Minutes 03-05-2026-Business Meeting

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28 evolve and change over the session and require additional attention by the Group and Board of Commissioners. New issues may also arise necessitating additional review. Greg Wilder, Assistant to the County Manager for Legislative Affairs, reviewed the background information for the item. Commissioner Portie-Ascott explained that the new format of the document provides talking points and local impact information to help commissioners defend goals at NACO steering committee meetings and assist the legislative delegation in understanding Orange County's specific impacts. Commissioner Carter noted that the document underwent multiple iterations to achieve alignment, highlighting the top five priorities: agricultural and farmland preservation, housing preservation, behavioral health capacity, health services and local detention facilities, and tax and finance protecting county fiscal stability. The broader list addresses environmental protection, clean water, watershed protection, storm resilience, disaster recovery, rural water and sewer infrastructure, workforce housing, transportation access, and education workforce development. Chair Hamilton thanked the work group and staff for their work on the alignment. Commissioner Greene questioned including the longer list, preferring to focus on five priorities as the Board had previously decided. Commissioner Portie-Ascott explained that the additional items acknowledge strategic priorities and prevent important issues from being lost. Vice-Chair Fowler advocated for six priorities by adding public education, noting that half the county's budget goes to schools and adequate state funding would reduce pressure on the county. She wanted to include pre-K investment advocacy and opposition to school vouchers for families already attending private schools. She also emphasized the need for specific Medicaid codes for behavioral health urgent care centers to be included under the behavioral health priority. Commissioner McKee supported keeping five focused goals while noting that commissioners could individually contact legislators about other issues. He shared an example of contacting legislators about controlling rogue agritourism operations affecting legitimate farmers. Chair Hamilton reminded the Board that this is the document used to talk to delegation at the Legislative Breakfast. She said they don't have to just stick to 5 and can make sure the document works for the Board. Commissioner Bedford supported the new format and suggested adding bullet points under public education for pre-K emphasis and voucher reduction, plus adding back the IDD waiver wait list clearing under health and human services, noting over 17,000 people wait for services with only 1,000 new vouchers added in recent years. Vice-Chair Fowler raised questions about water and sewer infrastructure expansion conflicting with current WASMPBA agreements restricting such expansion. She also advocated for non-partisan redistricting inclusion. Commissioners discussed the water/sewer language, with Commissioner Carter clarifying the intent was seeking funding for infrastructure work rather than legislation to change restrictions. Commissioner Greene suggested changing "legislation" to "funding" and adding invasive species research funding. After Board discussion, Chair Hamilton called for individual positions on the addition of support for non-partisan redistricting. With five commissioners supporting, non-partisan redistricting was added to the list. The Board reached consensus on the following amendments: • Top priorities increased from five to six by adding public education • Added pre-K investment and school voucher opposition under education • Added IDD innovation waiver wait list clearing under health services