Agenda - 06-05-1995 - IX-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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Barry Jacobs 9197324541 F. 02 L 16 2201 Moorefields Road Hillsborough,,N.C.27278 May 25,1995 Mr. Moses Carey,Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners. 200 South Cameron Street Hillsborough,N.C.27278 Dear Mr. Carey: I will be unable to attend tonight's hearing due to a conflicting board meeting,so I've asked that this letter be read aloud and entered into the public record concerning your deliberations on impact fees. I applaud the efforts of the Board of Commissioners of Orange County to meet school needs in a responsible,timely fashion,, and-to seek alternative funding sources to lessen the impacts of growth. However,before raising impact fees from their current level of$750 per new house,I urge you to consider,and make some tangible efforts to address,several equity and procedural concerns. Modern Orange County government has taken especial care to protect the interests of the disadvantaged in formulating public policy.To that end,there has been discussion of modifying the fee structure to lessen the burden on lower- income homeowners. But no mechanism to achieve that goal is in place.Such a scale should be in place prior to raising fees.Citizens also should have an opportunity to discuss this graduated scale prior to its implementation. Another equity question regards the taxation of long-ti me residents for the supposed impact their new houses will create.In fact,those citizens have long paid taxes that went to address school and other county needs.Now that th" able to move out of a rental situation,manufactured home or other limited living arrangement,it is excessive to make them pay an equivalent amount to that collected from a county newcomer.(For the record,I will fall into this category If you proceed on your current course.) Ftocedurally,too,I urge you to do more work before committing to higher fees. A full,aspen discussion should be held on the advisability of levying impact fees on new industry locating in the county.We may choose not to pumue this avenue;to not even explore it prior to raising residential taxes is unwise.