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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2012-037 Resolution Requesting Orange County's 2012 Legislative Agenda Statewide Issues with Exhibit 1 RES - 2012 - 037 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 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 secondary road improvements and/or the maintenance of 2 r/ 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 (Also see 2012 Orange County Resolution with Draft Bill concerning the addition of Orange County to Session Law 2011-163 authorizing Broadband Grants for Economic Development) ; 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 4 fully restore public schools' access to sales tax refunds; 7) Smart Start and More at Four - Orange County supports efforts to secure needed and stable funding, enhanced quality early care and education, and family access and benefits in settings public and private. The County advocates sustaining teacher quality; evidence-based learning objectives; healthy life styles; and community engagement. Quality early childhood has proven to help alleviate the achievement gap; curb the need for costly services (including special education) ; and reduce societal cost by increasing graduation rates . Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are ardent allies, equally concerned about State actions that could negatively impact local implementation. Orange County remains strongly supportive of the Orange County Partnership for Young Children in the effective administration and evaluation of services reaching all children throughout the County. (Exhibit A is a summary from Partnership Director Margaret Samuels. ) * This item generally coincides with a similar North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) 2011-12 Legislative Goal. 5 Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by U Commissioner — WN6U,6MA,) , Item #1 of the foregoing resolution was adopted by a vote of 4-2 (Commissioners Yuhasz and McKee voting nay) this the 3rd day of April, 2012. Upon motion of Commissioner 2 seconded by Commissioner Items #2 through 7 of the foregoing resolution were adopted by a vote of 6-0 this the 3rd day of April, 2012 . 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 April 3, 2012 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. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this 4th day of April, 2012. Clerk to 0 Board of Commissioners oath (fato EXHIBIT A 6 j Orange County Partnership for Young Children Margaret Samuels,Executive Director Smart Start NC Pre K Information Smart Start 2012-2013: • Maintain Smart Start funding or increase funding to prior year levels. • Continue the focus on developmentally appropriate early literacy and evidence based programs for early care,education and services. • Increased funds will allow OCPYC to fund necessary programs in our community and expand funding to Early Intervention/Health and Family Support projects which were decimated in last year's Smart Start budget cycle due to drastic cuts. Support parents and community with programs that reach all children. • Continue the waitlist reduction in the upcoming year. In 2011-2013,the County waitlist for child care subsidy has been reduced to minimal from a high of 650 children. This is the first time in several years that hundreds of children have not been waiting for child care subsidy in Orange County. • Enhance and maintain quality in early care and education in all setting(public and private)by supporting teacher quality; evidence based learning objectives;healthy life styles and community engagement. NC Pre K(MAF)2012-2013: • Support and increase funding to serve more children in quality early education. • NC Pre K should continue to be offered in a variety of setting including child care,public schools,head start, etc. Maintaining this diversity allows the maximum of parent choice and funding. • Maintain the current definition of"at-risk". At a time when more children are living in poverty,more NC Pre K slots need to be available for children. OCPYC in conjunction with school districts, CHTOP Head Start and 3 private child care centers continue to work collaboratively to provide some of the best quality Pre K services in the state. Both Chapel Hill Carrboro City School and Orange County School Districts are aware of state issues and concerns and their impact on local implementation. The school district is have been supportive of OCPYC and its administration and implementation of NC Pre K in Orange County. Conclusion: I want to thank the Orange County Board of County Commissioners for the opportunity to give an update on the status of Smart Start and NC Pre K funding. We know that quality early childhood programs help to alleviate the achievement gap,reduce the need for costly services including special education, and reduce overall societal cost by increasing graduation rates. I also want to thank Commissioner Pelissier, County Manager Clifton and Assistant Manager Harvey for their service to the OCPYC Board as well as thanking the County Department Directors who serve on our Board and provide guidance and assistance to early childhood services in Orange County. Please do not hesitate to contact Margaret Samuels, OCPYC Executive Director at 919- 967-9091 or msamuels(i�orangesmartstart.org if you need any additional information.