Agenda 05-20-25; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 issues. He said his questions are about where the money was spent, how it was spent, and why 2 there is a disparate impact on those with fewer means. He said that he owns property with a 3 dilapidated barn that had no value 4 years ago but now has a value of$51,000. He said that does 4 not make sense. He said it is unfair to those who cannot pay the tax bill. 5 Ashley Campbell said she wanted to point out a better way to communicate the 6 reassessment to the people. She said that a tax neutral amount is likely never going to happen. 7 She said that it goes to show how far the revaluation increased the values. She said that research 8 shows the disproportionate effect on land. She said businesses had a smaller increase than 9 people who lived out in the county. She said that communication for how the revaluation was 10 performed could be better. She said she wished the area of neighborhoods that people's homes 11 were compared to were larger. She said she will have to increase rent on property she owns 12 elsewhere in the county to cover the cost of the taxes. 13 Gerald Scarlett said he has been in Orange County for almost 70 years and his family for 14 200. He said that about 50 years ago, he had local, state, and federal officials visit him to tell him 15 that they were taking his property to build Interstate 40. He said that he was assured his tax rate 16 would not go up because of all the development it would bring to the county. He said he was 17 promised that all of the development would either lower taxes or at least keep them the same, but 18 it has not happened. He said in 2019 the Board passed a '/4 cent increase in taxes to fight climate 19 change. He said that two years later, the RTLP project was approved right across the street from 20 him with three million square feet of warehouse and 400 loading docks, for 400 diesel spewing 21 trucks. He said that this seems disingenuous at best and hypocritical at the worst. He challenged 22 the Board to not perpetuate the lie that taxes will not go up. He asked the Board to adjust the tax 23 rate so that rates do not go up a single penny. He said there has been $100 million or more dollars 24 in the county. He said they cannot afford to keep doing this. He said his property value has doubled 25 and there is no way he could buy it now on a fixed income. He said he cannot afford increased 26 property taxes. He asked the Board to make adjustments so his payments will not go up and so 27 that he will not be run out of the county by increased and unaffordable taxes. 28 29 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 30 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 31 32 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 33 Commissioner McKee petitioned staff to bring to the next Board meeting the revenue 34 neutral rate, and information on any delays, reductions, or cuts necessary to achieve the revenue 35 neutral rate. He also asked that the Board discuss a commitment to achieve no more than the 36 revenue neutral rate this year. 37 Commissioner Fowler said she went to a Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting. She said 38 the average property value increase in value was 52%, but it was lower for commercial property. 39 She said that people should appeal if they do not agree with the value. She said the budget is not 40 set based on valuations but is set on budgetary needs and what the departments provide to the 41 community. She said the Board will be mindful of those paying tax bills while balancing the needs 42 of the most vulnerable. 43 Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked those in attendance for their remarks. She said that 44 House Bill 412 was written to address a staffing shortage issue in childcare centers. She shared 45 two data points: people that have two children in childcare are spending $23,000 - $40,000 a year 46 on childcare and that childcare centers were at 59% capacity in Orange County. She said that 47 House Bill 412 would make it so that one teacher can cover two classrooms, which concerns the 48 Partnership for Children because they believe this is a safety issue. She said that she shared the 49 concern to the advocacy team, and they were grateful to get those comments and present them 50 to the legislators.