Letters regarding position of impact fee - VII-A - 3-21-95

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ORANGE COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION P . 0. Box 1057, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 March 21, 1995 Orange County Commissioners 200 S . Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissioners : Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the proposed School Construction Impact Fee increase . Our Coalition has been working to advocate creation of rental and home- ownership opportunities for many of those who labor in our county who, because of the escalating cost of housing, are increasingly forced to commute from outlying areas . Obviously any increase in the cost of a home purchase impacts those at the lower economic scale the most . At the same time, we recognize the need to obtain additional funds to cover the added education services new homeowners require . Impact fees meet that need . However, we cannot endorse the proposed increase in the impact fee to $1, 000 without the inclusion of a progressive system of implementing the tax. We recommend that a method be established to insure the impact fee does not place a larger burden on those least able to pay. That method could include, but not be limited to, using indexing, a sliding fee, or tax credits to insure fairness . In your deliberations, we urge you to keep in mind the goal of providing housing possibilities for those in the lower economic levels . They should have a choice to be a part of Orange County during their non-working hours, to share in its festivals, to join its houses of worship, to educate their children in our school system, and to give back to the community where they work . We urge you to make whatever effort is necessary to establish a progressive tax plan that insures that Orange County remains a welcoming, diverse community, enjoying the benefits of the energies, talents, and dreams of people of every income level who want to live here . inc rely yours, Cha es E. Zi for Ora e County A fordable Housing Coalition