HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-03-2022 Business Meeting 1
APPROVED 6/7/22
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUSINESS MEETING
May 3, 2022
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May
3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Renee Price, Vice Chair Jamezetta Bedford,
and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), and
Anna Richards
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Sally Greene
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager
Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified
appropriately below)
Chair Price called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
Chair Price said the closed session did not need to be held at the end of the meeting.
Chair Price dispensed with reading the public charge.
2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour)
a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda
Polly Dornette thanked the Commissioners for the plan to bring broadband to residents.
She said the plan was intended to leave no one behind, but a large section of Efland is not
covered. She said she had communicated for two years with Commissioner Greene and
Commissioner McKee, along with Jim Northrup, about inaccuracies in the map about where
Spectrum claims they are covering. She said Spectrum has repeatedly refused to provide
service to her neighborhood on Redgate Road. She said her whole neighborhood was
excluded from the plan. She said they were repeatedly told they would not be left behind, and
that she has dozens of emails that assured her neighborhood they would not be left behind.
She said North State does plan to cover her neighborhood as part of their other efforts, but that
they would not be protected by pricing or timelines established by the broadband plan. She
said there is no guarantee that they will be served in the timeline that everyone else is. She
said her neighborhood was previously quoted $20,000 by Spectrum to run service to house.
She said they are not protected from installation fees due to being excluded from the plan. She
said she was so excited by the meeting where some residents were nearly in tears, because
they are so desperate for broadband service. She said she was crushed that her area was
excluded. She wants to know why her area was excluded from the plan. She said they want to
be included and protected by the same things the county fought hard for for residents. She
said she appreciates anything that can be done to bring service to her neighborhood.
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Chair Price said they would take her comments to agenda review and discuss her
request.
Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:02 p.m.
b. Matters on the Printed Agenda
(These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.)
3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members
Commissioner Hamilton said that on April 28t", the Board of County Commissioners
and the Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Boards of Education
met to discuss key challenges faced by our public schools. She said she came away with one
clear conclusion: our schools are in crisis. She said they are losing teachers, teacher aides,
and students. She said the COVID-19 pandemic hit schools like an ongoing physical assault
and traumatized the people and the institution. She said the community needs to come
together to support schools so they can recover and get back to the work making sure that all
students reach their potential. She asked what will that take? She said what she thinks will be
helpful is if the community and commissioners understand what it takes to educate all children
in the 21 st Century. She said children faces challenges that she never faced as a student, such
as social media and the anxiety of the pandemic and living in an uncertain world. She said they
need to look at how to support children, including resources. She also said they need to know
the questions they need to ask of the schools, so they can make sure they are doing what they
can to educate our children. She said that in her role as commissioner, she is ready to listen to
financial needs of schools and to balance their needs with the needs of others in the
community. She said the county has spent time and resources addressing and redressing
some of the inequities that have resulted from the social structure. She gave the example of
the Criminal Justice Resource Department's work. She said we must not forget to invest in
education so we don't have to spend so much money repairing the damage.
Commissioner Hamilton said previously the Board received a presentation from people
who went into assisted living facilities and nursing homes. She said they were told that
volunteers cannot go into the facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the group was
not able to monitor the care of residents. She petitioned for an update from Director of Aging if
it is still the case that volunteers and boards cannot go into long-term care facilities. She said if
it is still the case, she would like to staff to draft a letter to the state expressing the importance
of allowing volunteers back in to protect the rights and ensure the care of vulnerable residents.
Commissioner Bedford had no comments.
Commissioner Fowler had no comments.
Commissioner Richards said she visited the Efland Cheeks and Cedar Grove
community centers and the rural fire department in Cedar Grove. She said she got see up
close what the fire support is for the county and she got to do a deeper dive into the Buckhorn
Economic Development Area. She said when you get out and see how beautiful and spread
out the county is, you see it is a challenge that becomes more real when you try to meet the
needs of the whole county. She said she was grateful to have an opportunity to meet people in
other parts of the county.
Commissioner McKee had no comments.
Chair Price announced that on May 5t" at 4 p.m., there will be a groundbreaking for the
new library.
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4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
a. Length of Service Awards and Retirement Recognition of Firefighters
The Board recognized sixty-five (65) fire district personnel (volunteer and career) who have
provided a minimum of 20 years of service (average of 30 years) to Orange County, and
approved proclamations honoring the accomplishments of four (4) retiring firefighters.
BACKGROUND: In 2021, the Orange County Chief's Council requested that the Board of
Commissioners create a Length of Service Awards Program to recognize the contributions of
the County's firefighters. The Chief's Council proposed and approved the program criteria to
recognize personnel from the ten (10) in-county fire departments and one (1) volunteer rescue
squad that have provided at least 20 years of service or were retiring from service with a
minimum of 20 years.
To honor and recognize the service of fire service personnel, Orange County will present
service award certificates at the following intervals:
• 20 years
• Every 5 years thereafter
To honor and recognize the fire service personnel who will be retiring each fiscal year, the
Board will consider proclamations recognizing the individual's achievements and contributions
at the following intervals:
• Any time at or beyond 20 years of service
Emergency Services drafted the process for each department to submit names and
accomplishments.
Kirby Saunders, Emergency Services Director, thanked the Board for recognizing fire
services personnel in the community. He said they provide exceptional service. He thanked the
firefighters for what they do.
Commissioner McKee read the following proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING
WILLIAM BLANKENSHIP
RETIRING BATTALION CHIEF, CHAPEL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, in 1993, Mr. William Blankenship embarked on a career of public service by joining
the Chapel Hill Fire Department as a full-time firefighter; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blankenship made numerous contributions to the Chapel Hill Fire Department
and ultimately reached the rank of Battalion Chief; and
WHEREAS, throughout his professional career, William Blankenship helped advance the
Chapel Hill Fire Department by serving in a variety of roles including Training Captain, Captain,
and ultimately as a Battalion Chief; and
WHEREAS, through his dedication and service to the residents of Chapel Hill and the greater
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Orange County community, Mr. Blankenship directly contributed to creating a safer and more
resilient Orange County; and
WHEREAS, William Blankenship is retiring from the Chapel Hill Fire Department after serving
the residents and visitors of Orange County for twenty-nine years;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby recognize
and express deep appreciation for the invaluable service of William Blankenship to the Orange
County community, and wish him well in his retirement.
This the 3rd day of May, 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, to
approve the Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Commissioner Hamilton read the following proclamation:
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING
DAVID CHEEK
RETIRING CAPTAIN, CHAPEL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, in 2001, Mr. David Cheek embarked on a career of public service by joining the
Chapel Hill Fire Department as a full-time firefighter; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cheek made numerous contributions to the Chapel Hill Fire Department and
ultimately reached the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, throughout his professional career, David Cheek helped advance the Chapel Hill
Fire Department by serving in a variety of roles including Firefighter Lieutenant, and ultimately
as a Captain; and
WHEREAS, through his dedication and service to the residents of Chapel Hill and the greater
Orange County community, Mr. Cheek directly contributed to creating a safer and more resilient
Orange County; and
WHEREAS, David Cheek is retiring from the Chapel Hill Fire Department after serving the
residents and visitors of Orange County for twenty-two years;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby recognize
and express deep appreciation for the invaluable service of David Cheek to the Orange County
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community, and wish him well in his retirement.
This the 3rd day of May, 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to
approve the Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Commissioner Fowler read the following proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING
PAUL MOSS
RETIRING BATTALION CHIEF, CHAPEL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, in 1997, Mr. Paul Moss embarked on a career of public service by joining the
Chapel Hill Fire Department as a full-time firefighter; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Moss made numerous contributions to the Chapel Hill Fire Department and
ultimately reached the rank of Battalion Chief; and
WHEREAS, throughout his professional career, Paul Moss helped advance the Chapel Hill Fire
Department by serving in a variety of roles including, Captain, USAR Task Force Leader and
ultimately as a Battalion Chief; and
WHEREAS, through his dedication and service to the residents of Chapel Hill and the greater
Orange County community, Mr. Moss directly contributed to creating a safer and more resilient
Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Paul Moss is retiring from the Chapel Hill Fire Department after serving the
residents and visitors of Orange County for twenty-four years;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby recognize
and express deep appreciation for the invaluable service of Paul Moss to the Orange County
community, and wish him well in his retirement.
This the 3rd day of May, 2022.
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Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
approve the Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Chair Price read the following proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING
SCOTT TROMBLEY
RETIRING CAPTAIN, CARRBORO FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, in 1995, Mr. Scott Trombley embarked on a career of public service by joining the
Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department as a full-time firefighter; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Trombley made numerous contributions to the Carrboro Fire-Rescue
Department and ultimately reached the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, throughout his professional career, Captain Trombley helped advance the
Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department by creating and assisting with the implementation of a
Community Risk Reduction program for the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department; and
WHEREAS, through his dedication and service to the residents of Carrboro and the greater
Orange County community, Scott Trombley directly contributed to creating a more safe and
resilient Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Captain Scott Trombley is retiring from the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department after
serving the residents and visitors of Orange County for twenty-six years;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby recognize
and express deep appreciation for the invaluable service of Scott Trombley to the Orange
County community, and wish him well in his retirement.
This the 3rd day of May, 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A motion was made by Chair Price, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, to approve the
Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
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VOTE: UNANIMOUS
The Commissioners read in turn the names of firefighters receiving Length of Service
Awards. Those present came forward to be recognized.
Length of Service Awards
Department First Name Last Name Years of Service
Eno (Captain) Tim Crabtree 45
Eno (Captain) Steve Cook 30
Eno (Deputy Chief Da Ion Hayes 20
Caldwell Brad Allison 30
Caldwell James Emory 45
Caldwell Troy Blalock 35
Caldwell Andy Gates 45
Caldwell Lee Hollowell 25
Carrboro Carl Freeman 30
Carrboro David Riggs 27
Carrboro Larry Mann 24
Carrboro Keith Crabtree 22
Carrboro Chad Woods 20
Carrboro Doug Yates 20
Carrboro Huh Miles 20
Orange Rural Jeff Cabe 34
Orange Rural Mac Cabe 40
Orange Rural Adam Guttman 20
Orange Rural Pamela Robinette 20
Orange Rural David Sykes 23
Orange Rural Steve Summey 39
Orange Rural Deonza Clark 20
Orange Rural Wayne Cheek 22
Orange Rural Jeff Roberts 28
Orange Rural Wallace Wilson 49
Orange Rural David Ballard 46
Orange Rural Jim Rodgers 25
Chapel Hill S. Keith Porterfield 41
Chapel Hill Vencelin Harris 28
Chapel Hill M. Tommy Gregory 28
Chapel Hill Robert Pruitt 26
Chapel Hill James Bona 23
Chapel Hill Andrew Fuentes 23
Chapel Hill Darryl Russell 22
Chapel Hill David Sasser 22
Chapel Hill Richard Cherry 22
Chapel Hill Jose Alvarez 21
Chapel Hill Richard Bucci 21
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Chapel Hill Jason Grafford 21
Chapel Hill Gerald Boone 21
Chapel Hill Ran Warner 21
Chapel Hill Stacy Graves 20
Orange Grove Tommy Holmes 47
Orange Grove Tommy Griggs 46
Orange Grove Richard Sykes 45
Orange Grove Ben Nichols 43
Orange Grove Jane Waddell 34
Orange Grove Lee Terry 30
Orange Grove Bill Waddell 28
Orange Grove Ricky Baker 20
Orange Grove Allison Eaton 20
Orange Grove Bob Eaton 20
New Hoe Mike Tapp 51
New Hoe Eddie Walker 28
New Hoe Brian Blalock 27
New Hoe Cliff Carroll 38
New Hoe Howard Pratt 38
Cedar Grove Jeff Borland 34
Cedar Grove Sammy Borland 34
Cedar Grove C.T. Poe 45
Cedar Grove Bill Cole 40
Cedar Grove Sydney Cole 32
Cedar Grove Andy Summers 37
Cedar Grove L.D. Summers 34
Chair Price said thanked the firefighters. She said being a first responder is tough work,
but that the camaraderie between them is phenomenal. She words cannot express how she
feels about them and the work that they do and the sacrifices they make for all.
