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After the BOCC makes its decision regarding what to include on the May 6 ballot, the <br />Committee will move to the second phase of its work and carry out the following elements of its <br />charge: <br />o Develop appropriate informational materials for the local revenue options <br />o Design and implement an educational component to distribute relevant factual <br />information about the local revenue options to Orange County voters in the most effective <br />and efficient manner possible <br />o Design and implement a process for informational meetings with civic groups, business <br />organizations, non-profit agencies, neighborhood associations, and other interested <br />parties in the community <br />o Ensure that equal access to factual information is provided to all individuals and groups, <br />regardless of their position for or against the referendum <br />o Encourage all eligible voters to participate in the May 6, 2008 election <br />The established timeline for the BOCC decision process contemplated an initial report from the <br />Advisory Committee in early to mid-February 2008. At the organizational meeting of the <br />Advisory Committee in December 2007, the Chair of the BOCC made it clear to the Committee <br />that although the Board was neither seeking nor expecting a recommendation from the group <br />regarding what question(s) to place on the ballot, the Commissioners would welcome individual <br />or collective comments and observations from the Committee. The accompanying initial report <br />from the Committee responds to that invitation. <br />Gauping Public Attitudes Towards Revenue Options: On February 5, 2008, the Board of <br />Commissioners held a public hearing to receive citizen comments regarding the two possible <br />revenue mechanisms. The Board also approved that evening an agreement with Hertzog <br />Research, LLC to conduct and present findings from a telephonic survey of approximately 400 <br />registered Orange County voters likely to participate in the May 2008 elections. The survey was <br />designed to gather information regarding citizen attitudes towards the available local revenue <br />options and regarding what sources the public tends to use to.get news and other information. <br />In light of time constraints inherent in obtaining survey results that would be useful to the BOCC <br />in time for a February 19 decision on what to place on the May 6 ballot, staff had consulted with <br />Durham County staff regarding their successful experience in August 2007 with using the <br />services of the Carrboro-based Hertzog Research firm. Staff had then solicited a proposal from <br />Dr. Mark Hertzog, principal of'the firm, and reviewed it with the Manager, Chair, and Vice Chair. <br />The Manager and staff then reviewed the proposed survey questionnaire and worked with Dr. <br />Hertzog to finalize it. Telephone surveying began the evening of February 6 and was completed <br />on February 13. <br />A summary of the top-line telephone survey findings accompanies this abstract as a draft report. <br />After performing additional statistical and demographic analysis, Dr. Hertzog will make a more <br />detailed presentation to the Commissioners regarding his findings at this February 19 meeting.