Minutes 03-23-2026-Legislative Breakfast

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2 JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) - GOAL—Seek legislation expanding state funding for essential medical, mental health, substance use, and social services for people incarcerated in local detention facilities. Commissioner Carter said this legislation is important because the county bears the full cost of providing these services for medical and behavioral care, and needs continue to rise. PUBLIC EDUCATION (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) - GOAL—Support legislation that invests in school operational and capital needs. Commissioner Carter said the lack of adequate funding is putting a major burden on budgets and county tax bills. She said Orange County is committed to covering as much of the gap as possible, but they are trying to be cognizant of property tax bills. She said 55%of resident tax bills are directly attributed to K-12 operational spending. She said due to the special district tax, it is 63% in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She said one way to alleviate property tax burdens is for the state to increase funding. TAX AND FINANCE (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) - GOAL—Support legislation that preserves County funding and taxing authority and instead funds potential expanded exemptions through the state budget. Commissioner Carter said the Board will discuss this goal further due to the special select committee on property tax reform and recent developments. Chair Hamilton opened the floor for discussion. Representative Buansi said there are some representatives coalescing around the idea of a constitutional amendment to put on the ballot. He said it sounds like it would be a mandate for the general assembly limit property taxes. He said there hasn't been discussion of what that might mean. He asked if the commissioners had heard from other counties on the topic. He said there is a lack of funding for crisis diversion programs and there hasn't been a lot of movement on the other side of the aisle, but it is something that Democrats care about and are still pushing for. He said for farmland preservation,there is some agreement on both sides of the aisle to put in more funding. He said Representative Ray Jeffers signed on to a bill to appropriate more money for the Department of Agriculture to create a grant program for farmland preservation trust fund. He said he hoped it would be part of a state budget. He said not having a state budget creates a lack of predictability and uncertainty for residents, schools, and Medicaid recipients. He said the Medicaid bill imposes more frequent recertifications and creates a huge administrative burden for counties that is not reimbursed due to a lack of a state budget. He also discussed the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund,and that he and other Democrats are pushing for more investments for the repair and construction of affordable housing units. He noted the expiring funding for the workforce loan program, which would require $80 million to continue supporting housing construction and repair, especially in rural counties. Representative Price said everything listed in the priority list relies on funding from a state budget. She expressed appreciation for the development of the legislative goals packet. Regarding the agriculture goal, she said one thing to consider is first time farmers and getting them involved. Regarding affordable housing,she asked if the county is working with Central Pines, because they used to have a weatherization program. Chair Hamilton said it might be something to look into.