HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative Items of Interest - 02-01-2011-6bl
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Forestry Notification
Property owners currently do .not receive .any notification
of impending forestry activities planned for adjoining
properties. Orange County believes the State should at a
minimum implement a courtesy notification process, for
adjoining property owners. (Note: Approved by a vote of 5-2
- Commissioners Yuhasz and McKee voting nay)
Machinery Act
North Carolina property tax law substantially limits the
ability of local governments to address property tax
discrepancies, such as prohibiting the refund of prior
years' taxes paid after a measurement and/or condition
property appraisal error is discovered. Orange County
believes that local governments need more flexibility to
remedy such errors. Just as local governments can recoup
prior years' property taxes from owners for "discoveries",
local governments should likewise be authorized to refund
prior years' taxes paid when situations such as measurement
and/or condition property appraisal errors are discovered.
Homestead Exemption
Orange County believes Homestead Exemption provisions of
the Machinery Act should be reformed to:
1) provide greater opportunities for low-income
seniors to remain in their homes and not be
displaced due to property tax burdens;
2) eliminate the. discriminatory features of the
exemption. provisions relating to couples; and
3) address the ineffectiveness of the exemption
provisions in communities where property values
increase at substantial rates over short periods
of time..
* Court Facility Fees
Orange County recently completed an $11 million. justice
facility expansion, a substantial .investment for the
County. Like other North Carolina counties, the County
receives limited financial support for the construction of
judicial facilities as well as the on-going annual facility
operation and maintenance. As court fees and jail housing
fees are reduced, Orange County .believes counties should be
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authorized to raise Court Facility Fees to help fund
capital or debt service needs associated with ever-
increasing judicial activities.
Open BurningjBurning Permits
Orange County believes the statutes (NCGS 113-60.31)
related to open burning should be amended to:
1) remove the open burning prohibition exemption
that is currently available during periods of
hazardous forest fire conditions, during drought
periods, or .during air pollution episodes; or
2) grant local governments the authority to prohibit
open burning in the absence of a State
declaration of a hazardous condition since local
fire authorities are best suited to assess local
conditions and determine the best courses of
action related to burning activities.
Herbicide Use Limitations for Riaht of Wav Maintenance
Orange County supports legislation that would further
regulate or prohibit the use of herbicides for the clearing
and maintenance of easements and rights of way by
utilities.
* Email Subscriber Lists
Orange County supports legislation to protect the email
address of individuals who express an interest to receive
updates from their local government. Distribution lists
should continue to be a matter of public record and can be
made available for public inspection. However,
distribution lists should not be provided electronically or
as a printed list.
* This item generally coincides with a similar North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) 2011-12 Legislative Goal.
Approved unanimously except as noted at February 1, 2011
Board of Commissioners Meeting