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Plans for 2002 <br /> Members of the committee will review the ordinance and a collective recommendation <br /> will be made . <br /> GOAL 8 : REVIEW THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A COST OF COMMUNITY <br /> SERVICES STUDY IN ORANGE COUNTY <br /> Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001 <br /> During this past year, the Commission heard presentations from the Triangle J Council of <br /> Government (COG) on the value of a Cost of Community Services Study (COCS ) . <br /> Essentially a COCS study demonstrates the real costs of development in terms of the <br /> public services that must be provided with tax dollars when forest and farmland are <br /> developed for industry or housing . The standard argument in favor of such development <br /> providing increased tax revenue may not be balanced against the entire cost of providing <br /> schools , roads , police and fire protection, water etc , nor are intangible losses in air and <br /> water quality considered . A COCS study can help government and elected officials make <br /> better development decisions by providing thorough information on the complete costs of <br /> development as well as the economic value of leaving more farmland and forest intact . <br /> Such a study is estimated to cost between $ 13 , 000 - $ 30 , 000 . Triangle J COG will <br /> contract to provide a turnkey COCS study for the County for approximately $ 30 , 000 . If <br /> local resources such as County staff and/or local universities such as UNC or NCSU can <br /> be involved, the cost could be considerably less . <br /> Status <br /> A preliminary discussion has been held . The EIE Committee suspects that a COCS for <br /> Orange County would likely confirm findings in other communities . ( See for example <br /> TJCOG' s COCS report for Wake County. ) <br /> Future Plans <br /> The EIE Committee will further examine the costs and benefits of a COCS for the <br /> County and provide a recommendation to the BOCC . <br /> 24 <br />