HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-20-2008-6dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 20, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ -~
SUBJECT: Discussion Regarding Possible Solicitation of Public Comments During the
June 3, 2008 Regular Meeting on a Potential One-Quarter Cent Sales Tax
Increase Referendum
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
None
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Laura Blackmon, 245-2300
PURPOSE: To provide the Board of County Commissioners an opportunity to discuss whether
or not to solicit public comments at the June 3, 2008 Regular Board Meeting on a potential
referendum on aone-quarter cent additional sales tax in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: As part of a comprehensive and complicated "swap" of county and state
revenue sources approved by the North Carolina General Assembly during its 2007 Session,
the legislature authorized county boards of commissioners to enact one of two new local
revenue sources, subject to voter approval in each county considering implementation of the
new revenue sources. Counties may conduct a referendum on aone-quarter cent additional
sales tax, a 4% land transfer tax, or both. County Boards of Commissioners can implement only
one of the two taxes if voters approve both.
This item provides the opportunity for the Orange County Commissioners to discuss whether or
not to solicit public ,comments at the June 3, 2008 Regular Board Meeting on a potential
referendum to increase the sales tax by one-quarter cent in Orange County.
The specific ballot language that would appear for aone-quarter cent additional sales tax is
specified in the State statute, as follows:
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST
Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all other State
and local sales and use taxes.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact directly associated with the Board
discussing whether or not to solicit public comments at the June 3, 2008 Regular Board Meeting
on a potential referendum on aone-quarter cent additional sales tax in Orange County. Any
subsequent decisions by the Board may have financial impacts which can be evaluated by staff.
Preliminary estimates provided by the North Garolina Association of County Commissioners in
August 2007 suggest that based on historical patterns, Orange County could expect additional
annual sales tax revenue of roughly $3.0 million, or the equivalent of approximately 1.4 cents on
the anticipated 2008-09 fiscal year tax rate, with the voter-approved and Board-implemented
one-quarter cent additional sales tax. However, given the economic downturn currently being
experienced across the nation and evidenced in the County's recent lower than anticipated
sales tax collections, it is likely that $3 million is optimistic and not reflective of today's current
conditions.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss whether or not to
solicit public comments at the June 3, 2008 Regular Board Meeting on a potential referendum
on cone-quarter cent additional sales tax in Orange County and provide any direction to staff.