Commissioner McKee said that everyone recognizes when a firetruck goes down the
road, it is going to save property and lives. He said what is unrecognized is that the work the
fire departments do can result in a reduction in homeowner's insurance. He said that the ISO
ratings these departments have achieved by their work and dedication is a daunting task. He
said for each of these departments to achieve ISO ratings that are almost as good as having
water systems and hydrants, and for the town systems to achieve even greater ratings because
of that infrastructure, is impressive. He said residents owe them a debt of gratitude because of
the reduction in insurance rates that go with this work.
Commissioner Richards thanked Bill Waddell for giving her a tour at Orange Grove fire
station. She said he discussed radios with her and helped her understand why they are
needed. She congratulated Mr. Waddell and all who were recognized. She has a much better
appreciation for the work they do and she is grateful for their service.
Commissioner Fowler congratulated the retirees. She said she is grateful for their
service and sacrifice for the community. She said she is in awe of the many years of service
that they have given. She thanked the firefighters.
Commissioner Bedford extended her appreciation to the firefighters for their work, which
she noted is round the clock, 24/7, and 365 days a year. She said it makes a big difference for
public safety.
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Commissioner Hamilton congratulated the firefighters and thanked them for their
service.
Chair Price thanked the firefighters and led a round of applause in recognition of their
service.
b. EMS Week Proclamation
The Board approved a proclamation designating the week of May 15 through 21, 2022, as
Emergency Medical Services Week in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has announced that
the 47th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated throughout the
nation on May 15 through 21, 2022, in recognition of the dedicated professionals who provide
emergency services to residents and visitors. EMS is now firmly established as an essential
public function and a vital component of the medical care continuum. On any given day, EMS
practitioners help save lives by responding to medical emergencies, including heart attack,
difficulty breathing, a fall or accident, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, drug overdose or acute
illness. EMS may provide both basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency
and enroute to a hospital. EMS practitioners care for their patients' medical needs and show
caring and compassion to their patients in their most difficult moments.
With mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine (MIH-CP), EMS is also
increasingly a valued participant in achieving the nation's overall healthcare goals of improved
patient health and lowered costs. Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local
communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who
provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line." The Emergency Medical
Services system in Orange County includes Telecom municators, Fire Departments, Law
Enforcement Officers, Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, South Orange Rescue
Squad, First Choice, North State Ambulance Service, Priority Care, Emergency Nurses,
Emergency Physicians, County Staff, Carolina AirCare, and the University of North Carolina
Department of Emergency Medicine.
The Orange County Emergency Medical Services system responded to 19,378 reported
emergencies last year, providing EMS response, medical assessment, treatment, and
ambulance transportation when medically necessary. Emergency Services staffs eight (8)
ambulances and Two (2) paramedic certified EMS Supervisors daily. The division is staffed with
eight (8) EMS Supervisors, four (4) paramedic certified Field Training Officers, thirty-two (32)
paramedics and twenty-eight (28) emergency medical technicians who are all exceptionally
dedicated and skilled. Two (2) Community Paramedics have also provided invaluable service to
the aging population of the County. EMS providers proved indispensable throughout the
pandemic. EMS assisted in the staffing of the mass vaccination clinics providing over 58% of
the total vaccines. The Orange County Community Paramedics continued the vaccination
delivery to over 450 individuals who were unable to physically or safely travel to a vaccine clinic.
Emergency Medical Responders throughout Orange County provide a valuable service to the
residents and visitors and help make Orange County a safer place to live.
With the theme, "EMS: Rising to the Challenge," everyone is reminded that the Orange County
emergency medical services system has demonstrated exceptional ability to stand strong and
maintain the highest standards of care throughout the pandemic.
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Commissioner Fowler read the following proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK
MAY 15-21, 2022
WHEREAS, emergency medical services is a vital public service; and
WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving
care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and
WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery
rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and
WHEREAS, the emergency medical services system consists of emergency physicians,
emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters,
telecommunicators, educators, administrators and others; and
WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer,
engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their
lifesaving skills; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency
medical services providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week;
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the
week of May 15-21, 2022, as
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK
With the theme, "EMS: Rising to the Challenge," and encourage the community to observe this
week with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.
This the 3rd day of May, 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Laura Jensen
Clerk to the Board
A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, to
approve the proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
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VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Kim Woodward of Emergency Services thanked the Board for recognizing the hard work
and the resiliency of the EMS system in Orange County. She introduced the training
coordinator, Chasidy Kearns, and the quality assurance coordinator, Kyle Ronn. She said their
team demonstrates the definition of resilience. She said through the pandemic, EMS providers,
firefighters, and telecommunicators came to work every day, and they could not work remotely.
She said EMS providers are still wearing PPE and they have not relaxed any standards. She
said they are proud of their team. She said they lost very few paramedics and EMTs. She said
they survived the pandemic thanks to the forwarding leaning of the department directors, the
Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager, and all of the support county gave to
them and they are grateful. She said this week is special because it is an opportunity to
recognize the hard work and dedication of providers.
Commissioner Fowler thanked the staff for all of the work they do and for keeping the
county safe.
Commissioner Richards thanked the staff.
Commissioner McKee said they are part of a critical mass of people that keep us safe.
Chair Price said people have no idea the stress they are under even during normal
times, and the stress they've been under for the last two years has been tremendous. She said
the fact they were able to hold on to most employees speaks volumes about the work they do.
She said they got the county through a traumatic crisis. She thanked the staff.
c. Provider Appreciation Day Proclamation
The Board approved a proclamation designating May 6, 2022 as Provider Appreciation Day in
Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Established in 1996, Provider Appreciation Day is an annual celebration that
affords an opportunity to recognize the contributions of child care providers to the overall health
and welfare of the community and the essential role they play for the County's working families.
The early years of a child's life from birth to age five is the most critical time in a child's
development in which the brain's architecture is built and early learning sets the trajectory for
future success. The Orange County child care community provides critical care, education, and
enrichment opportunities for children of all backgrounds. The COVID-19 pandemic created
tremendous hardship for child care providers and the families of Orange County who depend on
them. However, the child care community continued to meet the needs of families while risking
their health and financial stability to remain open. The proclamation affirms the important role
the child care community plays in support of young children, their families, and the local
economy.
Commissioner Richards read the proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Child Care Aware® of America and other organizations nationwide are recognizing
Child Care Providers on May 6, 2022, through Provider Appreciation Day; and
WHEREAS, Provider Appreciation Day is an annual celebration that affords an opportunity to
recognize the contributions of child care providers to the overall health and welfare of our
community and the essential role they play for our county's working families; and
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WHEREAS, the early years of a child's life from birth to age five is the most critical time in a
child's development in which the brain's architecture is built and early learning sets the
trajectory for future success; and
WHEREAS, our child care community provides critical care and education opportunities for
Orange County's young children, as well as support for social and emotional development; and
WHEREAS, our child care community provides enrichment opportunities and nurtures
development for children of all backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, our child care providers form a vital building block of our local economy supporting
Orange County's families as they work; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has created tremendous hardship for child care providers
and the families of Orange County who depend on them, who have continued to meet the
needs of families while risking their health and financial stability to remain open; and
WHEREAS, our future depends on the quality of the early childhood experiences provided to
young children today; support for high-quality child care represents a worthy commitment to our
children's future;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby proclaim May 6,
2022, as Provider Appreciation Day, affirming the important role our child care community plays
in support of our young children, their families, and our local economy, and urge all residents of
Orange County to recognize child care providers for their work.
This the 3rd day of May 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
A motion was made by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton,
to approve the proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Commissioner Richards introduced Robin Pullver of the Partnership for Children.
Robin Pullver said thanked the Board for approving the proclamation and for
Commissioner Richards for introducing it. She said she appreciates the recognition of the
Board of the important role that frontline essential child care workers play in the the support,
care, and education of young children, their families, the county's work force and economy.
She said the child care community is truly the backbone of the county.
Chair Price said she appreciates the work they do and the importance of their work.
She said there needs to be more investment into early child care, because of the importance of
care and education at the beginning of a child's life.
Commissioner Richards said she thought it was fitting that it is an annual celebration the
Friday before Mother's Day. She said the date was appropriate for the work that child care
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providers do to support mothers and working families. She said she couldn't not have survived
without good child care.
Chair Price said there are people working to raise the salaries of people working with
children.
d. Presentation of Manager's Recommended Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Operating
Budget
The Board received a presentation on the Manager's Recommended FY 2022-23 Annual
Operating Budget.
BACKGROUND: Each year in the month of May, the County Manager presents the Board of
County Commissioners with a recommended spending plan for the next fiscal year. During the
meeting, the Manager provides a brief presentation of the Recommended FY 2022-23 Annual
Operating Budget.
The Board of County Commissioners will conduct two Public Hearings - the first at 7:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, and the second on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 7:00 pm. In addition, the
Board has scheduled the following Budget Work Sessions:
• May 12, 2022 - Budget Work Session with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange
County Schools and Outside Agencies.
• May 19, 2022 - Budget Work Session with Fire Districts and County Departments within
the following Functional Leadership Teams: Public Safety (Courts, Criminal Justice
Resource Department, Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Office); Human Services
(Child Support, Department of Social Services, Department of Aging, Health, Housing
and Community Development, Human Rights and Relations, Library Services and
Alliance Health).
• May 26, 2022 - Budget Work Session with Durham Tech and County Departments
within the following Functional Leadership Teams: Support Services (Asset
Management Services, Community Relations, Finance and Administrative Services,
Human Resources and Information Technology); General Government (Board of County
Commissioners, Board of Elections, County Attorney, County Manager, Register of
Deeds and Tax Administration); Community Services (Animal Services, Cooperative
Extension, Department of Environmental, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, Economic
Development, Orange Public Transportation, Planning and Inspections, Solid Waste and
Sportsplex) including Non-Departmental items.
