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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2011-011 Resolution Regarding Legislative Matters - Statewide MattersRES - 2011 - Oll NORTH CAROLINA 1 RESOLUTION REGARDING ORANGE COUNTY ~ LEGISLATIVE MATTERS BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County that the Board hereby requests the Senator and Representatives representing Orange County take the following positions on legislation regarding the following Statewide matters: 1) * Revenue Options for Local Government - Support legislation that authorizes any local government to enact any revenue source that is presently available to one or more local governments in the state. Local governments have experienced significant budget cuts in recent years. Providing flexibility regarding revenue. options to fund local government services will allow local governments to tailor their respective funding plans based on individual needs and goals; 2) * County Responsibility for Roads - Oppose legislation shifting the state's existing responsibility for funding transportation construction and maintenance projects to county governments. However, if the responsibility or the sharing of responsibility for 2 secondary. road improvements and/or the maintenance of roads is required of county governments, then Orange County requests that counties also be given the authority to levy fees, tolls, and other charges as may be necessary to provide funding to address this new responsibility. A new responsibility should include new revenue opportunities to accomplish the identified needs; 3) * Bio-solids Disposal - Support legislation which provides county governments some opportunity to regulate and/or have input into, but not prohibit, bio- . solids application activities, including the acceptable "classes" of bio-solids for application and the prohibition of bio-solids application. in certain environmentally sensitive areas such as critical watersheds. The appropriate application of bio-solids for agricultural use should be allowed with counties playing a role in the process; 4) Energy Efficiency Standards in Local Building Codes - Support changes in State law to allow local governments to include standards for energy efficiency in local building codes that are higher than those contained in the State Building Code; 3 5) * Broadband - Support legislation, funding, and other efforts to expand broadband capability to the un-served and under-.served areas of the State to enhance quality of life as well as expand opportunities for jobs creation, small business development, and growth in farm enterprises. Orange County opposes legislation limiting local governments' efforts to provide broadband and supports legislation and regulations that would preserve local option and authority where needed to deploy community broadband systems and ensure community access to critical broadband services; 6} Sales Tax Exemption - Support legislation to exempt counties, cities, school boards, community colleges, and the Orange Water & Sewer Authority from payment of state and local sales taxes on purchases within North Carolina. The legislation should contain a provision permitting the state to repay the last refund over a multi-year period to minimize state budget impacts. Alternatively, Orange County supports legislation to fully restore public schools' access to sales tax refunds . * This item generally coincides with a similar North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) 2011-12 Legislative Goal. 4 Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner ~ Item #1 of the foregoing resolution was adopted by a vote of 5-2 (Commissioners Yuhasz and McKee voting nay) this the 1St day of February, 2011. Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner Items #2 through 6 of the foregoing resolution were adopted this the 1st day of February, 2011. I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on February 1, 2011 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in Minute Book No. of the minutes of said Board.. of s WITNESS my hand and the .seal of said County, this ~ day