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12 <br /> | Slide #18 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY FK2021~22 BUDGET <br /> NMI, ammm, <br /> Ftm <br /> Fun <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> wonT,cCAROLINA <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Chair Price explained her amendment. She said there are residents struggling with <br /> 5 paying taxes related to the revaluation, and recommended using ARPA funds as a grant to <br /> h assist residents in paying their taxes, if their income is 30% AMI or lower. She said staff has <br /> 7 o|naody been working on how this could work. She said residents could apply tothe housing <br /> 8 department, and receive a check, which could be presented to the tax office. She said she iain <br /> A favor ofthe money going straight tothe tax department. <br /> )O Bonnie Hammersley said Gary Donaldson has been working with the Tax Administrator <br /> ll onthis, and invited him tomake comment. <br /> 12 Gary Donaldson said the Housing Department would do the intake, and go to tax <br /> 13 department for eligibility verification. He said the Finance Department would then EFT the <br /> 14 difference (the increased taxes the eligible pool felt as a result of the increase), then a check <br /> 15 would be given to the taxpayer (more transparent, and better for audit), and the taxpayer would <br /> ih pay the bill. Hasaid staff has spoken with other jurisdictions about the mechanics, and Durham <br /> 17 and Mecklenburg Counties have similar programs. <br /> 10 Commissioner Greene said this sounds good, and is an expanded version of her petition <br /> 19 from early May, thinking about relief as a payback for decisions made at the County level over <br /> 20 the decades to not invest in communities, like Northside for example, resulting in gentrification. <br /> 21 She said she is interested in exploring this broader solution, but it is o lot ofmoney, and this <br /> 22 could be setting a standard going into the indefinite future. She said the County needs to use <br /> 23 tax money very carefully so that, ironically, something like this proposal does not cause <br /> 24 everyone's tax rates togoupand then becomes unsustainable. She said she iaalittle <br /> 25 concerned that this is broader than needed, but is glad to hear that other jurisdictions have done <br /> 26 it. <br /> 27 Choir Price said when she first proposed it, it was not for that much, but Gory Donaldson <br /> 28 said the money would be there and any unused monies could stay in the fund and roll over to <br /> 29 the next year. She said staff ietrying to determine how much money is needed this year in <br /> 30 order to help people based on current revaluation. She said she hopes the County can change <br />