Orange County NC Website
20 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />• She also said that the County’s investments in social programs not supported by the State, <br />such as the Family Success Alliance, are critical. She said that FSA’s intergenerational <br />model for defeating poverty is especially important as the income gap in society widens. <br /> <br />• Commissioner Marcoplos agreed that messaging is important. Many people are under the <br />misconception that we “let the schools deteriorate,” for example. We need to do a better job <br />at explaining. <br /> <br />• He and Commissioner Price said that cuts in social services programs will have <br />consequential costs. We should try to understand those costs, he said. How much will it cost <br />the Department of Social Services to make up for the costs we might make to FSA, for <br />example? <br /> <br />• Commissioner Jacobs said that in messaging, the County also should explain the loss of <br />impact fees, the impact of State mandated class-size reductions, the State’s interest in <br />providing construction funds to charters and private schools, and the disincentive State <br />policies are having on some parents’ decision to send their children to public schools. Our <br />fund balance actually helps us to stay ahead of these deprivations, he added. <br /> <br />• He read an email about the housing living wage sent to Board members by Mr. Myren in <br />June 2016. It said there are 97 employees who are earning below the hourly rate needed to <br />provide 30% or less of annual earnings dedicated to housing costs for a one bedroom <br />apartment. The cost of increasing those employees’ earnings to $15.31/hour would be <br />approximately $157,000. <br /> <br />• Commissioner Rich asked for “solid numbers” from staff for the cost of the ideas being <br />brainstormed today or otherwise under consideration. Commissioner Price agreed. <br /> <br />• While agreeing that a tax increase would be a last resort, Commissioner Burroughs said the <br />County probably will have to do it. A one-time increase will be less expensive to <br />homeowners than the incremental scenario, she added. She asked what other Board <br />members thought. They responded: <br /> <br />o Commissioner McKee said that a one-time tax increase would override any positive <br />or explanatory message the County tried to communicate. The conversation will be <br />dominated by the counter-message, that the Board is raising taxes by over four <br />cents. From that perspective, we would be better off phasing in the tax increase. <br />Second, the budget changes from year to year. I would be reluctant to do an <br />immediate raise, because I hope that our efforts at economic development, <br />efficiencies, cost reductions, other revenue enhancements, etc. will alleviate the <br />need in years 4 or 5 for those tax-increase increments. <br /> <br />o Commissioner Jacobs said a similar question came up within the Solid Waste <br />Advisory Group regarding the recycling fee, and the Manager recommended <br />phasing, he said. The group approved the recommendation, thinking that a one-time <br />increase in the fee would be too much sticker shock. The Group took no blow back at <br />all. <br /> <br />o Commissioner Price said that phasing is better. Although the tax increase will be <br />easy for some people to pay, there are other people in the county living month-to-