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9 <br />The second set of documents (Attachment 2 -5) presents opportunities and key factors for each of the <br />four proposed solid waste funding options as viewed by staff. Given the various perspectives regarding <br />advantages and disadvantages and equity, staffs have resisted employing these terms but assume the <br />SWAG will not be similarly constrained. <br />Decision Process <br />Aside from the individual impacts and characteristics of each option, another important issue related to <br />selection of a fee recommendation is specifically how the SWAG will arrive at a final fee <br />recommendation. Little discussion has taken place to date regarding how or when the SWAG will <br />finalize a recommended funding option. <br />It has been suggested that one such opportunity where a recommendation could be presented to the <br />elected boards is at a currently scheduled March 26th joint meeting between the County Commissioners <br />and the Chapel Hill Town Council. Perhaps this meeting could be modified to allow a solid waste funding <br />conversation between all elected boards prior to the regularly scheduled joint meeting. Alternatively, <br />another opportunity would be needed for this joint board discussion and final decision. <br />Each individual elected board will establish its own funding option adoption schedule and provisions <br />should be considered in the event all four elected boards do not agree on the same funding option. <br />Additionally, it would be necessary to allow public comment on whatever recommendation may be <br />favored or even on all of the options under consideration. Thus, it is critical that the SWAG discuss the <br />decision making timeline and process for reaching a final decision to ensure implementation for the <br />2015/16 fiscal year. <br />Questions for consideration by the SWAG include: <br />• How and when does the SWAG intend to reach a final decision /recommendation from among <br />the four funding options? <br />• Should the SWAG adjust its meeting schedule, understanding the timeline required to <br />implement a new funding option as discussed below? <br />• How will the public be provided input into the decision making process, presumably following a <br />SWAG recommendation but prior to the Towns /County boards' adoption of a funding option? <br />• Following a SWAG fee decision, would the governing boards consider a resolution authorizing <br />the Managers to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding to authorize the fees for FY <br />2015/16 until a more formal Interlocal Agreement can be negotiated over the summer and <br />adopted by the Towns and County in the fall? <br />Decision Timeline <br />Another significant factor for SWAG consideration is the decision making timeline that will provide <br />sufficient time for the County Commissioners to incorporate the funding into the proposed FY 2015/16 <br />budget for approval by the June 16th BOCC meeting and allow County Solid Waste and County Tax <br />Administration Department staff to make the necessary fee database adjustments and billing form <br />formatting preparations for the 2015 tax billing which is scheduled to be mailed in July. Based on <br />County staff discussions with the County Finance Department, the proposed budget could be revised in <br />early June in order to meet the scheduled budget adoption schedule of June 16th. However, County <br />Solid Waste staff may need several days prior to the County Finance Department deadline to actually <br />