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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-22-2008-d®RANGE COUNTY HIL.LSBOROIIGH NORTH CAROLINA f~Cb°~~~ ~~ MEMORANDUM ~rtaG/ lr.~>7~S2 TO: -aura E. Blackmon, County Manager FROA~. ~ Rod Visser, Project Manager DATE: April 18, 2008 RE: Update on Land Transfer Tax Voter Information Initiative County Attonley Geof Gledhill and I have been working very closely during the past several weeks with Ballen Media representatives on the land transfer tax voter information effort. It has been our goal to ensure that the materials produced are factual, fair, and balanced, and will meet the "reasonable person" test in being viewed as informational, and not promotional. I have briefly summarized below progress in various areas that County staff have undertaken in collaboration with Ballen Media and the Local Revenue Options Education Advisory Committee: Website - The dedicated website related to the land transfer tax referendum is up and running at www:yourchoice-oc.com. The website features some basic Frequently Asked Questions (and answers!) ~~bout the,str~ietue and workings of the land transfer tax. There are also linlcs`~to,various other websites or opinion piecestliat havebeen published. These will provide interested voters with the opporttliity o dig a little deeper for arguments from differing perspectives that can help thctil make a morc in['orn2ed choice when they vote - whether for ot: against o11 May 6. Advertising - The television ad - designed to promote curiosity ainoi2g viewers that may lead them to seek morc information through "yoiirclioice-oe.eoz~i"or-by calling the County ~.. g ill begin airingncxt week°in various time slots Mana er s Office --has been finalized. It w during both over-the-air and cable programming chosen by Ballen Media. Print and newspaper ads will also begin next week. Direct Mail - A direct mail piece -emphasizing Orange County voters' oppori-unity to choose on the land transfer tax and directing them towards the website and the Manager's Office for more information -has been finalized and is at the printers' this weekend. It will be sent next week via bulk mail to all registered Orange County voters (with reasonable efforts to minimize duplicate mailings to multiple voters in one household) with a targeted delivery date of no later than Apri128. • Public Forums -The League of Women Voters has agreed to sponsor two public fonims on the land transfer tax referendum. These will be held at 7:OOpm on Wednesday, April 23 at Chapel Hill Town Hall and at 7:OOpm on Wednesday, April 30 at the Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough. The format for both forums will be similar to the one used two years ago for the public information effort related to the commissioner district elections referendum. Staff will do a brief presentation of the basic facts on the land transfer tax, then advocates on both AREA CODE (919) 732-8181 • 968-4501 • 688-7331 • 227-2031 • FAX (919) 644-3004 Ext. 2300 sides of the question will make brief presentations on the arguments for and against. The League's moderator will then facilitate a Q&A session involving all the speakers. The April 23 session will be broadcast live on Chapel Hill. Cable Channel 18 and will be recorded for subsequent viewings through other media. It will also be rebroadcast on the Orange County Government Channe1265. • Speakers' Bureau -The Committee has conducted one presentation for the Hillsborough- Orange County Chamber of Commerce and has others scheduled for the CHCCS PTA Council and at Carol Woods. The Committee is scheduling its members, with support from staff, to speak at various engagements as they are requested by community groups. I will be happy to review this information and additional updates with the Board of Commissioners and the Boards of Education at the Apri122 joint work session, if you think it would be helpful for me to do so.