• June 9, 2022 - Budget Work Session for Board to review budget amendments and
finalize decisions (Resolution of Intent to Adopt) on the FY 2022-23 Annual Operating
Budget and the FY 2022-2032 Capital Investment Plan.
• June 21, 2022 - Business Meeting for the Adoption of the FY 2022-23 Annual Operating
Budget and the FY 2022-2032 Capital Investment Plan.
All meetings start at 7:00 p.m.
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Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager, made the following presentation:
Slide #1
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
FY2022-23
C OUNTY MANAGE R
RECOMMENDED BUDGET
May 3,2022
BOCC Business Meeting
Bonnie Hammersley said under state law, she is required to present an annual balanced
budget to the Board. She said the presentation is a high level overview of the recommended
budget and that more details are in the transmittal letter of the recommended budget. She said
it is a comprehensive summary of the budget that covers all of the changes from previous
years' budgets.
Slide #2
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
BUDGET PRIDRIT'IES
Structurally Balanced Budget
Maintain funding of the Social Safety net services
• Increase Public Safety and Education Investments
• Retain and Recruit Employees
Long-Term Financial Planning
ORANGE COUNTY
WFrr]I CAROLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said that a structurally balanced budget philosophy is matching
recurring revenues to meet costs to continue operating expenses. She reviewed the budget
priorities listed on slide #2. She said long-term planning goals include reducing the reliance on
fund balance appropriation to ensure compliance with the county's 16% reserve policy. She
said the FY 2022-23 recommended FB appropriation is $2.5 million and that this is a
manageable level of fund balance that assists with balancing the annual budget while
maintaining 16% of expenditures in line with financial best practice levels.
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Slide #3
ORANGE COUNTY FY 2D22-23 BUDGET
2022 State of NC)Economic Trends and Factors
Employment: 't
--2.7%increase over 2021
Hospitality and Leisure: It
—9.2%increase over 2021
- Information: t
--4.7%increase over 2021
- Education and Health Senrices: t
—3.81/.increase over 2021
- Agriculture: 4
—0,1'lu decrease over 2021
ORANGECDUNTY
Bonnie Hammersley said the chart on slide #3 indicates economic trends in the state
that have shaped the budget assumptions. She said overall NC economic growth has begun to
return to pre-COVID levels, representing a second full year of growth since the pandemic. She
said a recent UNC-Charlotte December 2021 Summary cited the projections in the chart. She
said that while employment is up, labor supply continues to be a challenge. She said that 14 of
the state's 15 economic sectors are expected to experience output increases. She said
improved Hospitality and Leisure sectors correlate with improvements in Visitors Bureau and
Sportsplex Funds. She said the increase in revenue meant that there was not a need for
General Fund revenues to support the Visitors Bureau and Sportsplex in the FY23 budget. She
said that inflation increases due to consumer demands remains an area of concern.
Slide #4
FY 2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
Three-Year%Change in Rate of Inflation
March 2049—Mereh 2M
rera•e cnrge oaf 4F7t>I
w reins fen floe and—IF
hill)
oA —
eA
2.-0 --
OA
M. JW Sep pes No' !un w Des Nor lun Sep oac Mr
2er9 20M 2121 2=
3e 0.113 15 r arL"Snlfeli
ORANGE COUNTY
WFM I CAR.OLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said the chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that from
March 2021 to March 2022 there was a 8.5% increase in the CPI. She said the inflation drivers
are supply chain delays and demands on good and services increases. She said food and
energy have driven price escalation. She said these are important considerations for revenues,
such as sales tax, and expenditures, such as health care costs and energy.
16
Slide #5
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
Historical General Fund Revenues and Expenditures
��a s
seas o
eau o
s
i29L a
sso 0
$225 o �a.s •Reveuwee
:sin i?+sl Eavrndtur►s
szie a
ssio.o
zPus n
szp4 a
FY 2017-18 FY 201E-19 FY 2019-20 FY 2920-21 FY 2021-22
Pro}.
ORANGE COUNTY
WWn r CAROLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said that utilizing financial models coupled with prudent budgeting
practices have helped the county end the past four fiscal years with revenues exceeding
expenditures. She said the FY 2020-21 bars in the graph on slide #5 are the financial audited
results. She said FY 2020-21 General Fund revenues exceeded the amended revenue budget
by $4.3 million, or 2%. She said that General Fund expenditures were below the adopted
budget by $10.1 million, or 4.4%. She said many departments were below budget due to
personnel vacancies and efforts to reduce expenditures. She said that the FY 2021-22
projection is that the county will breakeven.
Slide #6
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FV2021-22 to FN2022-23 Revenue Gtowth
ORANGE COUNTY
NOFM[CAROLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said the FY 2022-23 revenue growth is above historic averages.
She said the revenue growth change is $16.7M on a budget basis from FY 2021-22 to FY 2022-
23. She said this represents a 7% growth in budgeted total General Fund revenues. She said a
key factor is the sales tax increase by 23% on a budgetary basis. She said the FY 2021-22
General Fund budgeted revenues was $238.7 Million, excluding a $1.9 Million fund balance
appropriation. She said the FY 2022-23 General Fund projected revenues is $255 Million,
17
excluding a $2.6 Million projected fund balance appropriation. She said improving pandemic
recovery is driven by sales tax and charges for services as health restrictions are lifted. She
said the only area where there was a decline was in other revenues.
Slide #7
ORANGE COUNTY FY 2022-23 BUDGET
FY 2022-23 Revenue Assumprions
FY 2022r23 Property Tax Assumptions
Recommended Property Tax Increase:
$0Atl25—cover debt to use of FY2021-22one-time funds=IS53,024
$0.0100—allocate towards education funding=$2,212,097
Total Property Tax Increase with 2%natural grovnh=$S.5 Million
ORANGE COUNTY
MY17r]t t-AW-A IN.,
Bonnie Hammersley said property tax and sales tax are the main drivers of the county's
general fund revenue budget. She said the recommended budget includes a 1.25 cent
property tax increase. She said that a quarter cent was needed to cover debt. She said that
last year, the debt model showed that a 4 cent tax increase was needed to cover the $10 million
increase in debt service. She said that the property tax rate was increased by 3 cents, leaving
a balance of 1.15 cents that was delayed due to the application of one-time American Rescue
Plan Act funds in FY21. She said that staff reviewed the debt model and was able to reduce
the 1.15 cents to .25 cents. She said that the 1 cent increase would generate $2,212,097,
which is recommended for funding K-12 education expenses.
Slide #8
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FY 2022-23 Revenue Assumprions
FY 2022-23 Sales Tax Assumptions
4%Growth o•er FY2021-22 projection as economy recovers due to lifting
of CIVID mandates and sustained Online Saiec =W7 Million
�r
ORANGE Cal,
moanICARoi.i
Bonnie Hammersley said the 4% increase in sales tax revenue is consistent with state-
wide estimates.
18
Slide #9
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
REVENUE
Apprc*rIP041
Kscellaneeu���9alancr
0.4% 1.0% tnargesfor
se+>1—
Ll—e!,and S..1-A ^rergo'++�mAn11!
Porml� T,OA
11.1 ilanst-
0076
+PrupeflY taxes
•Sales T+z
•licenees and 9ermils
.MI:rAwr,ea,
•Appropriated Fund Bala
r Imeg 5 rdr See lke4
r IneergoommmnF
+Tranuers
ORANGE COUNTY
NQFM I GU601.I14:5
Bonnie Hammersley said the current residential tax base is 80% and commercial is 20%
of the tax base, compared to five years ago, when the residential base was 84% and the
commercial base was 16%.
Slide #10
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FY 2022-23 Expenditure Assumptions
Education
Edtuation CiuLrint Espense Funding
Nfaunm Fluids foi Snndent Achievement Gap and Behanofal Health
Persormel Impacts
Public-Sa<€etr Expansion
Gage Adjustment Compensation
Mew Pedormcuice 2 wwds
Iuc&e Lse of Employer Health Insmsmice ContiNition
Iucoease of Emplorec Retirement Contribution Rate
Ineoease Livueg WEa
ORANGE COUNTY
NDKTI I CAROLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said expenditure assumptions include K-12 current expense
funding as well as maintaining the student achievement gap and behavioral health initiatives
implemented by the school districts last year. She said personnel impacts include expansion of
service delivery to meet best practices as well to reduce burnout due to overtime. She said
funds are also included for a compensation package to provide competitive wage adjustments
and enhance the benefits to retain employees in the current labor market. She said that the
living wage will increase to $15.85 per hour for permanent and temporary employees.
19
Slide #11
ORANGE COUNTY FY2022-23 BUDGET
FV 2022-23 Expenditure Assumptions
Operating Impacts
Ontside Agency Fiu-ulingTaxget 1.2%of Cmmtr Ezpen&tuxes
Travel mud Timing testuied to Pie-PAn&-mc levels
Reduce reliuice on ARPA for essential progsmms mud positions
Empkyee Retention and Rectlutment Strategies
ORANGE COUNTY
NOWT]E CARDLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said the outside agency funding target is 1.2% of the General Fund
budget. She said the actual recommended amount for FY 2022-23 is 1.35%.
Slide #12
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
EXPENDITURES
43% 9.aW Q.rTM+•�nn5ernul
S B;
Tmwglcm Onu f�nrc.
2W .� a(iene/d1�i 7F6n1R�?r.
0 J11Yn TamNlon .suppan seMees
0 311 FMw�narMpa
tsati •rwrundp&nlun
DaGr94M[L.CSi •Human E@Mc%
6 aN
r Rtdlt Sataty
.Faucatian
DdA Sernce-Ed,rcntion
natt semoe-caomp
.nornam Tech;grange catnty
Cmnpue}
+Transfiers 7o 9rner Fund;
��
ORANGE COUNTY
140RT3 E CAROLENA
1
]EDUCATIONSlide #13
k-Y2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
nrapel F3d�atibaaa���3cn�ri;
vecageDadl�Membereldp�,3:6��, i 3��i�i-22 P�"7021-3i Inerease _
n�a.erns � ii �d2
FRICTIONItirstr.c� 253 249 2�
y21�6 ii 4'.�
harler ]56 2U6 19
0l¢1 SS 11
.'hDdl+i 6u.41 58.8� 7,�x
rare Cormrf 9choo�
v Il h7rmbrrsho AD F�4'2U21-23 PS'2U2�•23 Increase
dents 7 99 7,182 i1
"mm? or I}istrisl ]U8 Ilfl 2
7,791 7 72 77
harlrr 919 951 32
oi¢1 B,77U 8 7J' B3
.'1iD31i d9.9°•0 4L2"r6 7,i6`I,
Bonnie Hammersley said there is a total • • of • students county-wide.
