Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-15-2003-5fORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 15, 2003 fiction Agenda Item No. ~._ SUBJECT Resolutions Expressing Orange County's Position on Various Legislative Items DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No County Attorney ATTACHMENT(S): First Resolution with Exhibits 4/2/03 and 4/8/03 Articles on Durham Loop Second Resolution with Exhibits Table Showing Degrees of Potential Losses to NC Counties Under Senate Bill 512 3/31/03 Watauga County Letter Regarding Senate Bill 277 Third Resolution with Exhibit 4/1/03 Article on House Bill 863 -Schools Starting After Labor Day 4/3/03 Email from Rep. Verla Insko to Geoffrey Gledhill re: Schools Starting after Labor Day 3/14/03 Email from Leanne Winner, NC School Boards Association, on Mandated School Merger Proposal 4/3/03 Article on State Board of Education's Position on Mandated School Merger Proposal 4/3/03 Email from Representative Verla Insko to Representative Douglas Yongue re: Mandated School Merger 4/8/03 Article on Schools' Merger Possibly Gutting Cost INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, ext. 2300 Geof Gledhill, County Attorney, 732-2196 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider approval of draft resolutions expressing Orange County's positions on various legislative items. BACKGROUND: The BOCC held a public hearing on March 24, 2003 on potential items for inclusion in Orange County's legislative agenda package for the 2003 North Carolina General Assembly Session. After the public hearing, the Board reviewed and approved four resolutions (with associated materials) that requested Orange County's legislative delegation introduce certain bills and that expressed Orange County's positions on various legislative issues. It was nntPrl at that time that the work of the Legislative Issues Task Force had been based on the 2 current information available and that new issues may arise in the ensuing months necessitating additional BOCC review. Since that time, members of the BOCC and staff have identified other additional issues on which the Board may wish to express its positions. Those items are detailed in the attached draft resolutions. The first attached draft resolution addresses two transportation-related items and details a proposed position for each that the BOCC may want to consider. The two items are: 1) Senate Bill 384 -Durham Northern Loop Corridor -This bill, a copy of which is attached, seeks to establish the exact location of the Durham Northern Loop Corridor. of which 2) Senate Bill 34 -Highway Trust Fund Study Committee -This bill, a copy is attached, seeks to establish a 20-member Highway Trust Fund Study Committee that will review the structure of the Fund, the gap in current funding and actual transportation needs in the State, and other areas. The Study Committee is directed in the bill to complete its work and file its report by November 1, 2004. The second attached draft resolution addresses two issues related to tax matters. Those issues are: 1) Senate Bill 512 -Auto Property Tax Changes -This bill, a copy of which is attached, seeks to change the method of valuation for motor vehicles for local property tax purposes. The proposed valuation standard would be a vehicle's wholesale or "trade-in" value as opposed to the current standard of "market" value. A table, which is included as an attachment to this agenda abstract, shows the potential revenue losses for North Carolina's 100 counties that a change in the motor vehicle valuation standard could impose. For Orange County, a change in the valuation standard and a reduction of 20% of the total value of all motor vehicles in the County could equate to a revenue loss of approximately $1.5 million. If the resulting value reduction went as high as 40%, then Orange County could see a revenue loss of potentially $2.3 million. 2) Senate Bill 277 -Exempt University Trust Property -This bill, a copy of which is attached, seeks to exempt from local ad valorem taxation property that is held by anon-profit entity in trust for a public or private university. The third attached draft resolution addresses two issues related to schools. Those issues are: 1) House Bill 863 -Schools Start After Labor Day -This bill, a copy of which is attached, seeks to require all school systems in the State to delay the beginning of the school year until after Labor Day. The rationale for the bill is that a delay will benefit the State's tourism industry. It should be noted that the bill is proposed to become effective with the 2004-2005 school year and exempts individual year-round schools and school systems that need to adjust school calendars for "good cause" as defined in the bill. 2) School Merger Mandate -Although no specific bill has to this point been introduced in the General Assembly mandating the merger of any separate school systems within one county, this proposal was included in a report from Governor Mike Easley's Commission to Promote Government Efficiency and Savings on State Spending. Even if no specific bill is introduced on this topic, provisions to this effect could be proposed for inclusion in the final budget bill approved by the General Assembly. After the BOCC reviews and considers approval of the attached resolutions, it is suggested that the resolutions be forwarded with a cover letter to Orange County's legislative delegation, leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly (including chairs of Appropriations and Education Committees), the Governor, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Providing a copy of the third resolution to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Orange County Schools systems and the North Carolina School Boards Association may also be appropriate. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the resolutions. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review the attached draft resolutions, make changes as necessary, approve the resolutions, and authorize the Clerk and Chair to forward the resolutions, along with a cover letter, to Orange County's legislative delegation, leaders of the General Assembly, the Governor, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the two schools systems, and the North Carolina School Boards Association. 