value. Farm-use and Forestry-use programs can affect yields for tax values. However, any parcel that currently is not on the tax rolls, which is not of use to governmental agencies, and which can be converted to usable, taxable property should be effected as soon as possible. Recommendation 11: Consider the impact on the tax base when creating greenways, open spaces, and easements. Non-mandated parcels and outdated planned uses for parcels should lead to the return of these lands to the tax rolls as soon as possible. Questions such as "How much property that OWASA holds is mandated?" and, "How many DOT parcels represent old project plans that are no longer feasible or necessary?" should be answered. Recommendation 12: Revisit the issue of non-taxable University of North Carolina properties. The Committee is aware that the County has taken this cause to the State Supreme Court, losing its case. And, the NC Legislature has made all UNC properties tax-exempt, eliminating a distinction between educational and non-educational uses. Thus, the block which UNC owns on the south side of East Franklin Street that includes the old Varleys Store and the Carolina 9