Slide #14
IFY2022-23BUDGET
EDUCATION
ChRgrl fG1L�a¢rbOrn�".rlp Schools Baer I�a�rl $aqu:sl ��� Gxrcasr
Rrc+vanmrnd
Gtime�n Ex �e� $53,436,877 $6'�.,983,553 $55,fl[F7,&92 $ fiQ33}OfiS
P�r�Wdrrn $ 7 � S ! s a,6Us s #4i
Orso�r CorGrrty:+clroals Bair l�d�tl Rrq�Rs� Rrnoenrorrrd Gxrcasr
CuMeis�Ex yes #36,��6,.}1� S�i,�b#,134 $38,5']'Ur40U S 3,i5+1�534
Psr�vdrrrt i � 7 # 5 i � 4,�p6 5 #41
ORANGE
21
Slide #15
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
EDUCATION
C01LINTY APPROPRIATION PER S"JI)ENT
ORANGE Col ^.ITv
NORT][CARk
Bonnie Hammersley said that the target education funding of 48.1% was not met. She
said that the reason is that the target includes school operations and school debt service
payments. She said that the schools' have had to delay debt issuances. She said that if the
schools issued the debt, then the 48.1% funding target would be exceeded. She said that the
debt funding has been appropriated, but has not been expended. She said once the projects
move forward, it will contribute to the funding target.
Slide #16
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
EDUCATION
t
•NfCfu[H#C4YffFtYrlhAtC�for irtCrtXs*s f✓f Sa1J7N.$oJF4fiGs .,d fn*INtrsM.�s wNf�*alA'CNlr4Y1,N
op3ratinim0ated expenses
"Durham Iea4 Promise 5chofaromm rundedbyArtids A5 Sa4s Tax.fnehrdas an addidoraJ
$50,OM on F—N 22 23 for rhefr Sack to Work NJdatrue
ORANGE COUNTY
NOFM[CAN-MINA
22
Slide #17
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
OUTSIDE AGENCIES
,501.e-3) Base Budgel Request Manager IT]CrCaSC
Reconui end
The Board of County Commissioners eslablished a tare#of 1.2%of general
fiord expelises to outside agencies,F1'2622•23 allorates 1.360I1,to ontside
agencies.
An additional$45X 1p is prm•ided la arts-related outside agencies in the visitors
Buivan Fund.
ORANGE COUNTY
NOFM I CAR.OLINA
Slide #18
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FIRE DISTRF.CTS
d
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTI I CAROLINA
Bonnie Hammersley said that increases were needed at six fire districts to cover the
costs of hiring permanent staff. She said that fire districts are facing a loss of volunteers, and
they need to hire staff to replace them.
23
Slide #19
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
f.Lr.�rg R':�rfnrrrsr 8'vrn�rve�r forprrnurxrrr.wdrrrnyor.rrFr.npfojrrsf
Sff,40per�arrrm Sff,85per1rrxvon flrro�er f.ltu2.Adsarbedhp.S,Man•�vcri�s,
2-AM-ff0*,TPSr!$rFS7d?1,23ia errho-nal�rparbsnorr�ernra,'axt�trryhfsurmxe r
,vwry,mp3nwa
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTl I CAROLINA
Slide #20
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
COUNTY POSITIONS
I E
HLalth Nurse
I
u
Ir
r
I INTIRWR
0 F JL y611,018
ORANGE Col.I
1146R73I CARCI.I
Bonnie Hammersley said that due to the new detention center facility, staffing levels
need to be increased to adhere to best practices for the benefit of employees and inmates.
She said the Emergency Services personnel recommendation reflects a review of employee
schedules that identified scheduling gaps. She said Emergency Services is a 24-hour a day
operation with mandatory staff rotation needs. She said the department offset personnel costs
through fee increases and expenditure line items that could be reduced. She said that the labor
shortage has had an impact on every industry and they have had difficulty contracting
veterinarians.
Slide24
122-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FY2022-23 Recarnmended AI[PAPm�ects Amoant
trc I)istuct P25 Phasc II Campliaat Radio
laccrncnt �1,773,2
at�sing Luca tar 53G 89.
ans' He lu�c �245,09
dlardInccntiv�Pt zam 520U0
taadbandItYFrastructttzc Ilcs�gn and
tatiau �5 QDQ 0
Ltiildcsre oxt Irareut FeesS�U 00
au HA and SOHRAI] $d 79i,64
ORANGE COUNTY
otal St 2,3'2,S
Bonnie Hammersley said that in December 1 the :•. • appropriated $11 million of
millionthe $28 'R" funds awarded to Orange County. She said the FY 2022-23
recommended budget appropriates an additional $12.3 million. She said the remaining balance
of A• •A funds is $4 S million.
Slide •
ECOMMENDED BUDGET
HLTDG�'F PU Bi.IC I3EARIIti GS DATE
-)RANGE COUNTY
Bonnie Hammersley said proposed amendments to the recommended budget will be
liuJ�tl arYd Capil<<1!riti"esimcnl L'Ixr,(L:ll') May la 8c]urie 2
SVDGET WORK SESSION SCEiEI}ULE DATE
Schools and Outside A�{encies ,any 12
Fire District,Public Safety and Human Service• May 1F
I}urham'I'echt Support Ser�ricest General May 26
Government and C,arrYtnunity Services
Budget Amendments and Reaniution of Intent to June 9
Adopt
SOCG SU51NE55 MEETiI�G
FY�a22-23 Operating and CIP SudgetAdoption June 21
posted on -•
25
Slide #23
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
BUDGET DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
• Clerk to Board of Commissioners
• County Finance&Administrative Services Office
• Orange County Library
• Chapel Hill Public Library
• Orange County Web site-http:/f orangecountync.gov
OKANGE COUNTY
WDRT]I CAR.DLIN,t
Slide #24
FY2022-23 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
MISSION STATEMENT
Orange County exists to provide governmental stnices needed by cur
Residents or mandated by the State of North Carolina.
To provide these quality services efficiently.ne must,
❑ Serve the Residents of Orange County—Our Residenta Come First:
❑ Depend on the energy,skills,and dedication of all our employees and
�rolunteets;
❑ Treat all our Residents and Employees with fairness,respect,and
understanding.
QrR,r-e Cosrrfy Resrderrts Come F►'5
ORANGE COUNTY
ti ORT1 I CARO1.IN.:
Bonnie Hammersley thanked the staff involved with developing the budget along with all
county employees for their dedication in serving Orange County residents. She thanked the
Board of Commissioners for their leadership and said the Board helped staff create a better
county.
Chair Price said the Board will have opportunities to discuss the budget. She asked if
there were any questions regarding the presentation.
Commissioner McKee asked if the decrease in students for Chapel Hill Carrboro City
Schools of 982 shown on slide #13 was correct.
Bonnie Hammersley said the correct number is 909, accounting for out of district
transfers to the school system as well as the number of children enrolled in charter schools.
Commissioner McKee said it caught his eye because it is a 9% decrease.
26
Commissioner Bedford said these are state projected numbers. She said that the
original projection for the current year was high. She said it's not that they lost 900 students, it
was that the current year projection was off.
Bonnie Hammersley said the numbers are consistent with what was found in October.
She said one could make an argument that the county paid for students who weren't there.
Commissioner McKee said that if we paid $4,387 multiplied by the projected number,
then the actual per student allocation was considerably higher.
Bonnie Hammersley said that was correct.
Chair Price asked about a bar graph on the projected budget. She asked if it is
expected to level out in the current year, what happens next year.
Bonnie Hammersley said next year is projected to be balanced.
Chair Price asked about if the living wage for temporary and permanent employees is
the same.
Bonnie Hammersley said it will be increased 3% for both.
Chair Price said there was a time with there was a difference.
Bonnie Hammersley said there is a classification below the living wage, but that is for
the benefit of people who go through the social services system and work for the county.
Commissioner Fowler asked about the retirement increase.
Bonnie Hammersley said that was mandated by the state and is what is required from
each county.
Commissioner Fowler asked if that is because the state is giving less to retirement or is
it due to projected need.
Bonnie Hammersley said it is a projection of what is needed.
5. Public Hearings
None.
6. Regular Agenda
a. Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Program Evaluation
The Board received information about the results of the 2021 Longtime Homeowner Assistance
(LHA) program and considered options for program changes for a potential continuation of the
LHA program in 2022.
BACKGROUND: On October 5, 2021, the Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized
the program design for the Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program (LHA) to assist
households affected by the 2021 property tax revaluation. LHA launched on October 8, 2021 to
serve households earning no more than 80% of the area median income who had lived in their
homes for at least 10 years and experienced an increase in Orange County property taxes in
2021. Between October 8 and December 15, the Housing & Community Development
Department received 125 applications. Housing staff worked alongside colleagues in the Tax
Office and Finance & Administrative Services Department to award $16,364 across 91
households in property tax assistance (Attachment 1). There were some very small award
amounts — as low as $1.51 — and the largest award was $1,334.63. A third of the awards were
under $50 and 52% of awards were under $100.
In addition to the communication plan about the program presented in October, in response to
requests from non-profit partners, Housing staff also organized and staffed three in-person
events to help people complete LHA applications — at Piney Grove Baptist Church and Dorothy
M. Johnson Community Center in Hillsborough, and Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist Church
in Cedar Grove (a planned event at the Roger Eubanks Neighborhood Association Community
27
Center was canceled due to facility issues). Applications were relatively slow in the beginning
weeks of the program, and picked up greatly toward the end of the application period. 72.8% of
all received applications were approved. The most common reason for application denial was
the household not having a tax increase (30 denials), followed by households not owning their
home for ten or more years (6 denials), and the household being over income (3 denials).
Of the 91 approved applicants, 45% were white, 44% were black, 4% were multi-racial, and 1%
Asian. 60% of the approved applications were age 65 or over.
Staff from the three participating departments offer the following proposed program design
changes should the Board wish to continue the LHA program in 2022 with the remaining
$233,636 allocated for this purpose:
1) Change program design to cover more of the amount owed by the taxpayer. Using data
from the 2021 LHA program, staff proposes three options:
a. Institute a baseline minimum award amount: The award amount would be equal to the
difference between the County Tax portion of the 2020 tax bill and the 2022 tax bill, with a
minimum award amount of $300 (note that the average award amount for 2021 was roughly
$190). Estimated amount of assistance for 2022: $37,290
b. Base award on full bill amount: The amount will be equal to the difference between the
full bill amount of the 2020 tax bill and the 2022 tax bill with no minimum: $46,861
i. For 2021, the range of assistance $1.94 - $2,974.00, average $348
ii. Minimal award amounts: 56 under $300, 33 under$100, and 21 under $50
iii. If the minimum award amount was set at $300, the estimate would be $55,731
C. Standard award amount: The award amount would be a standard award amount with a
cap, based on approximately one-half of the average County tax portion for 2021 recipients,
which would result in an award amount of $830: Estimated amount of assistance for 2022:
$94,684
i. Cap the award amount so it is no more than that actual bill amount.
ii. This follows a similar method used by another county.
d. Capping tax amount based on income: Homeowners earning 80% area median income
(AMI) or under pay no more than 3% of income on total property tax bill. Estimated amount of
assistance for 2022: $176,587
e. Awards cover half of total tax bill: Award would cover half of total tax bill for homeowners
earning 80% AMI or under, up to these total amounts:
i. $1000.00 for households with incomes <_ 61- 80% AMI
ii. $1250.00 for households with incomes <_ 31- 60% AMI
iii. $1500.00 for households with incomes <_ 30%- below AMI
iv. The amount of assistance that may be granted for this option will vary based on the
level of income of the applicants. Assuming a 50% increase in the number of applicants, an
estimated range is $169,123 to $243,454.
