Agenda - 04-30-2007-e - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Whitley said that he agreed with the ideas Ms. Bedford had put forth eazlier. He said that he would support a "slow increase" in ad valorem taxes dedicated to education (such as two cents per yeaz), property tax reform to protect long time residents against displacement (although it would require state legislation, he said), and a raise of the approximately 48% tazget. He said that without a raise in the 48% target, OCS operating budget increases always will be limited to the 1%-2% growth in property tax values during non-revaluation years. Mr. Whitling added that another idea worth exploring, which also would require legislative action, is an increase in the excise tax on real estate sales. There aze many real estate transactions in this County every year, he said, anal most people aze not thinking very much about it when they pay the tax because they do not actually write a check specifically for it. The tax is wrapped up with all of the other closing arrangements. Ms. Hough said that she is in favor of a gradual increase in the ad valorem tax, and "could live with" a two cent raise dedicated to schools. She said that she agreed with Dr. Hamilton on the importance of fu]filling the school districts' needs, and emphasized that she is not advocating for "zeroing out" the district tax (although, she said, once the ad valorem gets high enough such thatthe district tax is no longer needed then "it would be fine" if the CHCCS Board made it's own decision to phase it out). Ms. Hough said that the Grumet Report "has cleazly outlined that our children's needs are not being met." We've got the information we need, she said, but the Report does not. appear to be informing the County's budget process. She asked how the Report is being used by BOCC to identify priorities in the education budget. Ms. Hough also expressed appreciation for Commissioner Gordan's updating the group on impact fees, and said that impact fees might contribute to meeting the schools' capital needs. "I'm not opposed to that," she said. She also said that it would be worth looking at the use value system. Ms. Hough acknowledged that she values the land preservation goals that might be advanced by the use value, but noted that there may be a significant cost to education from it, especially for OCS. Mr. Visser warned group members that the use value system is very complicated. He said that there is no legislation that simply allows an agricultural landowner to pay 6% or 10% of their property tax. Commissioner Foushee noted that there are children with unmet needs in the city school district. This is not often acknowledged, she said, and she asked that the meeting record reflect this perspective. The local funding going to the city schools district is not sufficient to meet the needs of all the CHCCS students, she said. 8