The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRES-2001-020 Resolution Regarding Legislative Matters7� /q Ej- " ae) /- "', NORTH CAROLINA RESOLUTION REGARDING ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE MATTERS BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County that the Board hereby requests the Senators and Representatives-representing Orange County to take the following position on legislation regarding the following matters: (a) Support a referendum of the citizens of North Carolina which, if passed, would direct the North Carolina General Assembly to begin the steps necessary to establish a Health Care Fundamental Right (H 1396 [1999- 20001). (b) Support developing a grading system for long term care facilities similar to the five star program for child care facilities. (c) Support developing quality of life standards that long term care and service providers must meet to avoid the imposition of State and or local ordinance penalties. (d) Support broadening of residential options available to e citizens experiencing mental illness through the provision of additional and appropriate funding_ support and the enhancement of incentives. (e) Support establishing a permanent prohibition on billboard advertisements along Interstate 40. +i, Support creating a State /local water quality management program including the adoption of local water quality management plans and ordinances to protect eight coastal river basins. (g) Support establishing dedicated funding sources for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Natural Heritage Trust Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund •(PARTF) in order to implement the Million Acre Open Space Goal established in ratified S 1328, Session Law 2000 -23. (h) Support maintaining the current scoring, merit, and benefit system for the allocation of funds from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund; oppose any legislation changing the current merit funding system; oppose any legislation adding beach re- nourishment as an activity qualifying for potential Clean Water Management Trust Fund funding. (i) Support legislation authorizing cities and counties to ,adopt inclusionary zoning regulations. (j) Support creating a Legislative Study Commission to review and recommend improvements to the current organizational structure and communication system at the division and district level to facilitate greater 2 frooderudwlrq# dqg #frrshudwlrq #ehwzhhq #wkh #Qruwk Fdurolgd #Ghsduwphgw #ri #Wudgvsruwdwlrq #dqg #orfdo jryhugphgwv# rq# wudgvsruwdwlrq #surmhfwv #vxfk #dv #urdg dqg #eulgjh #frqvwuxfwlrq / #urdg #uhsdlu / #elnhzdlv/ #dqg wudqvlwl +n, Support small bona fide agricultural enterprises that do not require much land by relaxing the property tax use value eligibility standards as they relate to acreage size when combined with income production meeting the current standard. (1) Support S 162 which will restore the authority of local governments in a year in which a general reappraisal is not made to recognize a change in the property tax value of real property resulting from a physical change to the land or to the improvements on the land. (m) Oppose S 142 and H 193 relating to property tax exclusions for certain qualified retirement facilities. (n) Oppose S 146 and H 53 exempting non - profit child care centers from property tax unless the child care center is also wholly and exclusively used for charitable 3 sxusrvhv#+ doo# idplolhv #vhuyhg #pxvw #phhw #orz #dqg prghudwh #lgfrph #whvw,l +r, Support balancing the State of North Carolina budget by closing tax loopholes; oppose legislation further manipulating tax provisions as has historically occurred that has led to the present tax loopholes. An illustrative list of tax loopholes and alternative approaches is contained in Exhibit A to this Resolution. (p) Support H 288 which would appropriate from the Rainy Day Fund and pay to local governments on April 30, 2001 the amount needed to reimburse local governments the money now being held by the State in escrow for inventory tax reimbursements. (q) Support an appropriation of $50,000 for Teen Court activities in Orange and Chatham counties (H 1642 (1999- 20001). (r) Support an appropriation of up to $100,000 in matching funds for a Central Orange Farmers Market. (s) Support the following Legislative Goals of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' (NCACC), all of which are initiatives of Orange County: V 41 legislation providing that the State is responsible for providing services to children in need of residential mental health treatment (S 1469 [1999- 20001); 2. legislation that continues the original level of State funding for all existing positions in County Soil and Water Conservation offices; 3.funding for the establishment and implementation of Rural Transportation Planning Organizations throughout the State; 4. legislation requiring county commissioner approval for any proposed exercise of eminent domain power by any utility operating in a deregulated environment; 5. legislation to reinstitute State funding of local school system utility costs; 6. legislation to allow all counties to enact various revenue options, subject to local referendum, that have already been authorized for counties in other parts of the State, including land transfer taxes, impact taxes for school facilities and other infrastructure, prepared meals taxes and occupancy taxes; 5 :1 legislation enabling process free, gratuitous transfers of equipment and supplies from one unit of local government,to another during emergencies /natural disasters; 8.1egislation requiring the North Carolina Department of Transportation to develop alternative subdivision road standards to preserve trees and limit land disturbance and erosion. (t) Support other proposals and positions of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' (NCACC) supported by Orange County.as follows: 41 changing the Homestead Exemption as follows: • the amount of the exclusion shall be the greater of $20,000 or 500 of the value of the residence; • the initial income threshold shall be $15,000; the income threshold shall be I. adjusted by the annual COLA adopted by the Social Security Administration; • the Property Tax Division of the North Carolina Department of Revenue shall issue an annual advisory to inform counties of the adjusted income threshold; 6 51 amending the annexation laws to require consultation with counties, including conducting public hearings, on any proposed annexation, and to provide planning and revenue option incentives to county and municipal governments .that enter into cooperative planning agreements; (u) Support the following position of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' (NCACC), but failing approval of that initiative, an additional alternative proposal by Orange County: NCACC Position legislation restoring application of the "Public Duty Doctrine" to local governments on the same basis as it exists for the State Orange County Alternative legislation creating a reasonable local government tort claims act with exposure limits the same as those in effect in the State Tort Claims Act (presently $150,000). (v) Support legislation that would accomplish the Triangle J Council of Governments � Top Priorities and Other e Priorities Legislative Agenda which is Exhibit B to this Resolution, many of which were and are initiatives of Orange County. 0 Xsrq# prwlrq# ri# Frpplvvlrghu#Mdfrev / #vhfrgghg #eI Frpplvvlrqhu #Fduh /# wkh# iruhjrlgj #uhvroxwlrq #zdv #dgrswhg #wklv wkh #9th day of March, 2001. I, Beverly A. Blythe, 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 March 6, 2001 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in Minute Book No. 30 of the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this 9th day of March, 2001. 1; . ^ l 6 N doc C Clerk to t -Board of C mmissioners F•i