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T.) Summary of Referenda Across the State - 1/4-cent sales tax o 21 counties have included on ballot since January 8, 2008 o 3 counties have been successful and 18 have not o 6 counties plan to include the 1/4-cent sales tax on their November 4, 2008 ballot - Land transfer tax o 5 counties have included on ballot since January 8, 2008 o No county has been successful in seeing referendum approved o 1 county, Polk, plans to include the land transfer tax on its November 4, 2008 ballot Donna Coffey said that if this were to move forward, the first date that revenues would be seen would be April 1, 2009. PUBLIC COMMENT: Joe Capowski lives in Chapel Hill and he asked the County Commissioners not to put this on the ballot. He said that he was the Chairman on the grassroots organizations that was promoting the real estate transfer tax. Based on this experience, he believes that this tax has a zero chance of passing. He said that the message, "no new taxes," is simply too strong. He asked the Board not to go through the process. If this is put on the ballot, he asked that adequate time be given for a group to form and that resources be given to promote it. Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to recognize the efforts of the previous committee and thank them for their work. A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Carey to not place this referendum on the November ballot. Commissioner Nelson supports this motion. He said that the County Commissioners should put this on the ballot at some point, but he has some concerns about the timing. He thinks that it would be a tough sell, even in Orange County. Commissioner Gordon said that the economic times are not good and the County needs the revenue to take pressure off of the property tax, but there is not enough time to do this right. Commissioner Carey agreed that the County needs the revenue. He said that he got a call from a citizen, who left a long, emotional message about the fact that she was experiencing some hard times, and increased taxes were a hardship. Also, the County was going to charge her$100 to reclaim her dog that had gotten away just one day while she was at work. This citizen was crushed that she did not have the money to pay. Chair Jacobs said that part of why this came forward is because the legislature's decisions last session wound up putting the County more in the hole. This is partially an attempt to regain lost revenues. He does not want to lose sight of the fact that the County is trying to make up for what was taken from the taxpayers of Orange County to be put to other purposes by other people. Chair Jacobs requested that the Board ask staff to develop a timeline for a deliberate process for the spring election. Commissioner Carey said that it would be a harder sell if the Board had a special election. Chair Jacobs said that he would like for it not to fall off the radar.