Agenda 05-07-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 for those folks before the transition to Tailored Plans goes into place to avoid acute problems 2 later. 3 Chair Bedford said there needs to be a full continuum of housing for people with 4 disabilities, SUD, and mental health and there is a lot of work to do still. She said the Board is, 5 overall, much more pleased with Alliance than Cardinal. 6 Representative Price said that some people in the House are starting to realize these 7 needs. She said the North Carolina Institute of Medicine will provide a brief on something to do 8 with the work force for children up to adults. She said hopefully in time, there will be more done. 9 Vice-Chair Greene asked if a discussion on incentives for educational programs could 10 happen in the legislature now. 11 Senator Meyer said the legislature could get there in the next couple of years. He said 12 there could be helpful lawsuits that could push the legislature on this. 13 Commissioner Fowler said having the LMEs/MCOs put money into incentives is another 14 option. She asked since the state is low on money, could a raising age bill be an option. 15 Senator Meyer said he thinks there will be additional legislation on hemp derivatives in 16 the next couple of years. He said if the legislature can agree on a bill for medical marijuana, 17 regulations on hemp derivatives will likely be in the same bill. 18 Chair Bedford said the county has an option on land for the Behavioral Health Diversion 19 Facility and information on construction will be in the CIP presented to the BOCC next month. 20 Commissioner Fowler said she also made a petition on distance of vape/hemp shops 21 from schools. 22 Senator Meyer said to answer Commissioner Fowler's earlier question, raising the age 23 to 21 is not likely. He said the diversion facility is one of the best things that could happen for the 24 county. 25 26 Chair Bedford reviewed the second item on the Board's list of priority legislative issues: 27 28 School Capital Funding — Support a State bond referendum to address school capital needs to 29 provide needed capital funding to support school infrastructure, renovations, and new 30 construction; and support legislation to: 31 • Allocate State surplus funds for statewide school capital needs; and 32 • Ensure methods used to distribute school capital funding consider the needs of all 33 counties. 34 35 Chair Bedford said that the Board is proposing a $300M bond referendum on the ballot 36 this November. She said the consultant's report showed a need for $1.1B in school capital 37 needs in Orange County. 38 Commissioner Hamilton explained the county's process leading to the decision for the 39 bond. She said from the options presented by Woolpert, the Board decided on the $300M bond. 40 She said now they need to decide what the plan will look like. She said both school districts 41 should be ready to present the plans in line with the Woolpert Study at the end of May. She said 42 it will be a lot of money and will result in a tax increase, and it is important to keep the 43 community informed of what they are doing to address school needs. 44 Commissioner Richards said in addition to the bond, the Board did consider a pay-go, so 45 it is a holistic plan. She said before they go out to the community, both school districts need to 46 be aligned on the plan and they need to have a strategy for the long-term plan, regardless of 47 who is on elected boards. 48 Commissioner Hamilton said this plan gets the county started, but is still not enough, 49 and that's why they need help from the state. She said the Woolpert consultant gave their 50 suggestions for projects and new facilities, but the schools are tweaking that plan. 51 Chair Bedford shared some of the ideas the school districts have at this time.