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35 <br /> Commissioner Richards noted that the 10-to-5-year homeownership requirement really <br /> increases the impact. She said that this is estimated at 100% usage and even 25% would be a <br /> huge increase to last year. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked what portion of the bill this would cover. <br /> Corey Root said all these scenarios cover the Orange County portion. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if this means that people in the 31%-60% and 60%-80% <br /> would not get assistance. <br /> Corey Root said using these averages but that this is the highest income estimated and <br /> each situation would be calculated individually. <br /> Commissioner Bedford asked for information on how the multiplying factor of .67 is <br /> derived. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton thanked Corey Root and Nancy Freeman for their work on this <br /> presentation. She asked if previous data reflects the incomes of the recipients. <br /> Corey Root said it was calculated and she can provide that. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton asked if it covered all income levels <br /> Corey Root said yes, up to 80%, and all the other levels were covered. <br /> Chair Price asked if it is sustainable to change the distribution guidelines year by year as <br /> opposed to having a fixed formula. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said that is currently how the county handles the grants for the <br /> small business and ag grants and this is modeled after those as far as prioritization. <br /> Chair Price said she felt concerned when looking at property taxes versus a grant but if <br /> it is ok by statute, she is fine. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS: <br /> George Barrett said they are working with a much smaller sample set of people. He said <br /> that the multiplying factor of .67 helps them distribute the funds evenly while representing the <br /> full formula. He said they knew they had $40,000 and they experimented with factors and .67 <br /> made sense. He said that not every formula is perfect, so the multiplying factor to aid the <br /> person's tax burden can be adjusted. He thanked the Board and staff for all their work on <br /> figuring out this program. He said there has been a big arch from where it started. He asked the <br /> Board to pass the second year of the LHA program. He said the program should focus on tax <br /> burden and should qualify people who have lived in their home for 5 years. He said it should <br /> focus on those under 80% AMI. He said that everyone who applies and qualifies should receive <br /> some assistance. He said that no person should spend more than 2% of their income on <br /> property taxes so that would mean that those applying that are over 80% AMI should still <br /> receive some assistance if they qualify based on their income to tax bill ratios. <br /> Matthew Fearrington said he has been in his house for over 20 years and his uncle <br /> before him. He said that he has never seen a tax assessor at the house, so he has no idea how <br /> the tax is assessed. He said if someone did come by, he would have told them that he lives in a <br /> flood zone and homes flood often. He said if the tax assessor would come to his house, he <br /> would show them the damage. He said the house is not worth what it is assessed at because of <br /> the structure even though it looks nice on the outside. <br /> Heather Ferrell said she grew up in northern Orange County and now lives in Northside. <br /> She said she is here with her neighbors tonight. She said that the residents in the Northside <br /> district are living treasures and are up against forces of gentrification. She said that there is not <br /> a lot that can be done about it, but the LHA program is something that can be done. She <br /> thanked Nancy Freeman and Corey Root for their work on this program. She asked the Board <br /> to approve eligibility at 80% AMI, occupancy at 5 years, and to address the whole tax burden <br />