2) Adjust program operation dates to August 1 through December 1, 2022. This would start
the program two months earlier, immediately following when homeowners receive property tax
notices in July. It would also move the deadline back by two weeks which will allow staff
additional needed time for application processing, which was a challenge in 2021.
3) Include an informational insert with the tax assistance application packet, with the goal
of both increasing awareness about LHA and making the process of applying for all assistance
programs simpler for taxpayers.
28
4) Formalize policy for heirs' properties where there are more than one person/households
listed on the deed. Staff recommends considering the 10 year occupancy requirement based on
the amount of time the property has remained within the family (rather than current owners who
may be heirs of a previous owner). Staff also recommends providing assistance based on the
income of the household members who reside in the home rather than the income of all heirs.
5) Formalize policy for Family Trust owned properties. Staff recommends that the applicant
should be a trustee for the trust. Staff also recommends providing assistance based on the
income of the household members who reside in the home rather than the income of all
trustees.
6) Require that the applicant provide a copy of the targeted tax bill. Staff recommends that
the applicant provide the tax bill to avoid incorrect application of funds or award amounts. Staff
in the Tax Office can assist the applicant with obtaining a copy as needed, and it would be the
applicant's responsibility to identify the correct tax bill/property.
7) Reduce the requirement to have owned and lived in the home for 10 years to 5 years to
increase access to the program.
a. Mecklenburg County's HOMES program has a 3-year residency requirement and the
applicant must own the property.
b. Charlotte's Aging In Place program has a 5-year residency requirement and the
applicant must own the property.
C. Another similar County program is considering changing the 10 year requirement to 5
years.
Corey Root, Housing and Community made the following presentation:
Slide #1
nvoCHCD
ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING&COMM UNIW DEVELOPMENT
Longtime Homeowner Assistance
(LHA) Program Evaluation and
Recommendations
May 3, 2022
29
Slide #2
Program
H C D
ORANGE(OUNTY HOUSING&COMMUNITY DEVROPMENT
Slide #3
The Longtime HomeovvnerAssistance
Program(LHA)was created to serve the
follow?ng households:
Households earning no more than 80% of
the area median income
Lived in and owned their Dome for at least
10 years
Experienced an increase in their Orange
County property taxes in 2021
r
Corey Root said this program was a pilot program in the previous year.
Slide #4
In it's first year,the LHA Program served 91
households
•Total Applications: 125
Eligible Applications:91
73% approved 1 27%declined
-Reasons for denial:
•Taxes did not increase (30 applicants)
•Did not own home for 10+years (5 applicants)
-Household over income (3 applicants)
*an application may have been denied for more than
one reason �a1CHCD
30
Slide #5
In it's first year, the T.HA program
distributed over $16,000 in assistance
• Funding Disbursed: $16,364
Minimum Award: 51.51
* Maximum Award: $1,335
* Median Award: $97
• Average Award: 190
Q&CHCD
wFs:w.Fnau�aoraama5ueww
Slide #6
The LHA Program Participant Data
Rap,i,pl Dem4graphies Age Demographics
�:55 11 12%
Asian 1 1% s, 50 7 8%
Black 40 44 8+ 70 17 1996
T1-75 14 15%
M�ti-Racial 4 _ 4%
7"0 3 3%
V*itc 41 46% 61-85 8 8%
(W data) .5 5% (no data 4 4%
Ethnic
Hispanic I Latlnn 0 n QCHCD
uu a uxan iau�a ura�om uw i rt
31
Slide #7
Recommendations
��H C D
OAAM(ODXrY HOU51MG&(OMMUMM DEV€EOPMEW
Slide #8
$233,636 remains in program funding
Staff from Housing,Tax Office, and
Finance worked with community
organizations to craft program
recommendations for a potential 2022
program
-Thank you Justice United and Jackson Center
-Seven program recommendations
r'%CHC❑
Slide #9
Recommendation#1: increase award
arxiounts
•Five options that could be used together or
separately
•Institute$300 baseline minimum award
•Base award on full bill amount
•Create standard award amount with cap
•$830,but no more than bill amount
•Cap tax amount based on income
•.No more than 3%of income for property taxes
•Award covers half of total tax bill up to
•$1000,61-80%AMI
•$1250,31-6D%AMI
•$1500,30M AMI or below
Corey Root said the standard award amount with cap of $830 represented half of the
average county bill.
32
Slide #10
Recommendation#2:adjust program
operation dates
-August 1 - December 1, 2022
•Program to open just after homeowners
receive property tax notices in July
-Applications close December 1 instead of
December 15
• Increased time needed for application processing
GCHCD
Slide #11
-mccommendation#3:Include LHA info
with tax assistance packet
LHA information and application
Goal— increase awareness of all tax
assistance programs
QCHCD
Slide #12
Recommendation#4—formalize policy for
heirs'properties
Base 10-year ownership & occupancy
requirement on the amount of time the
property has remained within the family
(rather than current owners who may be heirs
of a previous owner)
Provide assistance based an Income of
household members who reside in the home
rather than income of all heirs
QCHCD
33
Slide #13
Recommendation#5—formalize policy for
Family Trust properties
Applicant should be trustee
Provide assistance based on income of
household members who reside in the
home rather than income of all people in
trust
QCHCD
Slide #14
Recommendation##G:require copy of tax
bill with application materials
•Tax Office staff will be able to assist if
needed
•Applicant makes determination on correct bill
Avoid processing applications for incorrect
properties
QCHCD
Slide #15
Recommendation#7:reduce residency
requirement from 10 to 5 years
-Aligning with other community programs
Request from community members
QCHCD
34
Commissioner Hamilton asked why the number of people applying was so low. She
said without that understanding, it is hard for her to know what changes need to be made. She
asked if it was because eligible people didn't know, or because tax bills were lower than
expected once changes were made to the way revaluation was done. She said this is a pilot
with ARPA funds, and any further will come out of county funds.
Nancy Freeman, Tax Administrator, said she spoke with the Tax Administrator in
Mecklenburg County and he said that it took them about three years to get a good number of
applicants. She said that the Durham County response was lower this year, their first, than they
anticipated. She said it is a matter of getting the word out to the community.
Corey Root said they developed what they thought was a robust communication plan
beginning in October. She said they heard feedback that people were eligible but just didn't
hear about the program. She said they are trying to adjust for the future.
Commissioner Hamilton asked if there is an estimate of how many people would be
eligible.
Chair Price said eligibility would be determined by the criteria.
Commissioner Hamilton asked for a sense of how many folks are eligible, so they can
determine how much progress they are making in getting applications.
Nancy Freeman said the only indicator for her office would be the number of people who
qualify for the Homestead Exemption Program, which has different standards than the
Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program. She said 25 out of 91 Longtime Homeowner
Assistance applicants were already in the Homestead Exemption Program.
Commissioner Bedford asked about family trust properties. She asked why should an
applicant need to be the trustee.
Nancy Freeman said the situation they had was a family trust with two daughters who
were trustees. She said one of the daughters was living in the home. She said that this
program is for homeowners that live in the home for ten years, and a trust is not a person. She
said their legal counsel recommended that if the family member was the trustee, then they
should be eligible for the program.
Commissioner Bedford said as a CPA she does a lot of estate work. She said her
concern is that it takes money to have an attorney set up a trust. She said she could see this
being abused by wealthy people when there are family members who could pay the taxes. She
said she is ok waiting to see how the program goes.
Commissioner Fowler clarified that the way the program was set up in the previous year
is that the county paid the difference between 2020 2022 Orange County portion of the taxes.
She said that for those that applied, they weren't huge amounts. She said it would differ if your
house was worth a lot more. She said the new option is to change this to a program to support
those who are making less than 80% of AMI. She asked if they send this information out in all
tax bills, do the numbers reflect sending it out to everyone.
Nancy Freeman said they won't know how many people will apply. She said she
estimated a 50% increase. She said she looked at different choices just to get an idea of how
much they could be looking at for 2022. She said they could have twice as many applicants,
and it could be much more than 50%.
Commissioner Fowler clarified that they do not know the percent of property owners or
the number of property owners that fall under 80% of the AMI.
Nancy Freeman said her office has no way to know that.
Commissioner Fowler asked for clarification on the phrase "Create standard award
amount with cap $830, but no more than bill amount." She asked if they meant the just the
county portion or the total.
Nancy Freeman said it was up to the full amount of the bill. She said the Board could
choose to do it just for the county portion.
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Commissioner Fowler clarified that the calculation was based on the entire bill.
Nancy Freeman said the $830 cap was determined by finding half of the average county
portion of 2021 tax bill of the applicants. She said they knew those were the people who would
need assistance, so they were used as the range.
Commissioner Richards thanked them for being responsive to community input, but she
was confused as to what the goal is. She said that the original concerns were around the
valuations themselves. She said the county tried to review the valuations and there was an
appeal process. She said after those adjustments, there was a program to support people who
needed tax assistance. She asked how many people went through appeal process before
valuation adjustments were made. She asked about the total possible number of people who
needed help.
Nancy Freeman said she thought it was around 4,000 people.
Commissioner Richards said using that number, there were potentially 4,000 people
who might need help if their bill stayed the way it was. She asked about the number of people
who appealed their property values, then also applied for assistance.
Nancy Freeman said she did not know that number but she would get it for the Board.
Commissioner Richards said once a program is started, it is difficult to stop it. She said
the county is funding this program through ARPA, and those funds will not be around forever.
She said her concern is that the county is starting something that it cannot support. She said
perhaps the number was low because valuations were adjusted. She said Nancy Freeman had
previously said they had learned lessons about valuations.
Nancy Freeman said those lessons were specific to certain portions of the county and
this program is for the entire county.
Commissioner Richards said there are some things that are really strong, like reducing
the years of ownership from 10 to 5. She said she wanted to understand the possible universe
of people who need help and how to make it sustainable.
Commissioner McKee said he knew it was it a pilot program, but he thought there would
have been more interest. He noted the community events staff held to publicize the program.
He asked about future outreach methods for the program. He said that outreach will be critical.
He said that he is concerned that only 91 people applied. He said it may be related to an innate
distrust of government programs. He said farmers are naturally suspicious of things that affect
their land and he can imagine that homeowners would feel the same way. He asked staff how
outreach methods might change.
Corey Root said they wanted to get guidance from the Board in order to make a robust
plan along with the Jackson Center, Justice United, and any other community groups. She said
they leaned heavily on social media and press releases rather than in-person contact due to the
pandemic. She said they received requests for in-person events on nights and weekends. She
said it is a lot of information and they tried to pare it down just to what was needed. She said
applicants had to provide income verification. She said it's not a quick process.
Commissioner McKee asked about the flyer that was included in the agenda abstract.
He said the headline caught his eye. He asked how it was used in outreach.
Corey Root said they distributed fliers in communities and provided them to Northside
neighborhood to put in their newsletter. She said they put the fliers in many county locations.
Nancy Freeman said the flyer will included in their tax assistance package.
Commissioner McKee said that was his next question, because everyone in the county
gets a tax bill and he looks at every piece of paper included with the tax bill.
Nancy Freeman said one question they had received from Justice United was regarding
mortgages and people who don't actually pay their tax bill, it's paid by someone else. She said
that they send a bill to the actual owner of the property, regardless if they have a mortgage, so
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they are aware of the information included in the bill. She said mortgage companies get
information electronically.
Commissioner McKee said he wondered if people who hold mortgages would be in the
economic range of the program.
Chair Price thanked Corey Root and Nancy Freeman for their work in getting the pilot off
the ground and reaching out to the community. She said the money was included in June, and
they only had a few months to get the program off the ground. She said they did a lot of leg
work along with community members to get it going. She wondered what the criteria would be
for the program. She asked if the program considered a household's tax burden. She asked
that with or without revaluation, are people still having difficulties with their taxes. She said that
looking at the percentage of income fails to reflect other living costs. She said it seems like
they are working the numbers rather than determining what would help households and the
situations people are in.
Staff said other costs to a household were not considered.
Chair Price said that would be her suggested addition to the program.
Commissioner Hamilton said the key thing is who pays the bill for the property tax, but
maybe there is not a way to get to that. She said we are looking to get relief for low-income
homeowners who pay their property taxes. She asked if there was a way to capture that
information, because someone else may be paying the property tax.
Nancy Freeman said they could look at prior year tax bills for that information. She said
if a person pays in cash, they would not capture that information. She said some properties
had mortgages and qualified for the program. She said in those cases, the mortgage company
paid the lowered amount to the benefit of the owner. She said that anyone can pay a tax bill.
She is not sure if there is a way to determine this information.
Commissioner Hamilton said she understood, she just wanted to discuss the idea that
there may situations where a person pays the tax for another person.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Christine Abernathy said she is the director of housing justice at the Marian Cheek
Jackson Center. She said she wanted to give the context of the group present and the
conversation they want to have. She said it has been a pleasure to work with county staff,
along with Justice United, Empowerment, Inc., the NAACP, leadership in northern and central
Orange County, alongside people in Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin Top neighborhoods. She
said it was important take some time to do deep listening in community, incorporating that
information into the presentation at the meeting. She said she and her coworker Kathy Atwater,
did a lot of outreach for the program. She said they had conversations with residents and
mobilized people to do the applications. She appreciated the Board's thoughtful questions on
the program. She said they they will continue to share information and feedback with staff as
things move forward. She said that they hoped they could center the idea that while they see
inequity, they have to have a wholesome approach to how it is addressed. She said there is not
one silver bullet. She said the increases in recent valuations stand on systemic inequity that
existed prior. She said it is already on the back of a lot of things that have happened
throughout history. She said that the program sought to address systemic inequity to a degree,
but when the county thinks about continuing the work, they must come at it from a systemic
approach. She said they must address it from all areas to get help to the most people when
they can, as soon as they can. She said that looks like supporting this program to continue to
do the work.
David Remington said he has lived on the edge of Hillsborough for two decades. He
said his congregation heavily involved with Justice United over the years and has partnered with
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organizations in the Fairview community. His said he has had a lot of conversations with
generous, hardworking people about the burden of homeownership and tax burdens. He said
he has had a lot of conversations about low wage jobs and fixed incomes. He said that even if
tax rates haven't gone up, what they have to pay is a substantial portion of their income. He
said he was part of the group that went to the Piney Grove neighborhood. He said they found a
lot people in Northern Orange County who never got the word about the program. He said they
were people who have low incomes and have trouble making ends meet. He said there were
people who could have used property tax relief, but didn't meet all of the criteria. He said he
appreciated that the proposal made positive changes towards that. He said what's really
needed is a more equitable system of sharing the tax burden. He said maybe people like him
should pay a bigger share to help those who don't have a lot. He said he hoped the goal would
be to have a more equitable system.
Kathy Atwater said she is a resident of the Northside community and works at the
Marian Cheek Jackson Center. She thanked the tax office for working with their center. She
said the calculations for the valuations are all wrong. She said her community is valued 80%
higher than a neighborhood two blocks away. She said houses that were built in 1930 or 1940,
compared to a house that was built in 2010, are taxed higher. She said they appreciate the
Longtime Homeowners Assistance Program, but one of the residents said "What about me
being behind on my taxes? You may help me with this current year, but taxes continue to draw
interest. I'm trying to catch up and I can't catch up because of the interest that's being taxed."
She asked the Board to look at this in a more systemic way, as a stepping stone. She said the
final solution is looking at the valuations. She encouraged the Board to take the issue to the
state. She said let's get something done, so all of Orange County can live in Orange County.
George Barrett said this is a "yes and" moment. He said we need all all the tools to
mitigate the injustice on black and brown communities. He said his story will be about
Northside, but will describe many black and brown communities. He said that in April 2021,
property tax revaluations arrived in the mail and for many black elders in Northside, Pine Knolls,
and Tin Top, opening these letters came with a shock. He said that on average, these
residents saw their valuations go up 53%. He said this was a much larger increase than nearby
white neighborhoods. He said some property tax bills more than doubled. He said the property
tax revaluation placed a heavier tax burden on Northside residents. He said in comparison,
affluent neighborhoods' property tax valuations largely remained the same. He said three
neighborhoods near Northside saw increases ranging from -1% to 13%. He said single family
homes in several Chapel Hill neighborhoods rose an average of 8% in comparison to single
family homes in Northside that rose five times that amount. He said residents responded with
creative resilience and saw major wins in property tax advocacy through a coalition of creative
advocacy with Empowerment, the Chapel Hill — Carrboro NAACP, and Justice United. He said
more than 650 community members joined neighbors to challenge Orange County's inequitable
valuations of Northside properties. He said the county responded giving more time for appeals
and reviewing the valuations, and creating the Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program. He
said going forward his community is committed to creating systemic change to valuations so
that this crisis does not happen again. He said it requires leadership to craft new and
innovative ways to create a more equitable process for how property is valuated and to enable
long term residents to thrive.
Delores Bailey said she is a resident of Northside and a homeowner. She said they
have lived on Graham St. for 47 years. She said her home is located in the heart of Northside,
and her home is attractive to investors and developers. She said the tax value of her property
has slowly risen. She said that in 2021, the community and its partners fought an extraordinary
tax increase. She said it incited the residents to start appealing taxes. She said the appeals
happened, but that did not fix the problems. She said she had an attorney help her complete
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an appeals application. She said her tax value went from $93,000 to $233,000 after her
appeal. She said she appealed a second time. She said she received a letter reducing the
value of her home back to $93,000. She said she asked why her tax value went back down to
$93,000 and she was informed that there were two levels that had to be considered, and when
they looked at those two levels, it caused the value to come down. She said there is something
wrong with the process. She said that if she had left the higher value after the first appeal, she
would be paying taxes on $233,000 when her home is not worth that much. She said there is
still a problem with the calculations and homeowners don't know it. She said the deeper
problem is understanding what the tax bill means and what the levels are that can change a
valuation.
Horace Johnson said he was frustrated by the lack of communication with Northern
Orange County. He said they did not find out about the program until mid-November, and the
deadline was December 15t". He said there is a problem with the way values are decided. He
asked if his neighbor Commissioner McKee buys a Mercedes Benz, but he is driving 1975 Ford,
should his car taxes go up on his car? He said that is what happens when someone builds a
new house in the neighborhood next to a house that has been there for 50 years. He said there
is something wrong with the logic. He said that it is amazing to hear that for the first time the
county is looking at the problems. He said oversight was poor, no one followed up. He said he
represented the Piney Grove neighborhood with Justice United, and he represented all of the
people they don't get to see. He said people asked him why they didn't find out. He said
implementation was poor. He said the Board should go to the neighborhoods and see if the
people need tax assistance. He said the county should tax the builders building all of the new
neighborhoods in the county, and then use the revenue to help the people who cannot afford to
pay their property taxes. He said people do not have broadband internet and lack access to
information. He said that when the bill is sent, also send out the resources. He said that
Durham has an assistance program that doesn't necessarily rely on tax increases.
Chair Price said that all of the commissioners received an email earlier that day from
Julia Sendor on behalf of Orange County Justice United Affordable Housing and that it would
be included in the meeting record:
Dear Board of County Commissioners,
I am sending this message from the Orange County Justice United Affordable
Housing research team. Orange County Justice United is made up of 20
member organizations countywide, and a 25-person research group has been
working to identify areas for making specific, tangible improvements in the
affordable housing crisis, especially focused on preserving existing affordable
housing.
Please include this message in the official meeting minutes, as coming from the
Orange County Justice United Affordable Housing team.
At tonight's County Commissioners meeting, several members will speak, along
with partners in this work from the Jackson Center and EmPOWERMENT, Inc.,
in support of expanding the access to and impact of the property tax assistance
program.
As context, we first heard during listening sessions last year with fellow Justice
United members, including many in Hillsborough and Northern Orange, that high
property taxes are making it hard for people to stay in their homes and hold onto
family land. Even for properties that didn't have the steep increases in their
assessments like neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the tax burden is
still inequitable for households with lower incomes.
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Then, group members met several times over the past 6 months with County
staff to better understand options for improving LHA program outreach
(especially in Hillsborough and Northern Orange, where there was initially less
activity), hear the results of the pilot, and learn about opportunities for community
feedback to expand the benefits of the program to more people, and with greater
impact for those people.
We collaborated with County staff to organize program outreach sessions at
Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist
Church. We even went door-to-door, ourselves, in the Piney Grove
neighborhood with Piney Grove church members, to spread the word.
We understand the Commissioners are receiving the Staff program evaluation
and options for the first time tonight -- thank you for honoring our collective
request for a delay to allow for more community feedback.
Tonight, residents will be attending to hear Commissioners' responses to the
County staff evaluation. A few members will speak, with the intention of
continuing and strengthening an ongoing collaboration between County
Commissioners, staff, and community stakeholders, to address the inequities of
the tax burden, together.
The Affordable Housing team listed the following points as important:
1) The Jackson Center and Compass Group, EmPOWERMENT, Inc., Fairview
residents, and member groups of Orange County Justice United have connected
around a shared, countywide priority of addressing the inequitable property tax
burden.
2) As you know, the Longtime Homeowners Assistance program exists in the
context of inequitable property tax valuations, as well as an unfair tax burden:
residents with lower incomes have to pay a higher ratio of property taxes in
comparison to what they would actually make if they sold their home than
wealthier residents. The Longtime Homeowners Assistance program doesn't
resolve the inequity, but we recognized that it is an important attempt to lessen
some of the negative impact.
3) Given this inequity, we believe it is important for the program to at least have
maximum benefit for the most people.
4) In that vein, we most strongly support option 1 e), which would have the
potentially highest benefit for most people, and is also what Durham County is
likely about to adopt -- and was recommended by Durham Department of Social
Services. Durham County has expressed support of having a consistent,
coordinated approach to property tax relief across the Triangle.
1 e). Awards cover half of total tax bill: Award would cover half of total tax bill for
homeowners earning 80% AMI or under, up to these total amounts:
i. $ 1000. 00 for households with incomes < 61- 80% AMI
ii. $ 1250. 00 for households with incomes < 31- 60% AMI
iii. $ 1500. 00 for households with incomes < 30%- below AMI
iv. The amount of assistance that may be granted for this option will vary
based on the level of income of the applicants. Assuming a 50% increase in
the number of applicants, an estimated range is $169, 123 to $243,454.
4) In any case, we recommend going with property tax award criteria that would
provide the most benefit to most people -- options 1 c), 1 d), and 1 e) are the
three options estimated by County staff to provide the most benefit.
5) We also emphasize the importance of reducing the years of residence from
10 to 5. Even longtime homeowners in historical and gentrifying neighborhoods
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expressed strong support for this change, to lower barriers to access. It's also
important to keep in mind that many residents did live in their homes for
decades, were pressured to leave, and then moved back thanks to community
efforts -- but may have been back fewer than 5 years.
6) Finally, we emphasize the need for greatly increased outreach, as County
staff recommended -- including program announcement with tax bill and working
with community partners in all parts of the County (including Hillsborough and
Northern Orange) in advance to do outreach.
- Along with outreach about the property tax assistance program, it is also
important to communicate transparently about the different levels and criteria
used for calculating the property tax rates. That way residents can understand
the process, be able to spot errors more quickly, and be better prepared to
appeal if needed.
Thank you for your work on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Orange County Justice United Affordable Housing team
Chair Price reviewed the possible options for consideration and the County Manager's
recommendations.
Commissioner McKee asked if anyone who spoke from the Jackson Center could
comment on if there was any reluctance from homeowners that they spoke to about the
program.
Kathy Atwater said there were several people who were apprehensive about the
program. She said they didn't want the government to know about their income thinking that
they would be charged even more. She said that many people just pay what the government
says to pay. She said that education should happen before property tax bills go out. She said
that would give them time to explain what is happening to the community. She said some
people still don't know about the Homestead Exemption Act, and that's been around for a long
time. She said it is important to develop trust in the community because many people have lost
their homes due to things like a reverse mortgage that say they will help, but don't.
Commissioner McKee said he asked that question because there is a program that
farmers initially refused to participate in because of uncertainties. He said he could imagine the
same dynamic happening here. He said the low number of applications was shocking to him.
Chair Price said that she has a friend in the community with relatives that don't trust the
government, or they just see the bill and pay it. She said this friend had to intervene with a
family member because she was paying on a barn that was considered a house. She said
getting trusted messengers is important.
Commissioner McKee said that would be key. He said that is what it took for farmers to
trust the program he referenced. He said over the years it became accepted, then it became
sought after. He said it's important to consider how to get the word out better than before.
Commissioner Bedford made a motion that the Board adopt recommendations #2, 3, 4,
5, 6, and 7.
Commissioner McKee seconded it.
Commissioner Richards said that she felt that it was important to get to a conclusion
about recommendation #1, because those other recommendations are dependent on #1. She
said the other recommendations are easy and make sense.
Commissioner Bedford asked if she should amend her motion to include an assumption
that#1 would be approved.
John Roberts, the County Attorney, said the amendment did not need to be amended.
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Chair Price said she is in favor of#7.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Chair Price asked the Board to discuss recommendation #1.
Commissioner Hamilton thanked everyone who spoke about the issue. She said her
concern about recommendation #1 is if it can be sustained. She said she wanted to know the
number of people and the amount of money so the Board can determine if it's affordable. She
said she wanted to know if it's sustainable. She said she thought the Board should think
comprehensively about how the county supports low-income people, through either a strategic
plan or a budget. She said the Board needed information to know if they are setting up
something sustainable. She said it doesn't make sense to do something for one year, and then
it goes away. She said she would rather be cautious and see what they get if they make
changes to the communication plan and build up trust, before they do the other things proposed
in recommendation #1.
Commissioner Fowler said she is cautious as well, but currently this would use ARPA.
She said it would be critical to figure out they were going to pay for it in the future. She said
one argument to do the program is that people are still recovering from losses during the
pandemic. She said hopefully there would be some recovery from the pandemic. She said she
would suggest capping the total at the total county tax bill amount. She said that she thought
the response would be greater than a 50% increase. She said she would decrease the
amounts in slide #9 to $500, $750, and $1,000 for the first year so that the funds would not be
used up in one year. She said offering $300 as a base amount is a much more cautious
approach.
Commissioner Richards said on c, the dollar estimate is based on 2021 recipient. She
asked if that means it is based on the 91 people that applied.
Nancy Freeman said it should be based on 125 applicants.
Commissioner Richards said that 125 for 2022 would be $95,000. She said we are
hoping we have more than 125. She asked when ARPA funds have to be used or committed.
Bonnie Hammersley said they have to be used by December 31, 2024.
Commissioner Richards said it looks like we would use the money all in one year.
Commissioner McKee said he liked the idea of looking at the income, because the lower
your income is, the more in jeopardy you are. He asked if there is a way to estimate the
number of homes that fall in the various income categories.
Nancy Freeman said the tax office did not have that information.
Corey Root said they could come back to the Board with an estimated number.
Commissioner McKee said if the county wanted to be cautious they could lower the
thresholds and start at a level that is sustainable. He said that each year they could increase or
expand based on demand.
Commissioner Bedford said another factor is the full bill amount. She said that removes
accountability for other elected boards that the county has no say over. She thinks it should be
limited to the county portion of the bill.
Commissioner McKee said he agreed with that.
Commissioner Richards asked if they think they should do the 80% AMI. She asked
how much impact would that have on the people that need the most help.
Corey Root said that 30% and 60% of AMI is often used for other housing programs.
She said there was considerable discussion about the 80% AMI, because the program affects
homeowners.
Chair Price asked if funds from the social justice fund could be used for this program.
Bonnie Hammersley said that would be up to the Board.
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Chair Price said the balance is roughly $250,000.
Bonnie Hammersley said there is about $180,000 remaining in the fund.
Chair Price said she is hesitant moving forward with recommendation #1. She said it is
unclear whom the program is trying to assist. She said they do not know what people's living
situations are and people may be cost burdened for other reasons. She said this is a systemic
issue; people did not just become burdened due to the revaluation. She said that is only one
part of it. She said the county must find a way to better evaluate homes in various
neighborhoods. She said she wanted to determine how they could really help the families that
need assistance. She said she needed more information.
Commissioner Bedford said she mostly agreed with Chair Price's comments. She said
$300 makes it worth people's time to complete application.
Commissioner Bedford petitioned for a report on people who meet these parameters of
80%, 60%, etc., and owe back taxes and interest. She would like to be more informed.
Commissioner Bedford said they should at least do item a on recommendation #1.
Chair Price said she was really looking at the caps.
Commissioner Fowler asked for staff proposal for item e on recommendation #1, with
the program covering half of the county's tax portion rather than the total tax bill. She said she
would also like staff to include information on the impacts of reducing the award amounts to
$500, $750, and $1000. She said staff should assume 50% increase, as well as the impacts of
a 100% increase in participation.
Nancy Freeman said they could look at the income of the applicants to determine an
estimate.
Corey Root said they could look at the county as a whole.
Chair Price said if staff only looks at the applications received in the previous year, they
would not have information about all of the people who should have applied.
Commissioner Hamilton asked for clarification on what the Board was leaning towards
on recommendation #1.
Chair Price said they are considering several items. She said they are looking at item a
on recommendation #1, which was to institute a baseline award of $300. She said
Commissioner Fowler is looking at 1 e, looking at the schedule of awards to cover half of the
county tax bill.
Commissioner Hamilton recommended that the Board not make a decision on
recommendation #1, and that staff come back with information on the requests for more
information. She said the county should assume there will be more applicants. She said she
wants the program, but wants it to be sustainable.
Corey Root clarified that the Board could do both a and a in recommendation #1.
Commissioner Hamilton said she would like to know the costs of a combination of the
items.
Chair Price said they should work in collaboration with community organizations.
Commissioner McKee asked for a date when the item would come back to make sure
that staff have time to revamp the program and get information in the tax bills.
Chair Price said the next business meeting will be on May 24, 2022.
Corey Root said that they could bring the information back by May 24, 2022.
Commissioner McKee said he just did not want to wait until June.
Commissioner Richards said staff could begin working on some of the
recommendations that were already approved.
tn
Chair Price asked that staff bring back information on May 24
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b. Consideration of a Resolution Naming the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Center
Conference Room as The Lee Pavao Conference Room
The Board approved a resolution naming the conference room at the new Orange County
Visitors Center, located at 308 W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, as "The Lee Pavao Conference
Room".
BACKGROUND: Lee Pavao served for eight years as an elected official on the Chapel Hill
Town Council, including two years as Mayor Pro-Tem. Mr. Pavao worked closely with Orange
County leaders and the Board of County Commissioners, as well as the Visitors Bureau staff
and hospitality industry leaders. Mr. Pavao spent his career in advertising and lent his expertise
to area marketing, sales and tourism campaigns to increase tourism in Orange County and in
order to support economic development and increased occupancy and sales tax revenues.
Lee Pavao joined J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) in New York, but was soon after
drafted into the U.S. Army (1956-1958). Pavao returned to JWT New York (1958-1963) before
being reassigned to a number of JWT's European offices (Amsterdam 1963-1965, Madrid
1967-1969) before returning to New York. Pavao spent the rest of his career in various JWT
offices in Latin America (primarily Sao Paulo and Lima) before being named President and
CEO of JWT Brazil in 1980, eventually assuming responsibility for JWT operations across Latin
America. Lee and his wife Joan retired to Chapel Hill in 1988, and Joan passed away in 1990.
Mr. Pavao threw himself into a second career as a community volunteer, town leader, advocate
for tourism development, senior citizens and grandfather.
The J. Walter Thompson Company, Lee Pavao papers, were received by the David M.
Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library at Duke University as a gift in 2019.
https://archives.lib.duke.edu/catalog/jwtpavaolee
The Lee Pavao papers include advertisements and advertising designs, clippings,
correspondence, meeting minutes and planning documents, photographs, presentations,
reports, slides, speeches and other materials relating to Pavao's career, primarily in Latin
American offices in Brazil and Peru. Client companies represented include Ford, Kellogg and
Kodak.
In 2012, the Orange County community gave a standing ovation to Mr. Pavao when he became
a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award for his 30 years of volunteer service in
Orange County.
In recognition and appreciation of Lee Pavao's contributions to Orange County, the proposal to
name the Visitors Center conference room at 308 W. Franklin Street as "The Lee Pavao
Conference Room" was initially presented to the Board of Orange County Commissioners for
consideration on April 26, 2022. The Board expressed its intent to consider the proposal as
outlined in the Board's attached policy.
The Visitors Center's official Grand Opening is scheduled for May 19, 2022.
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Commissioner Bedford read the resolution:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NAMING THE ORANGE COUNTY VISITORS CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
AS THE LEE PAVAO CONFERENCE ROOM
WHEREAS, Lee Pavao served for eight years as an elected official on the Chapel Hill Town
Council, including two years as Mayor Pro-Tem, and worked closely with Orange County
leaders, board of county commissioners and Visitors Bureau staff to raise awareness of tourism
as a key economic driver for Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Lee Pavao was born to Portuguese-American parents, served in the U.S. Army
(1956-1958) and after graduation from Dartmouth University, joined J. Walter Thompson
Advertising Company (JWT) in New York where he spent a globetrotting 30+ year career
including postings in five countries and responsibilities for all of Latin America, and ultimately a
seat on company's Worldwide Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Lee and his wife, Joan, retired to Chapel Hill, NC in 1988, and when Joan passed
away in 1990, Lee threw himself into a second career as a community volunteer, town leader,
advocate for senior citizens and economic development and growing the hospitality and tourism
industry; and
WHEREAS, The J. Walter Thompson Company, Lee Pavao papers, were received by the
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library at Duke University as a gift in 2019 and
includes advertisements and advertising designs, clippings, correspondence, meeting minutes
and planning documents, photographs, presentations, reports, slides, speeches and other
materials relating to Pavao's career, primarily in Latin American offices in Brazil and Peru.
Client companies represented include Ford, Kellogg and Kodak:
https://archives.lib.duke.edu/catalog/owtpavaolee; and
WHEREAS: Lee Pavao received numerous honors for his service to Orange County. From the
Long Leaf Pine Award bestowed by former NC Governor Beverly Perdue, to Chapel Hill
Historical Society's 2014 Town Treasure Honor to the /Orange County Visitors Bureau's
Tourism Leadership Accolade, and dozens of additional honors; and
WHEREAS, Leonel "Lee" Pavao died at his home on May 13, 2019;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does
hereby recognize the late Lee Pavao for his community service and dedication to Orange
County's economy through the development of hospitality and tourism by naming the
conference room of the Orange County Visitors Center at 308 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill as
"The Lee Pavao Conference Room".
This day, the 3rd day of May, 2022.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
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A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to
approve the resolution.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Laurie Paolicelli of the Orange County Visitor's Bureau thanked the Board for their
support of the resolution. She said that Lee Pavao talked about the importance of legacy at the
end of his life. She said Lee Pavao left a legacy of the gift of his time and service and belief in
government. She said Lee Pavao had a love of Orange County that he wore proudly. She said
he had a love of seniors and visitors. She said that it wasn't just love, it was also smart
economic development for visitors to come to Orange County and spend money. She said it
gives her pride and honor to keep his legacy alive. She introduced Lee Pavao's partner Cathy
Porter.
Cathy Porter said thank you on behalf of the family and that it was nice for Lee Pavao to
be remembered.
Chair Price said that Lee Pavao was a wonderful person with a contagious energy, and
that he brought magic to a room.
7. Reports
None.
8. Consent Agenda
• Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda
• Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda
• Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
Commissioner Richards said she would like to pull item 8-h for discussion.
A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
approve the remaining consent agenda.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
a. Minutes
The Board will consider corrections and/or approval of the draft minutes for the April 5, 2022
and April 12, 2022 Board of County Commissioners meetings.
b. Motor Vehicle Property Tax Releases/Refunds
The Board will consider adoption of a resolution to release motor vehicle property tax values for
seven taxpayers with a total of seven bills that will result in a reduction of revenue.
c. Property Tax Releases/Refunds
The Board will consider adoption of a resolution to release property tax values for four
taxpayers with a total of six bills that will result in a reduction of revenue.
d. Application for Property Tax Exemption/Exclusion
The Board will consider one untimely application for exemption/exclusion from ad valorem
taxation for one bill for the 2021 tax year.
e. Older Americans Month Proclamation
The Board will consider approving a proclamation joining Federal and State governments in
designating the month of May as Older Americans Month and a time to honor older adults for
their contributions to the community.
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f. Approval of Addition of Non-voting Youth Member to Parks and Recreation Council
(PRC)
The Board will consider approval of a resolution amending the Code of Ordinances to allow the
addition of a youth delegate non-voting member to the Orange County Parks and Recreation
Council (PRC).
g. Construction Bid Award for Emergency Services Efland EMS Station and Approval of
Budget Amendment#10-C
The Board will consider:
1) Approving a construction contract with J. Kester & Rose, LLC, for the construction of the
Efland Emergency Services Station and Medical Examiner's Review Quarters and approve
Budget Amendment# 10-C; and
2) Authorizing the County Manager to execute the Agreement, subject to final review by the
County Attorney, and any subsequent amendments for contingent and unforeseen
requirements up to the approved budget amount on behalf of the Board.
h. Orange County Facilities Master Planning
The Board will consider approving a Design Services contract with O'Brien Atkins Associates,
Durham, NC, totaling $298,215 for Facilities Master Planning services throughout the County.
i. Contract Extension with New River Tire Recycling, Inc.
The Board will consider approving and authorizing the County Manager to sign a contract
extension with New River Tire Recycling, Inc. for the loading, transport, and recycling/disposal
of scrap tires.
j. Adoption of the Final Financing Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Installment
Purchase Financing for Various Capital Investment Plan Protects
The Board will consider adopting the final financing resolution authorizing the issuance of up to
$43,000,000 in installment financing to finance capital investment projects and equipment for
the fiscal year. The financing will also include amounts to pay transaction costs.
k. Series 2022 General Obligation Bond Sale in the Amount of$14,540,000
The Board will consider authorizing voter-approved Series 2022 General Obligation Bond
issuance in the amount of $14,540,000. The bond issuance amount is $11,893,584 for Orange
County Schools and $2,646,416 for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
I. Application for North Carolina Education Lottery Proceeds for Chapel Hill Carrboro
City Schools (CHCCS) and Contingent Approval of Budget Amendment#10-A Related
to CHCCS Capital Project Ordinances
The Board will consider approving an application to the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction (NCDPI) to release proceeds from the NC Education Lottery account related to FY
2021-22 debt service payments for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS), and to approve
Budget Amendment#10-A, contingent on the NCDPI's approval of the application.
m. Application for North Carolina Education Lottery Proceeds for Orange County
Schools (OCS) and Contingent Approval of Budget Amendment #10-113 Related to OCS
Capital Project Ordinances
The Board will consider approving an application to the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction (NCDPI) to release proceeds from the NC Education Lottery account related to FY
2021-22 debt service payments for Orange County Schools (OCS), and to approve Budget
Amendment#10-B, contingent on the NCDPI's approval of the application.
Regarding item 8-h, Commissioner Richards expressed concern that when looking over
the scope of services, she did not see the opportunity for community input on how facilities
support them. She said this is a missed opportunity to interface and get input from the
community. She said she would like to know how this fits in to an overall strategic plan. She
asked how the plan fits in to the county's overall look at the next 20 years.
47
Bonnie Hammersley said this is a master plan for our space going forward. She said
this started due to the high number of vacant properties. She said they want to take a 30,000
ft. view of space needs. She said the study is not focused on programming, but how much
space does the county need in the future. She said they will be looking at all county facilities.
She said this is just the beginning of a long process. She said this is the first time a study has
been done. She said there was an internal study a few years ago. She said this will be a
longer term plan and there are many vacant properties. She said one goal is to move out of
rented and leased space. She said that this is a first step in a long process for addressing
space needs. She said they are in a leased facility at Hillsborough Commons. She said that is
a long term issue that needs to be looked at. She said a consultant will come three times to get
direction from the Board. She said that the study is not going to get into programming, so it
would be premature to bring in the community at this time. She said this will look at how many
square feet does the county need for operations. She said it might not increase, due to
technology and remote work.
Commissioner Bedford asked about having this back in time in February 2022 so when
they look at the CIP, they have a full picture. She said she understood Commissioner Richards'
point, and she thought a strategic plan process could be discussed at the retreat.
Commissioner Richards asked about county goals and aspirations. She said she needs
to be informed about the goals and what the background is.
Chair Price said some of these buildings are in neighborhoods. She said it would be
important to know what the people who live in these areas want. She said at some point it
would be good to have an open house for ideas. She said as the community changes, the
Board changes.
Bonnie Hammersley said that the study wouldn't have recommendations for what the
spaces should be used for, apart from county needs. She said that if the spaces were
determined not to be used by the county, then the Board would decide how to dispose or reuse
the facilities.
Commissioner Richards made a motion to approve item 8-h, and Commissioner Fowler
seconded.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
9. County Manager's Report
Projected May 10, 2022 BOCC Budget Public Hearing &Work Session
First Budget & Capital Investment Plan Public Hearing
Food Council Presentation and Proposal for MOU Renewal
Additional Discussion on Regulation of Large Gatherings
Review of Upcoming Boards and Commissions Appointments
Projected May 12, 2022 Budget Work Session
Schools and Outside Agencies
May 19, 2022 Budget Work Session
Fire Districts, Public Safety, Human Services
Bonnie Hammersley said that there was an agenda item that was approved on consent
proclaiming May as Older Americans Month. She highlighted an informational item on
Mountains to Sea Trail progress. She reminded the Board about the upcoming budget public
hearing and work sessions.
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10. County Attorney's Report
John Roberts did not have anything to share with the Board.
11. *Appointments
None.
12. Information Items
• April 26, 2022 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List
• Tax Collector's Report— Numerical Analysis
• Tax Collector's Report— Measure of Enforced Collections
• Tax Assessor's Report— Releases/Refunds under $100
• Memorandum - NC Mountains to Sea Trail Progress Report
13. Closed Session
14. Adjournment
A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to
adjourn the meeting at 10:06 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Renee Price, Chair
Laura Jensen
Clerk to the Board
Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board.