HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2022-042-Resolution detailing Orange Countys recommendations regarding goals for inclusion in the North Carolina association of County Commissioners NCACC 2023 2024 Legislative goals package RES -2022 - 042
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Resolution Detailing Orange County ' s Recommendations
Regarding Goals for Inclusion in the
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners ' ( NCACC )
2023 -2024 Legislative Goals Package
WHEREAS , the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners ( NCACC )
organizes a process every two years to adopt a legislative goals package
representing the collective interests of North Carolina counties ; and
WHEREAS , the purpose of the process is to develop broad support for matters
affecting counties that may be addressed by the North Carolina General
Assembly during the upcoming legislative biennium ; and
WHEREAS , the goals and issues included in the NCACC package guide and
strengthen NCACC representatives and staff as they converse with individual
legislators and committees on legislative matters ; and
WHEREAS , NCACC has begun the process to develop its 2023 -2024 Legislative
Goals Package and requested Orange County and all other North Carolina
counties submit proposed legislative goals by September 12 , 2022 for
consideration for inclusion in the 2023 -2024 Legislative Goals Package ; and
WHEREAS , Orange County believes there are many issues of importance to all
North Carolina counties that should be included as goals in NCACC ' s 2023 -2024
Legislative Goals Package ;
NOW THEREFORE we , the Orange County Board of Commissioners , do hereby
recommend that NCACC include the following goals in the NCACC 2023 -2024
Legislative Goals Package :
1 ) Mental Health & Behavioral Health Services - Seek legislation to
develop and fund mental health and behavioral health facilities and
services at the state and local level that :
• ensure adequate State -funded mental health , developmental
disability and substance use disorder services and facilities
are available , accessible and affordable to all residents ;
• include dedicated resources for community para - medicine
projects and enhanced mobile crisis response ;
• support Medicaid reimbursement to EMS for behavioral health
transport to crisis centers ;
• reduce the number of people with mental health issues in
county detention centers ;
• ensure that state resources fund service provision costs ,
inclusive of crisis intervention and treatment ; and
• provide assistance to NC residents , especially youth , who are
dealing with the impacts of COVID ;
2 ) Medicaid Expansion — Support legislation increasing access to the
Medicaid program to make health insurance available to North
Carolina residents at 138 % of the poverty level ; broaden the
opportunity for coverage for more than 500 , 000 North Carolinians
to address chronic conditions and to prevent illness and disease
progression ; to provide additional support for rural hospitals ; and to
protect families from medical debt and bankruptcy ;
3 ) Racial Equity in Criminal Justice — Support continued
consideration and implementation , where practicable , of the
recommendations of the North Carolina Task Force for Racial
Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC ) , including :
• legislation to legalize the possession and use of marijuana and
permit licensed businesses to engage in retail sales to adults ,
as this decriminalization will in turn broaden the agricultural
economy and jobs as well as enhance revenue for
governments with taxes , licenses , and other associated
revenues that can be utilized to address opioid and other drug -
related problems and other needs ;
• policing reforms to address use of force , community oversight
and law enforcement training on crisis intervention ;
• Funding at the county level to expand access to diversion and
restorative justice programs ; and
• the reduction of fines , fees and costs in criminal court , noting
that such fines , fees and costs disproportionately impact
people of color and people of low income ;
4 ) Concealed Weapons in Parks and Red Flag Law — Support
legislation authorizing counties to regulate the carrying of
concealed weapons on county- owned playgrounds and in county-
owned parklands , and allowing courts to prevent access to firearms
for individuals who show signs of being a danger to themselves or
to others . Mental illness , escalating threats , substance abuse and
domestic violence are among the circumstances in which a judge
should have the authority to order weapon restrictions or surrender ;
5 ) Full Funding of the Leandro Remedial Action Plan — Support
equity and racial justice by fully funding the Leandro Remedial
Action Plan , which details additional comprehensive , targeted
education funding over the next eight years , predominantly to low-
wealth and minority communities , in order for the State to come into
compliance with its constitutional obligation to provide every
student a sound basic education ;
6 ) Priority School Issues — Support legislation to address the
following issues related to schools :
a ) Provide local school systems with calendar flexibility ;
b ) Provide full funding for State allotments including Average
Daily Membership (ADM ) growth and infrastructure/capital ,
and support legislation to provide for an overall increase in
funding based on ADM outside of the current formula system ;
c) a periodic accounting process for State per pupil funds so
that funds and pro - rated funds follow students to their
respective schools , as opposed to the current process that
only considers State funding allocations based on students '
attendance location on a single day during the school year ;
d ) Increase salary compensation for teachers and staff at all
years of service ;
e ) Impose class size reductions commensurate with State
funding for staffing ; and
f) Maintain full funding for Driver Education ;
7 ) School Capital Funding — Support legislation to provide needed
State capital funding to support school infrastructure , renovations ,
and new construction , and support a State bond referendum to
address school capital needs ; and
8 ) Non - Partisan Redistricting Process for Elections — Support
legislation to establish a process for an independent , non - partisan
redistricting process after each United - States Census for the
election of representatives from North Carolina to the United States
House of Representatives , the North Carolina House , and the North
Carolina Senate .
This the 6t" day of September , 2022 .
Renee A . Price Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
17 ,