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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2000-083 Resolution Requesting North Carolina Association of County Commissioners to consider 2001 Legislative Goals iREs - :k000 - o ?3 DRAFT d 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER PROPOSING LEGISLATION OF STATEWIDE APPLICABILITY ON CERTAIN ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE 2001 SESSION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEREAS,the North Carolina General Assembly will convene in January 2001 to consider legislative matters during its Long Session; and WHEREAS,the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners will consider and adopt a slate of legislative goals that will serve as the basis for various pieces of draft legislation,applicable on a statewide basis,to be presented for consideration by the General Assembly in 2001; and WHEREAS,the Orange County Board of Commissioners has identified a number of legislative changes that, if adopted,it believes will contribute to the public good and benefit the citizens of Orange County specifically and the State of North Carolina generally; NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that it does hereby convey to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners its request that its legislative concerns, as enumerated below,be incorporated into draft legislation applicable to counties throughout North Carolina, and be presented to the North Carolina General Assembly within the timeframes established by that body for consideration in 2001;the Board of Commissioners recommends Association consideration of the following legislative goals for the 2001 General Assembly: 1. The authorization for local governments.to implement a school impact tax. 2. The creation of a standardized format and language that will provide for more-uniform interpretation and application of the Use Value System as it relates to farming and real property taxes. 3. The relaxation of the eligibility standards as they relate to acreage size for land to qualify under the Use Value System with increased emphasis on income produced, so that small,bona fide income-producing agricultural enterprises that do not require much land can also qualify for the Use Value program. 4. The opportunity for deferment of real property taxes to a later date as an additional alternative or substitute to the continuance or broadening of the Homestead Exemption. 5. An additional program allowing for the erection of logo signs for retail operations(to complement current authorizations for food, fuel, and lodging logo signs) along interstates where prohibitions against additional billboard outdoor advertising signs exist. 6. The transfer of financial responsibility for a troubled child from counties, as outlined in NC G.S. 7B-2502,to the State of North Carolina. Under current state law, a judge can direct that a county of present location pay all costs associated with supporting the needs of a special-needs child for an undefined period of time. This should be addressed, or alternatively, some statutory framework should at a minimum be provided whereby a county can plan for this potential event. r 3 � 7. Increased funding of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and support the allocation of funds based on a points system that evaluates the merit of individual projects. 8. An income tax credit for taxpayers investing in agribusiness enterprises that add value to raw, North Carolina-grown agricultural commodities,with special attention/benefits being given to those investment activities supporting smaller agricultural operations. 9. An increase in court cost fees and/or revision in the distribution of the portion of court cost fees to counties,thereby enabling counties to better address court facility needs and costs. 10. The allocation of funds to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to support the creation and maintenance of Rural Planning Organizations as authorized during the 2000 General Assembly session. 11. The creation of a Legislative Study Commission to review and recommend improvements to the current organizational structure and communication system to assist local governments as they seek to work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on road and bridge construction and road repair projects. 12. The inclusion of conservation and emission pollution control components into any electric de- regulation legislation. 13. The inclusion of local governmental input/decision-making authority into any electric de- regulation legislation, as opposed to private utilities' use of the power of eminent domain,thereby allowing for local officials to play an integral part in the decision process. 14. The re-institution of state funding of full local school system utility costs. 15. Legislative adoption of a menu of discretionary revenue options available for local governments to preclude undue reliance on the property tax. 16. The elimination of any legal limitations that would prohibit one unit of local government in North Carolina from transferring property declared"surplus"to another unit of local government in North Carolina. 17. The approval of the concept of inclusionary zoning. 18. The approval of legislation authorizing local governmental use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs)regulations that requires a broad menu of opportunities for use of this tool. 19. Continuation of at least the current level of State funding for all existing positions in County Soil and Water Conservation offices. 20. Authorization for Boards of Commissioners, in counties that have been granted enabling legislation to implement civil rights ordinances,to determine the classes to which anti- discrimination provisions shall apply. 21. The broadening of residential options available to citizens experiencing mental illness through the provision of additional and appropriate funding support and the enhancement of incentives. 4 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair is authorized to convey this resolution to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners by means of a letter which elaborates on Orange County's concerns and recommendations,to the extent the Chair deems that necessary and appropriate. This, the 19`h day of September, 2000.