4 NORTH CAROLINA RESOLUTION REGARDING ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE MATTERS BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County that the Board hereby requests the Senator and Representatives representing Orange County take the following positions on legislation regarding the following matters: 1) Support Senate Bill 384, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A, that seeks to establish the exact location of the Durham Northern Loop Corridor. This bill also directs funds allocated from the Highway Trust Fund for the Intrastate System, including the widening of Interstate 85 in Orange County. Orange County opposes the present design plan for Interstate 85 widening in Orange County. 2) Support Senate Bill 34, version 2, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit B, that seeks to establish a 20- member Highway Trust Fund Study Committee; Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner the foregoing resolution was adopted this the day of 2003. 1 5 I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on _, 2003 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in Minute Book No. of the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of 2003. Clerk to the Board of Commissioner 2 North Carolina General Assembly - [ S 3...Durham Northern Loop Corridor. (Public)http://www.ncgastate.nc.us/htm12003/bills/AIIVersions/~enatei~~a4v~.~,~„~ E~6,b~ A ~ GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003 2 S SENATE BILL 384 Transportation Committee Substitute Adopted 3/27/03 Short Title: Durham Northern Loop Corridor. (Public) Sponsors: Referred to: March 12, 2003 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND ACT DESCRIPTION OF THE DURHAM NORTHERN LOOP AND INTRASTATE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. G.S. 136-180(a) reads as rewritten: "(a)Funds allocated from the Trust Fund for urban loops may be used only for the following urban loops: Affected Loop Description Counties Asheville Western Multilane facility on new Buncombe Loop location from I-26 west of Asheville to US-19/23 north of Asheville for the purpose of connecting these roads. The funds may be used to improve existing corridors. Charlotte Outer Loop Multilane facility on Mecklenburg new location encircling City of Charlotte Durham Northern Loop Tw ~"''"° v,,,~ ~~ Durham, O~a~ge--Wake ' ,7 * ; c ; ., -~ a-ga~t e€ *~V ,~ ~, ,~. „p~ v*.,~;--air ` ~ e e 3 b~tl~e~a~- nL.-.,-. ~., v; l 1- ~r -. f ~ .-. r7 f L. ,-. AT J f L. r , n,. -+ ,~-c~-~ ..F Tv,n The projects listed below are eligible for funding under this section as part of the Durham Northern Loop. The priorities for planning and constructing these nro~ects will be North Carolina General Assembly - [ S 3...Durham Northern Loop Corridor. (Public)http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/htm12003/bills/AllVersions/5enatei~sa4v~•~~u~~. established by mutual_ agreement of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Department of Transportation through the federally mandated Transportation Improvement Program development process. The cross sections for these projects will be established by mutual agreement of the MPO and the Department of Transportation through the State and federal environmental review process. (1) East end connector, from N.C. 147 to U.S. 70 East. (2) U.S. 70, from Lynn Rd. to the Northern Durham Parkway. (3) I-85, from U.S. 70 to Red Mill Rd. (4) Northern Durham Parkway, Section B, from Old Oxford Rd. to I- 85. (5) Northern Durham Parkway, Section A, from I-85 to I-540. (6) Northern Durham Parkway, Section C, from Old Oxford Rd. to Roxboro 7) Roxboro Rd. rom Duke St. to Goodwin Rd. Greensboro Loop Multilane facility on new Guilford location encircling City of Greensboro Raleigh Outer Loop Multilane facility on Wake new location from US-1 southwest of Cary northerly to US-64 in eastern Wake County Wilmington Bypass Multilane facility on new New Hanover location from US-17 northeast of Wilmington to US-17 southwest of Wilmington, including the Blue Clay Road interchange Winston-Salem Multilane facility on Forsyth 2 of 5 North Carolina General Assembly - [ S 3...Durham Northern Loop Corridor. (Public)http://www.ncgastate.nc.us/htm12003/bills/AIIVersions/~enatei~sa4v~.nun. Northbelt new location from I-40 west of Winston-Salem northerly to I-40 in eastern Forsyth County" SECTION 2. G.S. 136-179 reads as rewritten: "§ 136-179. Projects of Intrastate System funded from Trust Fund. Funds allocated from the Trust Fund for the Intrastate System may be used only for the following projects of the Intrastate System: Route I-40 I-77 I-85 I-95 US-1 US-13 Improvements Widening widening Widening Widening Henderson to South Carolina Line (including 6-laning of Raleigh Beltline) Affected Counties Buncombe, Haywood, Guilford, Wake, Durham Mecklenburg Durham, Orange, Alamance, Guilford, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Gaston Halifax Complete 4-laning from Vance, Franklin, Wake, Chatham, Lee, Moore, Richmond to NC-87 Complete 4-laning from US-23 to NC 194 in Ingalls Complete 4-laning US-13 Complete 4-laning from Gates, Hertford, Virginia Line to US-17 Bertie US-17 Complete 4-laning from Camden, Pasquotank, Virginia Line to South Perquimans, Chowan, Carolina Line (including Bertie, Martin, Washington, New Bern, Beaufort, Craven, and Jacksonville Jones, Onslow, Bypasses) Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick US-19/ US-19E US-19 US-23 US-23-441 Ca~~ - Connectors _from I-95 C~t~e~'la~- Cumberland, Robeson Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery Cherokee, Macon, Swain Madison, Buncombe Complete 4-laning and upgrading existing 4-lanes from Tennessee Line to I-240 Complete 4-laning from Macon US-19/US-74 to Georgia 3 of 5 North Carolina General Assembly - [ S 3...DurhamNorthern Loop Corridor. (Public)http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/htrn12003/bills/AllVersions/~enatei~~a~+v~.,,~,,,. Line US-52 Complete 4-laning from Surry, Davidson I-77 to Lexington (including new I-77 Connector) US-64 Complete 4-laning from Edgecombe, Pitt, Raleigh to Coast Martin, Washington, (including freeway Tyrrell, Dare construction from I-95 to US-17) US-64 Complete 4-laning from Davidson, Randolph, Lexington to Raleigh Chatham, wake US-70 Complete 4-laning from Wake, Johnston, Raleigh to Morehead City Wayne, Lenoir, (including Clayton, Craven Goldsboro, Kinston, Smithfield-Selma, and Havelock Bypasses predominately freeways on predominately new locations) US-74 Complete 4-laning from Mecklenburg, Union, Charlotte to US-17 Richmond, Robeson, (including multilaning Columbus of Independence Blvd. in Charlotte, and Bypasses of Monroe, Rockingham, and Hamlet) US-74 Complete 4-laning from Polk, Rutherford I-26 to I-85 US-158 Complete 4-laning Forsyth, Guilford, from Winston-Salem Rockingham, Caswell, to Whalebone Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Halifax, Northampton, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, Camden, Currituck, Dare New bridge over Currituck Currituck Sound US-221 Complete 4-laning from Avery, McDowell, Linville to South Rutherford Carolina US-220 Complete 4-laning from Guilford, Randolph, I-40 to US-1 Montgomery, Richmond US-220/NC-68 Complete 4-laning from Rockingham, Guilford Virginia Line to I-40 US-264 Complete 4-laning from Wilson, Greene, US-64 to Washington Pitt (including Wilson and DA 4of5 North Carolina General Assembly - [ S 3...DurhamNorthern Loop Corridor. (Public)http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/htm12003/bills/AllVersionsisenare~o~o~+~~•«~ Greenville Bypasses) (including freeway construction from I-95 to Greenville) Complete 4-laning from Caldwell, Catawba, US-321 Boone to South Carolina Lincoln, Gaston Line US-421 Complete 4-laning from Watauga, Wilkes, Tennessee Line to I-40 Yadkin US-421 Complete 4-laning from Chatham, Lee Greensboro to Sanford (including Bypass of Sanford) NC-24 Complete 4-laning from Mecklenburg, Stanly Charlotte to Morehead , Cabarrus, City Montgomery, Moore, Harnett, Cumberland, Sampson, Duplin, Onslow, Carteret NC-87 Complete 4-laning from Lee, Harnett, Bladen, Cumberland Sanford to US-74 , Columbus NC-105 Complete 4-laning from Watauga, Avery Boone to Linville NC-168 Complete multilaning Currituck from Virginia Line to US-158 NC-194 Complete 4-laning from Avery US-19E to US-221" SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 5 ~f 5 9 Exd 6 ~ B GENERAL p,SSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003 2 S SENATE BILL 34 Second Edition Engrossed 3/11/03 Short Title: Highway Trust Fund Study Committee. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Gulley; Carpenter and Shubert. Referred to: Rules and OFebruarysl3f 2003Senate. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REESTABLISH THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND STUDY COMMITTEE. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: - SECTION 1. (a) Study Committee Established. There is established a Highway Trust Fund Study Committee to report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee. ~ - The Study Committee SECTION 1. (b) Membership. shall be composed of 20 members as follows: (1) The Chairs of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee. (2) appointedebynthe1Speakedr ofutheuHousemofbers Representatives. ointed by (3) Five Senators and'four public members app the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The appointing authorities shall make their appointments to reflect the urban-rural diversity of the population of the State. - SECTION 1. (c) Duties of the Study Committee. The Committee may study all aspects of the Highway Trust Fund. The study shall include the examination of all the following:, (1) The current status, cost estimates, and feasibility of Highway Trust Fund projects currently listed in Article 14 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes. (2) Unanticipated problems with the structure of the Highway Trust Fund. (3) The gap between transportation funding structures and the actual transportation needs of the State. (4) Allocation issues raised by the structure of the transportation funding equity distribution formula in G.S. 136-17.2A. (5) The feasibility of altering the project eligibility requirements of the Highway Trust Fund, including permitting the Department of Transportation to add projects as long as adding those projects does not delay projects already to be funded by the Highway Trust Fund, projects scheduled under the 2002-2008 Transportation Improvement Program, and does not impair the cash-flow provisions of G.S. 136-176(al). (6) The feasibility of altering the funding allocation structure of the Highway Trust Fund, including the possible use of the Highway Trust Fund to provide the State match for available federal aid highway funds as long as using the funds in this manner does not delay projec~so ectsaschedulded underethe Highway Trust Fund, p J 2002-2008 Transportation Improvement Program, and ~ O does not impair the cash-flow provisions of G.S. 136-176(al). (7) Any other issue related to the Highway Trust Fund or transportation funding• ointin SECTION 1. (d) Vacancies. - The app g authority shall fill any vacancy on the Study Committee. SECTION 1. (e) Cochairs. - Cochairs of the Study Committee shall be the Cochairs of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee. The Study Committee shall meet upon the call of the Chairs. A quorum of the Study Committee shall be nine members. SECTION 1. (f) Expenses of Members. - Members of traveluallowanceseinsaccordancevwithrGaSem120ubsist138e5,aodr 138-6, as appropriate. SECTION l.(g) Staff. - The Legislative Services Office shall assign professional and clerical staff to the assist the Study Committee in its work. SECTION 1.(h) Consultants. - The Study Committee may hire consultants to examine specific issues and subjects related to the study, in accordance with G.S. 120-32.02. SECTION 1.(i) Meetings During Legislative Session. - The Study Committee may meet during a regular or extra session of the General Assembly. SECTION 1. (j) Meeting Location. - The Study Committee may meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations. The Legislative Services Commission shall grant adequate meeting space to the Study Committee in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. SECTION l.(k) Report. - The Committee may make interim reports, and shall make a final report to the Joint . Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee no later than November 1, 2004. Regardless of whether it has filed an interim or final report, the Committee shall terminate on November 1, 2004. SECTION 1.(1) Funding. - The Study Committee shall be funded from funds available to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, in accordance with G.S. 120-70.52. SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. rtw~~rrvr.~ Durham loop on fast track Wednesday, April 2, 2003 6:57AM EST By RAH BICKLEY, Staff Writer DURHAM -- Racing through the state legislature is a bill that could solve Durham's 30-year deadlock over a loop road that state transportation planners have pushed and local leaders and environmentalists have bitterly fought. The bill, which would establish a new route for aquarter-loop road across the northeastern part of the county, passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday and is slated for a hearing in the House Transportation Committee today. "It could be law in two weeks," said Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham, one of the county's four state representatives who are pushing an identical bill to the Senate bill that passed Tuesday, sponsored by Durham Sens. Wib Gulley and Jeanne Lucas. The Senate bill enshrines in state law a new route, called the Northern Durham Parkway, which was hammered out over months in a compromise between Durham leaders and residents and state transportation planners. The Northern Durham Parkway arcs eastward from Roxboro Road, which bisects the county north to south, turns south to cross Interstate 85 and continues down to I-540. "Boy, is that great news!" said Ellen Reckhow, chairwoman of the Durham County Board of Commissioners, when she learned of the Senate vote. Gulley's bill amounts to a list of improvements that will relieve traffic congestion in northern and eastern Durham, she said. It is to be built in seven segments, in a specific order. The first segment to be built under the compromise is the East End Connector, aone-mile segment connecting U.S. 70 to the Durham Freeway. It would provide a quick route bypassing downtown on the way from northern Durham County to Research Triangle Park and I-40, supporters say. The bill erases the old, long-resisted route called Eno Drive, which drew a semicircle around the top of the county, starting from U.S. 70 in the east and ending in Orange County in the west. The northern part of Eno Drive went close to the Eno River -- too close for the taste of the Eno's defenders in the Eno River Association, who said the road would harm the river, its tributaries, the park, wildlife and nearby neighborhoods. "I think it's the solution that's going to provide the best traffic benefit for the least environmental impact," said Don Moffitt, association president. The original Eno Drive loop road was mandated by an earlier law that decreed that Durham should have one of seven loop roads in the state. But the drawn-out fight over the state-drawn route versus other routes preferred by residents kept the issue up in the air and jeopardized the millions in state highway money that came along with it. The bill, Reckhow said, "will sign, seal and deliver the compromise and move the project forward." A© Copyright 2003, The News & Observer Publishing Company. All material found ortrianole.com (including newsobserver.com, carvnews.com, cha~elhillnews.com, smithfieldherald.com, and easternwakenews.com) is copyrighted The News & Observer Publishing Company and associated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused without explicit permission from The News & Observer Publishing Company, Raleigh, North Carolina. The News & Observer Publishing Company is owned byThe McClatchv Comoany. BACK 1 of 1 4/3/2003 3:20 PM ~a back herald Compromise to replace Eno Drive By C.D. KIRKPATRICK, The Herald-Sun Apri18, 2003 7:41 pm DURHAM --Before this week is over, the controversial Eno Drive connector could be obliterated from state law and replaced with a road that does not come near Eno State Park or the Eno River. Legislation passed the state Senate and should pass the state House this week that reflects a community compromise made with the state Department of Transportation over the route of the road. The bill would also unlock about $200 million in transportation taxes set aside for the original Eno Drive in the Highway Trust Fund, a special pot of money for road projects around the state. Opponents of the original Eno Drive -- conceived and would o low through e tabDshed neighborhoodslin was unnecessary, would damage the environment p northern Durham as it headed toward Eno State Park. Supporters of the original road, such as the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, said it was integral to Durham's future growth. Without it, traffic would worsen and businesses would not locate in Treyburn Corporate Park or other northern Durham locales, they argued. The bill describes the "Revised Northern Durham Parkway" and also includes improvements to existing roads as part of the project. Under the bill, the millions set aside just for the loop could be used for a host of projects, including upgrading U.S. 70 to afaster-moving freeway. Lori Olson, executive director of the Eno River Association, said the bill and compromise on Eno Drive protects the environment while addressing traffic needs. "I think the bill is a good thing and a wonderful step toward ending the 30-year-old controversy that is Eno Drive. We support the community compromise and feel it's the solution that provides the most protections of the environment," she said. The bill is a boon for local leaders, most of whom had fought against Eno Drive but wanted to keep the transportation money. State Rep. Paul Luebke, one of the sponsors of the bill, called the millions in the Highway Trust Fund "our money." "The bill's a big success," he said. He said the decades-old deadlock broke once all sides realized each would have to bend toward compromise. That critical moment c P rkwa puwlas re'ect dlby the N.C Deparhnent of Transportat on loop, (the ongmal Northern Durham y), J at a public hearing with more than 200 vocal Durham residents. 