Minutes 04-01-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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➢ If a homeowner does land/house improvements, will this change the cost of the tax on the property? • Anything that changes the property tax assessment would change their property tax bill. PUBLIC COMMENT: Anne Garabay said she is a lifetime resident of Orange County, and she is an interior designer. She said her work property and her home are in Orange County. She read an email that she had written to Commissioner McKee. She said she feels suffocated with Orange County taxes as it is now. She said she cannot benefit from this new tax at all, as her commercial business requires that she haul her debris and pay to dump it at the landfill, and she also hauls her home recycling materials. She said her company has suffered since 2001, and she has to borrow money to pay taxes now. She loves Hillsborough, but she wants to take her home and work elsewhere, because she is overtaxed, and she reaps no benefits. She said every day is a struggle, and she feels that no one is interested in small businesses. She votes no further taxes on solid waste. Don O'Leary said, with all due respect, government is like a two year old shouting "mine, mine, mine." He said the population is no longer ignorant, and residents are not going to sit by and be taxed. He said he does not need the recycling trucks, as he already has to go to the dump to take his trash. He said right now it is recyclables, and he questioned how the Board of County Commissioners can ask residents to pay for a service they do not want. He said many residents already take their own recyclables to a convenience center, so why would residents want to pay for a service they are already doing. Dr. Jon Arvick questioned whether this tax will be deductible on state or federal returns. He questioned if residents shouldn't be allowed to vote on this if it is a new tax. He asked if people with only a few materials can opt for monthly pick up. He asked if this tax is really necessary or if it is just a way to raise revenues. He questioned whether this will really increase service and whether he will get twice the service for paying twice the price. He asked if the 61 percent goal is the goal for participation or known waste reduction. Terri Buckner said she lives in Chapel Hill, in the ETJ for Carrboro. She said her area of the County does not have access to the Solid Waste Convenience Centers (SWCC). She said hauling to these centers is very inconvenient for her, though she is still paying for it. She said she has been to most of these meetings, and she has heard there is support for recycling, but the controversy is how to pay for it. She said she is in favor of the tax service district since she lives in the unincorporated southern part of Orange County. She said many of her neighbors lack understanding about the County services that they receive. She asked the Board not to commit to any option that will have a negative impact on the recycling rate or allow more waste to leave the County to go to a landfill in a low wealth county. She asked the Board to commit to a final solution that will allow the solid waste staff to maintain or exceed the current recycling rate. Dave Laudicina said he lives in Bingham Township and he would like to discuss three points: