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36 <br /> because this has affected Orange County for a long time. She said that no qualifying person <br /> should pay more than 2% of their income. <br /> Kathy Atwater said she is grateful the Commissioners are looking for ways to help <br /> residents stay in Orange County. She said people move here because they love it but move out <br /> because they cannot afford to live here. She agrees with keeping the qualification at below 80% <br /> AMI, allow the 5-year homeowner, and that it should address the whole tax burden. She said <br /> that longtime residents have seen increases over time. <br /> David Remington said he agrees with the suggestions of others and believes there is a <br /> good possibility that using tax burden as an indicator will keep award total below the available <br /> funding amount. He said that he does not think it will be anywhere near 100%. He said if it is <br /> not, he encouraged them to keep the program as broad as possible to serve the most people. <br /> He said that he agrees with the 5-year homeownership, the 80% limit, and to encompass the <br /> broadest group that it can. He said he echoes everyone else's thoughts on this. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked about the change in average awards between the last <br /> presentation and now. She asked where the $2,954 came from before. <br /> Nancy Freeman said that is the average tax bill for all those properties in the 5- and 10- <br /> year properties. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if that included the 60-80% AMI. <br /> Nancy Freeman said that once they were able to establish that, they were able to <br /> change it to $1,500. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if they felt this set of numbers was more accurate. <br /> Corey Root said yes, and there is also a lower number of households, so both numbers <br /> decreased. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said if you use the 2% cap then no one would get the reward. She <br /> said that makes it hard to believe because previously that had been a much larger number. <br /> Corey Root said using the $2,954, the average award is much higher. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if it is more correct that those in the 60%-80% would be <br /> getting closer to nothing. <br /> Corey Root said yes, but not everyone. <br /> Chair Price asked about prioritizing age over length of time in the home, she felt <br /> uncomfortable. She said now feels better after seeing the formula and the multiplier. She said in <br /> terms of neighborhood preservation age is not a determining factor in helping keep someone in <br /> their home. <br /> Commissioner Greene said if tax bill is lower than 2% of someone's income, they do not <br /> need this program. She said she does not see that as an issue here. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she was surprised that it was estimated at zero. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she does not know if the estimates are right and that they <br /> will vary. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said at $75,000, 2% is $1,500. She said these are just averages. <br /> She said it was a little surprising and that she agrees with Commissioners Greene and Fowler. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he appreciates the goal here but for him, the issue is the <br /> disparity of the revaluations. He said he was shocked when people held up the pictures of <br /> home revaluation comparisons at the last meeting this was discussed. He said he does not <br /> know how to reconcile that. He said there is a need for a revaluation method that is not so <br /> convoluted and onerous. He said something about the way they are done is not right or fair to <br /> him. He said he prefers the 10-year requirement because he does not consider 5 years a <br /> longtime homeowner. He said he wants to figure out a way to help those at 60% AMI and below <br /> without creating a situation that is not sustainable. He said that is a factor because of where we <br /> live, but in Duplin County it would be different. He said every year the taxes go up and in the <br />