4/9/2003 3:20 PM 1 of 2 ~3 The state agency realized the deep and widespread disdain for the road, Luebke said. "The thing to stress is that once all the sides recognized they had to reach a compromise, things moved very quickly," he said. "The political reality is that environmentalism is extremely strong in Durham County. So, instead pushing for Eno Drive, the Chamber of Commerce focused on what they really needed, which is traffic relief coming out of Person County and Treyburn Corporate Park." The new package of roads addresses those needs, he said. The Revised Northern Durham Parkway would run from U.S. 70 at the Wake County line to Glenn School Road at Interstate 85 and then run northwest along Old Oxford Road and end on the new road just north of Snow Hill Road at Roxboro Road. Eno Drive would have run from near the airport north along U.S. 70 to I-85 at Glenn School Road and then arc west along the Eno River to Guess Road and go perhaps farther west toward Eno River State Park to the Orange County line. The compromise and consensus among the parties also hinged on Mayor Bill Bell's agreeing to a certain order of construction for some local road projects. Opponents of Eno Drive pushed for a project already on the books called the East End Connector. Southern and others said that the connector and improvements to existing roads could substitute for the loop. The connector, which had been on the books for 30 years, became a rallying cry for the opponents. The compromise with Bell states that if the Connector and the upgrade of U.S. 70 were completed first, then opponents of Eno Drive could accept the Revised Northern Durham Parkway. The connector would link U.S. 70 with the Durham Freeway, giving aloop-like effect. The link would give unimpeded access from northern and eastern Durham County to Research Triangle Park and to Orange County along the connected roads. URL for this article: http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-340051.htm1 © Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. All material on heraldsun.com is copyrighted by The Durham Herald Company and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any medium except as provided in the site's Terms of Use. back 4/9/2003 3:20 PM 2of2 ~a, d N 3m ~ i9 O ~ ~ w a+ y ~ ~N A ~ d 00 ~ G ~ ~+ Y ~ C ro ac y A '~ d y per! ~ .C ~ ~' ~ A ~ 3~~ ~/~/ O w 'y/ O ~ i.~ ^v^,, W a~ U~ .~ ~-~l ~ ^ Q P-~ V~O r c :~, 0 0 ~ T S Z ~ W m ~° L m ~ m o ~ 3 '~ C/~ ~ Vi N y ~ QO v~ S 7 ~ ~ C s.; ~q 7 OO ~ ~ cd ,C O O ~~., y ~ ~ ~, C ~9 .~ w'Q., ~ ~ ;~ ~j y ~ _ a p R~b~ ~ ~ 3 ~ G.. ~~ L C h O~ y ~ p'y'~G~ s~.L~~~ N:~~SR~ ~ L ,. ; ~~~ ~~~ ;" g ~ a r '.5E ~ 'o s ~i '~ ~ c ~~ ~~ '', yp~,~ ~p' r. > ..7 8 . ~!~' , ~ a G~ ~ ~~A O .'O ~ (s~ Ca~ 'vC ,: ~ a Apo F m ~,C~~o~~~~ w~~ ~ D~ ~~ c°j.~~ w~~ v~t•-o ~~- O.$o `~m~o0dD0~`.7~ oC cvv's~ ~ ,O O .~ ?~ 'H n .C ~ a'C F'~ ~~~^~ pp~~ c%~~ ~-pia' cp ~ .~~ ~ ~ ~r% e ~A cb O p~ ~~ Z~y ~..~v O ~ al LC .r ~ G ~ 4h ~ ~ O Er .O :. L~ G~, ~ O. .~~.~YC° ~~a~~e ooeo N N ~. ~ ,.r •~^ i..C .p ~ ,~ ~ 'C w ~ ate.. ~• ~~„ a) ~ Cep ~ ODD ~ 000 O~.r ~ O S~ F ~ F 4~ q ''~0 d yR.i ro o t O O 'y V m cd .C 'O m.d u~ may'.^~ a~ O•~ C~ O ~ ~ _ ~ ~ ~ ~ O o ~ ~ O ep1 C.~ ~'b~S`O 3 ~ ~ ~ vi o~~ ~ E ~~ ~z~~ ~ ~ O Cp C~ bQ a d~ G g F~ a~ ~ O r .ti J.+ ~ 0 r-. ~ ~ b a_.._b•po c ~ y S oa ~ a~ ' O '~ L$ O 'R'' y '.~ b '~ ~' 4 ~ J ~ ~ ~ ~ 'J ~ ~ ~ ~ Q i v 'mil ' O •S t y '.- C vi O h ~ Z ~ .~ h -~ w ~ V +O O r~.. •~ ~ ~ ~ r ..^. ~ O y u V~; C~ O N C~jyC,cC~O$~r~~ pO~w~ G -. ~ ~ W ~~~',' ~ ~ "~.. rG, Lam.. ~ 'Q ;~,~,' oaf o a~ ~~~~ y ~~ o ~~' ~ y~'~ ~ ~ 8~ a~bv ~v d u~~R ~i~c0eo.`7 e0 Las-Cl EE1~itd 80fii-Z W O V W v_ .,~ ~ _ ~N ~ hoac ~c~cc~ vi ro• ~.~-1 ,~~/~~i~ ~oyp ~Z"~,~$~'y. iyy ~' ~ fq w ~ ~ ~ a1 r~~l ., C~ C9 O FAH ~ ~ ~i:7 ~~~~'1Q~. ~~ p C~~Av~?r'FQ7cr..S~~ ~Upc9' y~~7~y'S dam' ~v' p'~~E W ~ v,t ~~(~ C R 0,., O h t O~ y ~ Aro ~ ~~ y:~-a ,~C> tl y " C C y O O ~ Q. ~ E ~. .. O .d ~ ~ p OD ~ ~ 61 b ~ r~y-~d ~~ a,o y~ any ~ «,~ .~ ~~~>yE ~.~'Gb`rE~oi~ m~-"o ...., .. .. , ' L66GZ8L6t6+ H '8 ilrupaig u~maToO-WOH3 8t~00 80,-60-b0 15 NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY RESOLUTION REGARDING LEGISLATIVE MATTERS WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly has in past years enacted special interest legislation that has had the effect of eroding the property tax base, thereby weakening local governments' ability to adequately perform their designated functions; and, WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners opposes these actions; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County that the Board hereby requests the Senator and Representatives representing Orange County take the following positions on legislation regarding the following matters: 1) Oppose Senate Bill 512, version 1, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A, and oppose all subsequent versions or other bills that seek to change the method of valuation for a motor vehicle for local property tax purposes from the current standard of its true value in money to any other standard, including the vehicles' wholesale or "trade-in" value as proposed in the bill. 1 l lv The true value of a motor vehicle in money is its market value, the same value placed on other real and personal property. 2) Oppose Senate Bill 277, version 1, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit B, and oppose all subsequent versions or other bills that seek to exempt property not wholly and exclusively owned and used for educational purposes, or, in the case of the University of North Carolina, not wholly owned by the University. Upon motion of Commissioner Commissioner this the day of 2003. I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on _, 2003 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in Minute Book No. of the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of 2003. seconded by the foregoing resolution was adopted Clerk to the Board of Commissioner 2 ~~ GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003 SENATE BILL 512 Short Title: Auto Property Tax Changes. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Rucho; Apodaca, Ballantine, Berger, Bingham, Blake, Brock, Carpenter, Carrington, Forrester, Foxx, Garwood, Hartsell, Horton, Pittenger, Smith, Tillman, and Webster. Referred to: Finance. March 24, 2003 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE A METHOD FOR VALUATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR PROPERTY TAX PURPOSES. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. G.S. 105-330.2 (b) reads as rewritten: "(b)Value; Appeal. - A classified motor vehicle shall be appraised by the assessor at its true value in money as prescribed by G.S. 105-283. The value of a motor vehicle is resumed to be its trade-in value, as set in a schedule of motor vehicle values ado ted b the De artment of Revenue, whose values do not exceed the trade-in values of motor vehicles as ublished in a reco nized automotive reference manual. The owner of a classified motor vehicle may appeal the appraised value of the vehicle in the manner provided by G.S. 105-312 (d) for appeals in the case of discovered property and may appeal the situs or taxability of the vehicle in the manner provided by G.S. 105-381. The owner of a classified motor vehicle must file an appeal of appraised value with the assessor within 30 days after the date of the tax notice prepared pursuant to G.S. 105-330.5. Notwithstanding G.S. 105-312(d), an owner who appeals the appraised value of a classified motor vehicle shall pay the tax on the vehicle when due, subject to a full or partial refund if the appeal is decided in the owner's favor." SECTION 2. This act is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2003. 4/1/2003 12:31 PM 1 of 1 18 ~~,b,~ GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003 SENATE BILL 277 Short Title: Exempt University Trust Property. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Rand; Apodaca, Dannelly, Dorsett, Garrou, Garwood, Gulley, Hagan, Hargett, Holloman, Hoyle, Jenkins, Lucas, Malone, Metcalf, Moore, Purcell, Queen, Stevens, Swindell, and Weinstein. Referred to: Finance. March 4, 2003 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY HELD BY A NONPROFIT ENTITY IN TRUST FOR A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. G.S. 105-278.4 reads as rewritten: "§ 105-278.4. Real and personal property used for educational purposes. (a)Buildings. - Buildings, the land they actually occupy, and additional land reasonably necessary for the convenient use of any such building shall be exempted from taxation if: ,~ ~Y;~„};~ (1) Owned by '' `~ ,, ~ ' ~••* • ~ either of the following: a. An educational institution. b. A nonprofit entit intrust for,_the sole benefit of a constituent or affiliated institution of The University of North Carolina or an institution as defined in G.S. 116-22. (2) The owner is not organized or operated for profit and no officer, shareholder, member, or employee of the owner or any other person is entitled to receive pecuniary profit from the owner's operations except reasonable compensation for services; (3) Of a kind commonly employed in the performance of those activities naturally and properly incident to the operation of an educational institution such as the owner; and (4) Wholly and exclusively used for educational purposes.by tl~e owner.or occupied gratuitously by another nonprofit educational institution and wholly and exclusively used by the occupant for nonprofit educational purposes. (b) Land. - Land (exclusive of improvements); and improvements other than buildings, the land actually occupied by such improvements, and additional land reasonably necessary for the convenient use of any such improvement shall be exempted from taxation if: (1) Owned by an educational institution that owns real property entitled to exemption under the provisions of subsection (a), above; 03/19/2003 http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/htm12003/bills/allversions/senate/s277v l .htrnl '~ (2) Of a kind commonly employed in the performance of those activities naturally and properly incident to the operation of an educational institution such as the owner; and (3) Wholly and exclusively used for educational purposes by the owner or occupied gratuitously by another nonprofit educational institution (as defined herein) and wholly and exclusively used by the occupant for nonprofit educational purposes. (c) Partial Exemption. - Notwithstanding the above, if exclusive-use re irements of subsections (a) and (b), part of a property that otherwise meets the requirements of one of those subsections is used for a purpose that would require exemption if the entire property were so used, the valuation of the part so used shall be exempted from taxation. (d) Public Use. - The fact that a building or facility is incidentally available to and patronized by the general public, so long as there is no material amount of business or patronage with the general public, ~~ does not defeat the exemption granted by this section. (e) Personal Property. - Personal property owned by a church, a religious body, or an educational institution ~;~••~;^^` shall be exempted from taxation if: (1) The owner is not organized or operated for profit, and no officer, shareholder, member, or employee of the owner, or any other person is entitled to receive pecuniary profit from the owner's operations except reasonable compensation for services; and (2) Used wholly and exclusively for educational purposes by the owner or held gratuitously by a church, religious body, or nonprofit educational institution ' '' `~ "'' `'""~"'"~ other than the owner, and wholly and exclusively used for nonprofit educational purposes by the possessor. deflnitiols sn-oi"r In triis (f) Definitions The followirq section: (1) Educational institution. - The term includes a university, a college a school, a seminar an academ an industrial school a ublic libra a museum and similar institutions. (2) Educational purpose - A purpose -z r that has as its objective the education or instruction of human beings; it comprehends the transmission of information and the training or development of the knowledge or skills of individual persons. The operation of a student housing facility, a student dining facility, a golf course, a tennis court, a sports arena, a similar sport property, or a similar recreational sport property for the use of students or faculty is also an educational purpose, regardless of the extent to which the property is also available to and patronized by the general public." SECTION 2. This act is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2003. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/htm12003/bills/allversions/senate/s277v1.htm1 03/19/2003 ~~5~ ~~ ~-~~~. ~.. ~ ~ a ~7 - ~ro~,~ ~~ ~~~~ ~ a o A~ § 116-22. Definitions applicable to §§ 116-19 to 116-22. As used in G.S. 116-19 through 116-22: (1) "Institution" shall mean an educational institution with a main permanent campus located in this State that is not owned or operated by the State of North Carolina or by an agency or political subdivision of the State or by any combination thereof that satisfies all of the following: a. Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools under the standards of the College Delegate Assembly of the Association or by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. b. Awards a postsecondary degree as defined in G.S. 116-15. c. Is not a seminary, Bible school, Bible college or similar religious institution. (la) "Main permanent campus" shall mean a campus owned by the institution that provides permanent or_-premises housing, food senr?-cos, and classrooms with full-time faculty members and administration that engages in postsecondary degree activity as defined in G.S. 116-15. (2) "Student" shall mean a person enrolled in and attending an institution located in the State who qualifies as a resident of North Carolina in accordance with definitions of residency that may from time to time be adopted by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina and published in the residency manual of said Board; and a person who has not received a bachelor's degree, or qualified therefor, and who is otherwise classified as an undergraduate under such regulations as the Board of. Governors of the University of North Carolina may promulgate. The enrollment figures required by G.S. 116-19 through 116-22 shall be the number of full-time equivalent students as computed under regulations prescribed by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina. Qualification for in-State tuition under G.S. 116-143.3 makes a person a "student" as defined in this subdivision. (1971, c. 744, s. 4; c. 1244, s. 5; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1034, s. 59; 1987, c. 830, s. 93(d); 2002-126, s. 9.11(a); http://www.ncga. state.nc.us/Statutes/General5tatutes/HTMLByChapter/Chapter_116.htm1 03/ 19/2003 a~ N T d lQ C d L C N d N N J d 3 C d C W ~~ O 00000000~~ooorooro~ooooo0000000000 OOOOOOOONNO00COOOr lC)(OOOOOOOCn0000o000 w+ ~ CNO a C~0 ~ ~ CD COO 0~0 lOC) ~ ~ L~ ~ I~ d' ~ ~ ~ ~ (OD ~ cN0 ~ CO ~ CNO ~ LM ~ ~ ~ 0~0 ~ w~~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ii O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O K O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O R H O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O ~ CO In ~ f~ I~ I~ CO CO ~f ~ r ~ N tl0 M r ~ M N ~ d_ O ~ N 00 ti r O f~ O p Lf') N~ O O r In ~~ r 00 L(7 M L(') ~ O~ L!') r r N I~ O~ CO O r M M L(7 r 00 ~ '~T ~ M CO ~ N ~ M O r M O CO r N O CO CO l(7 l1') O L() CO r ~ CO M r 117 ~ CO CO In ~ ~ CO ~+ (O Cf) r lf) ~ M O~ I~ M O M M r r I~ N~ O M N r lf') 0 0 f~ M In N CO O N 00 ~ ~C r fA ER fA EA d9 Ef3 ffl (!? r ~ ~ N ~ Efl E,R fF? N C!) d9 Ef? b9 ~ r r ~ ~ ~ N E!> Ef? ~' EA ~ H ~ fA Cf~ CA EA Eft E!) Ef3 ER E{3 EA Ef3 b9 b4 N O J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~o CO ~ CO t1 f~ O N O CO O I~ M O O O ~ 00 a0 ~ NCO CO CO ~ r CD ~ M DD In N O r l1~ X 0 0 CO M O O N N N O f~ r M Ln r N CD CO I~ ~~ N f~ r COO f~ Ln O N N I~ O O Cy M O N CO O 0 0 CO ~ O I~ to M~~ f~ N V' COO N O ~t M~ O O I~ ao a0 M r M r ~~ O r ~' M N I~ M CO N lA r O O r CO N r DD M N r MOM O M~~ O CO I~ ~ N !C r EA E!? E!? EA EA fA Ef3 EA r M ~ N r E~ d9 fA N Ef3 Efl EA fi? r d9 r ~ f!3 Ef? r Ef3 Ef! fh ER ~ N ~ E~ fA b9 d9 Ef? 69 d9 bR d9 ff? ER E!) H O J r O O N r H O LL 'O N .` O C O :_~ m C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 e N r N N CO CO r O O M CD O CO ~ CO M~ CO ~ M a0 O r M 00 N~~ O M M O C(~ O p CO h O f~ O 00 O r r CO CO CON CO O CO ~ r M M CO O~ OD M Cfl M I~ ~~ M CO M M M N M r O M~ f~ r In M CO a0 cf O N~ O~ ~ COO dD ~ O~ O CO O O O r aD M I~ ~, N~ r M M N CO M Lf) O O O I~ CO r C(') r O~ N r E!3 r I~ r N N~ Cfl ~ I~ ~- CO d_ {C r b9 ER EA Efl E~9 Ef3 fR d4 r M d9 r d4 d9 CA E!? ~ Ef3 EA ER ~ d4 ~ ~ Eft fA r d9 Crj ~ ~ HER Cf3 Eft ER 6R b9 fA b9 E!3 E9 bR H O J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~e CA N~ O -!') N O N N CO l1~ M r r I~ M O C~ M ~t O M CO M Cn DD C~ O O O CCU O C~ Cn ~ r~ r r In ti Ln O O M Cf~ N N f~ O O N ~t O CA ~ M N ~ ~- r 0 0~ CO ~~ I~ ~ N N COO M i~ O O Cf) l1~ CO t!7 N O~ O a0 CO M r r CO f~ CO CO CO f~ r M r r O~ N N +, O M E!? M N N O N ~ CO ~ CO ~ 1~ r ~ r Ln CO N r H9 O COO ~ N M ~ ~ ~ CO ~ f~ ~ r 69 E,R ER d9 E!? ER Ef) Efl CV ~ r E!3 Efl ffl E~9 ~ Ef3 d9 Ef3 Efl CA d9 fh b9 ER r Efl d9 N f~ fh N ~ E{3 E!> Efl d4 E!? E~ C!-? N O J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O lf) ~ lL') CO ~ 1~ f~ d~ M O ~ ~ I~ ~ to N CO O CO CD NCO r N N O O COO O O O ~ O °p ~ r M~ O l!') N f~ f~ O~ 1~ r' I~ O~~ ti Lf) lA r a0 O N E ti~ r r N M~ N N N r O I~ CO N CO ~ O COO ~~ CO O CO CON N O I~ M O M CO Lf~ f~ f~ M M I~ N N O CO N b9 N N r d' N M CD O CO r O Ef3 M r N ~ r r H? !~ tf) I~ O r N r M~ r ~f O ~ ER d9 (f} ER EA Efl E!3 EA C!) CV ffl ~ E!3 ffl b9 r fA E!-? E!3 Eft Ef? d9 CV E,9 d9 r Eft Ffl N Ef-~ N H d3 C~ ER EA C!? E~ CA H 0 J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O CO O M M M CO r CD ~~~ r M r N CO N M Cn r N O CO CO M CO O M N O O CO ~ O f~ N~ N O r 0 I~ O CA M CO N r CD N r 0 0 0~ ~ r r CO ~~ M r Op Cfl ~ M CO N O O O ~ O CO O CO CD ~ C~ CO 00 ~ P') CO CO N ~ COO ~ CO r O ~ r to O ~ M fM O O O O O CO M O O O N N~ DD O O O O ti O a0 O M ~f) O a0 O O M CO CO I~ M O ~ N~ CO r~ O O~ O O LI') ~ N M CO COO N M~ O r O r O~ CO ~ COO N 1~ I~ CO ~ M~ CON O N I~ COO N N ti~ ti M CD r O M M In O r r r~ r r I~ N~ CO N O f~ M CO ~A O E M r r O N~ M M l!'1 M O B O O O CO N~~ ~~ ~ CO O M O~ N O N r r r M r N 0 CO L!~ O Ln ~ ~- N M r CO M CD In r N O N M~ N M r r r r r r N 'D O T O i~ Y N ~ C ~ ~ C~ C ~ U~ i- C .-. N~ O C -C ~ ~ U O ~ ~ ca p ~ ~~ ~ L N ~ N ~ ~ Cp ~c ~p N ~ c ~ w y ~ o L ~^1~` ~RR }+ }+ A~ U U ~ X O O L W CV L ~ O C L ~ ~ ~ L.. V~ ~ N O O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ •L L ~ •~ •O_ ~ ~ L (0 CU - C to > C) O~ ~. 