Minutes 03-21-2024 - Legislative Breakfast

Browse Search

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