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39 <br /> Then, group members met several times over the past 6 months with County <br /> staff to better understand options for improving LHA program outreach <br /> (especially in Hillsborough and Northern Orange, where there was initially less <br /> activity), hear the results of the pilot, and learn about opportunities for community <br /> feedback to expand the benefits of the program to more people, and with greater <br /> impact for those people. <br /> We collaborated with County staff to organize program outreach sessions at <br /> Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist <br /> Church. We even went door-to-door, ourselves, in the Piney Grove <br /> neighborhood with Piney Grove church members, to spread the word. <br /> We understand the Commissioners are receiving the Staff program evaluation <br /> and options for the first time tonight -- thank you for honoring our collective <br /> request for a delay to allow for more community feedback. <br /> Tonight, residents will be attending to hear Commissioners' responses to the <br /> County staff evaluation. A few members will speak, with the intention of <br /> continuing and strengthening an ongoing collaboration between County <br /> Commissioners, staff, and community stakeholders, to address the inequities of <br /> the tax burden, together. <br /> The Affordable Housing team listed the following points as important: <br /> 1) The Jackson Center and Compass Group, EmPOWERMENT, Inc., Fairview <br /> residents, and member groups of Orange County Justice United have connected <br /> around a shared, countywide priority of addressing the inequitable property tax <br /> burden. <br /> 2) As you know, the Longtime Homeowners Assistance program exists in the <br /> context of inequitable property tax valuations, as well as an unfair tax burden: <br /> residents with lower incomes have to pay a higher ratio of property taxes in <br /> comparison to what they would actually make if they sold their home than <br /> wealthier residents. The Longtime Homeowners Assistance program doesn't <br /> resolve the inequity, but we recognized that it is an important attempt to lessen <br /> some of the negative impact. <br /> 3) Given this inequity, we believe it is important for the program to at least have <br /> maximum benefit for the most people. <br /> 4) In that vein, we most strongly support option 1 e), which would have the <br /> potentially highest benefit for most people, and is also what Durham County is <br /> likely about to adopt -- and was recommended by Durham Department of Social <br /> Services. Durham County has expressed support of having a consistent, <br /> coordinated approach to property tax relief across the Triangle. <br /> 1 e). Awards cover half of total tax bill: Award would cover half of total tax bill for <br /> homeowners earning 80% AMI or under, up to these total amounts: <br /> i. $ 1000. 00 for households with incomes < 61- 80% AMI <br /> ii. $ 1250. 00 for households with incomes < 31- 60% AMI <br /> iii. $ 1500. 00 for households with incomes < 30%- below AMI <br /> iv. The amount of assistance that may be granted for this option will vary <br /> based on the level of income of the applicants. Assuming a 50% increase in <br /> the number of applicants, an estimated range is $169, 123 to $243,454. <br /> 4) In any case, we recommend going with property tax award criteria that would <br /> provide the most benefit to most people -- options 1 c), 1 d), and 1 e) are the <br /> three options estimated by County staff to provide the most benefit. <br /> 5) We also emphasize the importance of reducing the years of residence from <br /> 10 to 5. Even longtime homeowners in historical and gentrifying neighborhoods <br />