Agenda 10-07-2025; 11-a - Tax Assessment Work Group – Appointments Discussion

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8 Page 2 of 3 Matt Hughes I am interested in serving on the Tax Assessment Working Group because I have nearly eight years of experience as a municipal elected official and I believe the perspectives of municipalities must be represented in this process. While the general statutes do not require the county to involve municipalities in property revaluation, the towns are home to the vast majority of the countya€TMs population and are directly bound by the processes and decisions of the Board of County Commissioners though without input. Hillsborough is a diverse and dynamic community. Forty percent of our residents are people of color and nearly forty percent are renters. That means my BIPOC constituents are disproportionately affected by the revaluation process compared to other parts of the county. Renters, such as myself, are not property owners and therefore are not engaged in the revaluation process, even though their rents are directly influenced by property revaluations and they are functionally indirect taxpayers. Additionally, those who are impacted are not just those who are lower income, on fixed incomes, or struggle to find affordable housing. Those who are impacted are also those in the 80% to 120%AMI who are also pressed when processes seem to price them out. We must not only ensure that the revaluation process is fair and equitable, but also that it is customer service driven. Property owners and renters alike should be able to navigate the process with clarity and confidence. Further property owners operate in a current system of appeals that appears clunky and not user friendly, which can discourage participation and creates frustration. Improving the transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness of this process will help build public trust and ensure that all residents feel the system works for them rather than feeling cheated by it. I want to bring this municipal perspective into the county's work, to make sure that the needs and lived experiences of communities like Hillsborough are considered and that the process is equitable, transparent, and customer focused. How would your particpation on this board contribute to the diversity of viewpoints? As both a renter and a person of color, I can speak to how revaluation policies affect residents who are not property owners but are still impacted through rising rents, and how these policies can disproportionately affect communities of color. My combined perspective as a municipal leader, a renter, and a person of color brings lived experience that is often missing from county tax policy discussions. I am also someone in the 80 to 120 percent area median income range who has benefited from programs such as Section 8 vouchers. People in this income bracket often lack the same advocates as those at lower income levels, yet they continue to struggle to afford to live in Orange County even as their long-term economic situation improves. My experience allows me to highlight this gap and give voice to a segment of the community that is frequently overlooked in conversations about housing and taxation. Do you have any personal or business interest(s)that could create a conflict of interest (either real or perceived) if you are appointed to this board? Boards/Commissions appointments: Orange County Board of Adjustment Application Date: 9/2/2015 Background, education and experience relevant to this board: In various roles I have held, I have had to be an fair and independent arbiter in determining facts and ensuring that decisions are made reflecting those facts as well as official policies and procedures. One body I currently sit on, the Human Relations C Reasons for wanting to serve on this board: I have previously applied for the Orange County Planning Board and find issues relating to zoning and planning to be incredibly important, especially with new construction and economic development. I see the Board of Adjustment as a way to ensure that pro Conflict of Interest: No.