Agenda - 03-06-2008-6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 on February 28 to begin its work on the educational effort related specifically to the land transfer tax question on the May 6 ballot. Proposed alternative approaches to this undertaking, reflecting both Committee and staff input, will be provided under separate cover prior to the Board's March 6 meeting. Background materials on sample print and radio advertising rates are included as attachments to this abstract. The Board has previously discussed the roles of education versus advocacy in the period leading up to the May 6 referendum. The Committee's role is specifically one of education. The Committee's collective efforts, and public funds to be spent on the education campaign, will be directed to presenting factual information that voters can use to make an informed choice on May 6. Any efforts by private parties or groups to advocate for or against passage of the local transfer tax revenue option will have to be funded from private sources. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There was no funding for a public education campaign on local revenue options included in the original 2007-08 Orange County Budget, as the North Carolina General Assembly did not enact the enabling legislation until after the County's 2007-08 budget ordinance was adopted. Funding for whatever level of education effort the Board may decide to pursue will need to come from an appropriation from fund balance, the reallocation of existing 2007-08 appropriations, or some combination of both. As points of reference, the County spent $16,625 in FY 2001-02 for the voter education effort related to the November 2001 bond referenda for school and County capital projects. The County spent $12,453 in FY 2006-07 for the voter education effort related to the November 2006 election regarding changes to the structure and mefihod for voting for the Orange County Board of Commissianers. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. review and discuss the background materials outlining alternative .approaches to the voter education campaign related to the land transfer tax referendum; 2. provide direction to the Manager and staff regarding its desired approach to the voter education campaign; 3. establish snot-to-exceed budget figure for the education campaign within which it wants the Manager, staff, and Committee to operate; and 4. direct staff to prepare a budget amendment for the Board's approval at the March 18, 2008 regular meeting that will appropriate from fund balance in the General Fund the money needed to carry out the education campaign approach selected by the Board of Commissioners.