Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 15, 2000 <br />1 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. -- :~ , .~ <br />SUBJECT: U.S. Conservation and Reinvestment Act CARA <br />DEPARTMENT: BCC <br />PUBLIG HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Draft resolution <br />Letter from Governor Jim Hunt <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Barry Jacobs, 732-4941 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution asking North Carolina's Senators to support the <br />Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) currently under deliberation in the U.S. Senate. <br />BACKGROUND: The Conservation and Reinvestment Act would provide over $3 billion <br />annually to land conservation programs at Federal, State and local levels from oil drilling <br />revenues. The act would provide additional funds for the Lands Legacy program, as well as for <br />State Parks and funding for land trusts. It would also provide a dedicated source of funds for the <br />Land and Water Conservation Fund, a fund from which the County has recently been <br />recommended to receive $262,000 toward the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. <br />Conservation leaders across the State have asked local governments to request support from <br />Senators Edwards and Helms. A draft resolution is attached. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact to the County. However, the funding <br />for CARA would tentatively provide $47 million annually to the State, some of which would be <br />available for local government grants for land preservation. As such, CARA would provide <br />another potential funding source for the Lands Legacy program. <br />RECOMMENDATION: As the Board decides. <br />