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14 <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said $250,000 is only what is recommended in her budget, and <br /> there is about $8 million in the OPED Budget. <br /> Commissioner Price said she was thinking of using OPED for another amendment. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said the Board has been very conservative on the OPED <br /> funding, and this is a reasonable amount to use. He said he is more concerned about the value <br /> of the token gesture. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said every penny helps the schools. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said he is happy with this motion. <br /> Chair Rich said the Board has used OPED funding in the past. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 6; Nays, 1 (Commissioner Dorosin) <br /> Commissioner McKee said it is unusual for him to support using OPED, and he will <br /> return to his long-standing position against doing so, moving forward. <br /> Amendment 001- (Increase taxes an additional 1/4 cents to fund county efforts to combat <br /> climate change initiatives. Attachment D) <br /> A quarter cent tax increase for Orange County would yield $469,272. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said recent years have shown that the world is facing a <br /> climate crisis unlike anything previously envisioned. He said the science is clear that this is a <br /> very real crisis. He said all are experiencing climate change, and he cited examples, which are <br /> the impetus of this proposal. He said the Commission for the Environment (CfE) unanimously <br /> supported his proposal at its meeting last night. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said on June 6th 2017 the Board of County Commissioners <br /> passed a resolution to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement, and he read portions of the <br /> resolution: <br /> "WHEREAS, Orange County, North Carolina has reduced energy consumption by 15% per <br /> square foot since 2012, has made a formal resolution to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by <br /> 2050 against 2005 levels, and has committed to move to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and <br /> WHEREAS, President Trump has committed to withdrawing the United States from the Paris <br /> Agreement, thereby retreating from the commitment to limit global warming to below two degrees <br /> Celsius; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County, North Carolina and other state and local governments must commit <br /> to aggressive climate action in the absence of federal leadership, <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Orange County Commissioners hereby <br /> commits to proportionally upholding the commitment made by the United States in the Paris <br /> Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 26 and 28 percent by 2025 from 2005 <br /> levels." <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said Commissioner Price requested that this resolution be <br /> sent to all counties across the state, to encourage the adoption of this resolution. He said <br /> keeping this commitment will require resources. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said on September 5th the Board of Commissioners adopted <br /> the following: <br />