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17 <br /> 40.Will the tax district increase/encourage participation as compared to the previous Rural 3-R Fee <br /> funded service?Cite research that county-wide taxation will increase participation. <br /> Based on our own long-term experience and our inquiries with knowledgeable recycling <br /> professionals, participation is more determined by how each citizen interfaces with 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 clearly a <br /> barrier to participation. According to staff in the State's Recycling office in the Department of <br /> Environment and Natural Resources(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 Rosemary 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 /> Exemptions. - The following corporations are exempt from the taxes levied by this <br /> Article. Upon request of the Secretary, an exempt corporation must establish its claim for <br /> exemption in writing <br /> (1) A charitable, religious,fraternal, benevolent, scientific, or educational <br /> corporation not operated for profit. <br /> 43. Why not include the entire unincorporated area for recycling service? <br /> This was previously considered by the Board and could certainly be an option. This would <br /> require a significant expansion of the rural program into the less densely populated portions of <br /> the county The proposed district area was created in part by what area can be serviced with <br /> existing resources(collection vehicles and drivers) There was also an interest in not increasing <br /> expenses in a period of financial uncertainty(loss of Rural 3-R Fee and landfill closure) Certainly <br /> services could be expanded to include the entire unincorporated area, phased in over a two to <br /> three year period. It is unlikely that an opt-out(subscription)service could adequately fund <br /> such an expansion. <br /> 44. All discussion of this tax has been focused on providing bi-weekly curbside recycling <br /> services. Given the tax is being referred to as"Solid Waste Tax District" rather than"Recycling <br /> Tax District,"what assurances do citizens have that,once in place,the tax district will not be <br /> used for other solid waste purposes? <br /> 10 <br />