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17 <br /> For several years the RAral program was also contracted to private companies by Orange <br /> County. After the first company was unable to provide quality service and meet service <br /> schedules a competitive request for proposals resulted in a second private company being <br /> selected. After a few years that company too was unable to provide acceptable service <br /> (resident complaints and rising costs)so eventually the county assumed service responsibility <br /> and has provided high quality service for less cost than a private contractor. <br /> 39. How did you get to the conclusion of the tax district? <br /> Following the elimination of the RAral 3-RFeethe Board evaluated and considered numerous <br /> funding and service alternatives. These alternatives included elimination of the rural program, <br /> privatization,franchising, combining variouswaste fees,funding all or various combinations of <br /> services through property taxes, eliminating convenience centers, providing only convenience <br /> centers,creating an single all-encompassing solid waste district including the towns, and various <br /> other service and fee permutations. Ultimately these were rejected,some due to vigorous <br /> resident objections,and last December the majority of the Board indicated a preference for,and <br /> an intent to establish a rural service tax district for recycling. <br /> 40. Will the tax district increase/encourage participation as compared to the previous RAral 3-RFee <br /> funded service?Ote research that county-wide taxation will increase participation. <br /> Based on our own long-term experience and our inquirieswith knowledgeable recycling <br /> professionals, participation is more determined by how each citizen interfaceswith the <br /> program,the choices available to the citizen, community incentives or disincentives of <br /> convenience or cost, a community's motivation/enthusiasm/knowledge through the <br /> supporting programmatic education and outreach,the local environmental culture, etc. that <br /> impacts participation than whether the service is funded by taxes or fees. However, regardless <br /> of funding source,there is general agreement that the need to opt-in or subscribe is dearly a <br /> barrier to participation. According to staff in the Mate's Fbcyding office in the Department of <br /> Environment and Natural Iesources(DENR, regardless of how a curbside recycling program is <br /> paid for, if recycling service is automatically available(meaning that the household does not <br /> need to subscribe or opt-in)then participation is stronger than if the household is simply offered <br /> the service and all they need to do is put a bin or cart at the street or road. <br /> 41. How will the district tax impact properties on Fbsemary and Graham streets in Chapel Hill? <br /> The proposed solid waste service district does not apply to properties located within corporate <br /> municipal limits. <br /> 42. Why are some properties exempt from property taxes? <br /> Some property is exempt from property taxes by state law(General Statutes 105-125). The <br /> following is an excerpt from this statue that comprises most of the tax exempt properties in <br /> Orange County: <br /> 10 <br />