7 7 N f9 N f0 f0 (~ L L L_ O i 7 7 t0 N N 7 7 'O O QQQQQQCOOOmm00C~UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU0~0~~ W LL C) O (0 as O M O O O O N O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 f~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to 0 0 0 0 0 II~OOOtC)O~ OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOI~000~0000~~tO00OO0 ~ r r Lf) I` LI') ti O EO r O M ~ L(') I~ M l1y Ln CO L!~ N In f~ f~ M M f~ r d' CO O O O O ~ CO Cfl r f~ OD O O t10 O ti O EO f~ f~ O ~ O ~ O ~ d' t10 I~ ~ ~ CO ~ f~ ti CO O ~ ED In ED CO 00 O O ti O EO CO CO CO O O O O O O O O O O O r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O r~~ N f~ 00 ~ N~ d~ O ED O~ M O r N 0~ ED CO I~ O r (~ M I~ N r M CO I~ O O Efl CO I~ O O I~ ~ ~ EO lf~ ~ I~ M N CO o0 O O M ED 00 O ~ O ~ r ~ CO M ~ EO d0 lf) In N In ~ EO M r ~ ~ l1) In OCIU O l1~ r L(') In I~ N ti (70 I~ ~ O N N N V N O r L(1 CO O O f~ M CO O M M O N CO O O EO O O O O M r In N r O M r 0 d; O EO L(7 In r 0 'cF O r r r N~ M~ f~ lf~ N~ M I~ Lf) ~ O M N ti O N EO M ~ ~ Ef3 E!~ EFT EfT Qj Efl r EfT ~ EFT EfT Efl N EfT M ffT ~ ~ r EfT EFT ffT EfT ~ fFT EfT r r M ~ r (V E{T EfT ER EfT EFT N EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT E!? EFJ Efl EFT EF! NEl3 EFT ffT EFT EFT EFT EFT O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O ~ I~ EO I~ N M~ EO r M O 1~ O O O I~ O~~ Lf~ ~ CD r O~ O M M M r I~ L!') O r M In O O M CD 1~ N I~ EO O N EO r I~ ~ N r lf) 00 M N N O O O M CO N M O~ N r CO 00 ~' CD ~~ O CO ~ O~ EO ~ CO E70 M M M C70 Lf) O l1~ ~ M In O ti O '~ CO I~ r O tt') r r M O 00 00 CO EO O O O r N r O O O~ O O r r 00 M~ 00 N 00 ~~~ r~ M CO r Q O r M M~ Cfl (~ r M r LC) O~ '~ O N O ti r f~ O r M EFT E!3 EfT EfT ~ Efl r EF) r Efl EfT r EFT N fFT EfT r ~ EfT EFT EFT EFT ~ EFT EF) ~ s- E,.j EfT r N Efl EfT EF) EF) EF? N Efl EfT EFT Efl Ef3 Efl EF) E!? EFT r(fT EfT EF) f,9 EA EfT ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M E70 ~ N t10 O~~ O M O O O EO I~ EO O I~ ~ N N ~~ O M O M 00 ~t ~- O~ r M I~ to N M ti N I~ M O I~ CO ~ tL') O r N EO N O N O CO lf) Ln EO EO O LEA I~ ~ O In CO CC r ~ ~ O In ti l() CO N ~' M ~ Q r CO r r 00 ~ N r M M r to to r M ED V M Efl B O O L.[) ~ N lE~ N 0 ~~ d' O NON 00 tf~ O~ Op ~ r r -~ N 00 I~ r I~ N ~ M EFT L(7 M N r-' C70 d0 O M N M ~ ~ r MOM ED M N f~ r L(') EO r CO I~ N Efl M EFT E!) EFT EFT ~ Efl r: EfT r EfT EF) ~ EFT N Ef3 EFT ffT EfT EfT EFT EFT EF) ~ EfT EfT r r N ~ r r Efl EFT EF) E{T EFT r N EFT EFT FF} EFT EfT EFT r EfT ffT EF) ffT EFT EA ~ EFT d O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N o0 O CO M ~ ~ M Ln N O r O r ~ In L(') ~ ~ QO ~ ~ O CO Q> N N M In r M ~ N ~ ~- ~ ~ EO r GO E)0 ~ ~ 1~ I~ I~ ~ O EO O O ~ ~ 1~ CO O f~ r i~ r M ~ N ~ CO O N ~ O M O ~ O M O 00 00 M r ~ tt M O O M O O N r M~ N I~ EO 00 M N O N O In N O In ~ M I~ M N O O O M EO ~ Cfl N O Cfl I~ t70 r EFT Lf) N f~ CO O ED O M M EFT N N 00 r O ti ti N N N~ O r N O r N N O~ r~~ r ~~ E!T N EfT EFT Efl ~j EFT E!} Efl r Efl EFT r Efl r EFT EF) EFT Efl EF) EFJ EFT EF) N EFT E!3 EFT ~ N EFT r r EFT Efl EF) EFT EF) r Efl EfT EfT EfT Ef? ~ EfT EfT EFT EFT ffT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to O N r QO ~ O CO N N O M O I~ N d_ O r~~~ CO ~ Q to M N 0 CO r 1~ M~~ O M 00 O~~ Op t1') f~ pp Q O M CO r 00 ~ lE~ O r M ~F O I~ I~ Q O M M Cfl ~ M~ I~ ti EO N N M r O N ~ N N O O~ O ti~ t70 O O `~ O N ~ CO EO r N r O Lf~ I~ M O B M CD O O r CO O CO M O ~ M~ L(') O O CO l!') N r EA d' r In ~ f~ t? O N N EF) O N LLB 69 Ln 6n CO N r N M N r N O O W N O r r M~ r~ r EA N EfT EFT EfT ~ EFT EF) EfT Efl E!-? r EFT ~ Efl EF) EFT EA EA EfT Efl 0 Efl b9 EFT Efl ~ EfT EF} r EfT EfT EfT ffT EFT r EfT EfT EF) E!T r EFT EfT Efl EFT r O O N r ~' O LL O N L O .~ O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 l.f) I~ LI') N M r~ M O CO ~ I~ ~ r CO ~ O r l1') N O lf) M ED M CO O o0 O r N In r O CO Efl r LC) I~ M CD ~ M O~~ O O M r N r N~~ GO N M CD M I~ r O f~ O N CO O~ ti O~~ 00 ~~ r N CO CO ~' f~ In O ~' CO M O I~ r MOM r lf) I~ M r r O N~ N I~ O M ED N 00 00 N~ O M N N O~ I~ r- Op O CO Op 00 O r r l1y N N O O N~ Lf) ~ In f~ O N r h O N r 00 EA N O O In N M M N r In O (p r r O N I~ ~ ~ CO r O EO ED ~ 00 ti N ti ED O I~ d~ 00 ~ EO N 00 lf') ~ CO N ~ r N CO 00 ~ M M O CO O O O O ~ V' O ti O '~ M In N ti M M ~t f~ d' CA EO ~ M~ M O M N O~ r N O I~ ~ O~ O O r M CO CO O r Op O M O N M ~ M I~ M O O In O O N r Lf') 00 N r 1~ r I~ ~ M Q r 00 O~ 00 O~ M N M r M M ~t ~ 00 r r O N 00 M M In N ~- ~- N r r r (p Cp N ~- ~ I~ N M M p r cM r CO r C C _~ N O~ C C G) ~° H C C C O C ~ C~ ~ S C E- o -a X~ o~ -~ _ o o ~ c° 0 3 a~ ~ o ~~ 3° c°~ ° L Y _O N N> C O O O y N y y C O O N 2 p E3) _ 7 0 0 0 C N N f6 ~ O~ E~ -°c ~ Y -E3 'O U L C N C U U -a ~ ~ U~ C O to 3~ ~n ~ E vii C~~ ~ EO N i ~ i 7 N (0 N N O O >, O (d O O N N .~ f0 fU (6 U O ._ O O (p N O C~ (p f0 N N O ~t7c~c~c7c~c~===22== ~-~-~-~~~~~~~~~~~~zzzOOan.aaa~ ~3 ~oooo~o~o~ooo~ooo~o~~o~ooo M CO N r O M Cfl N O CO N r Ln ~' O f~ ~ (fl O r d In L() 00 ~ O tf) ~ 00 O CO CO CO f~ r CO CO (D Ln (p O ~ 00 lC) 00 O ~ CO CO CO (D In O O O O O O O O r O 0 0 0 0 r O 0 0 0 r 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O I~ 00 r r ~ CO M ~ r I` O In tf') r CO l1') N M ~ O ~ ~ In 00 ~ O r ~ M In CO ~' 00 00 M ~ r- O N O '~ M CO M N ~ 00 O CO In ~ 00 Ln d' r (p 00 M ~ CO I~ M ~ f0 OD O ~ O O ti O M N ~ (D O M 00 ~ CO d' M~ 00 M I~ N O r 0 0 f~ N r Ln d) O O M M M Lf~ I~ M M O N r ~r~N r NElTrEf)rd9rE9Efl Nd4C.jEAEf3fAr r ~~~ 00 d4 EA EA EA Eft d9 69 E!-? rff3 d9 ER f!) ~ 69 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O M~~ r~ r O 00 Lf) O M O d0 ~~ O M ti 00 O~ M (O O CO ~ t1 to CO ~ ~ (O l1~ (O r M ~ M ~-- O O ~ (D O to M r 00 N 00 CO f~ r l1~ ti r ti ~' N OO In O N N 00 M M r I~ r O CO 00 M O f~ CO r CO M I~ N I~ ti O O~ O O O O (O r r l1') Ef? 00 I~ CO N M I lL') r N In N M ~ r ~ N r r d4 b9 EA d9 EA ~ E!-? d4 r E!3 r., d4 ER fA ~ ~ r ~ ~ 00 ER E~9 64 EA fA EA ~ ~ EfJ ER _M ~R 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O 00 r M Ln f~ r 00 M ti~ r f0 N~~ N M r~ I~ O M Ln f~ I~ CO N M N 00 r M O~ (D Lf7 O N~~ I~ Q O M ~' ~ ti r N (fl M ~ M I~ O O O O M to O rn O O •- ~ c0 M ti O~ O N~ O~ O O O N '~ CO I~ M ti~ O~ ti to W r y EA In CO ~ N N d' M O O S r CO M f!? r ER r r r d9 fA Ef? b9 d9 EA Ef3 d4 ~ Ef3 O EA d4 to ~ ~ r d9 Eft O ~ ER E!? ER d9 Ef3 69 E!? ER Ef3 ~ N d4 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O I~ '~ N r M ~ ~ ~ N O O CO ~ M L(') 00 In I~ ti CO N O ~ CO ~ (O ~ (fl I~ M O O ti r 00 00 M a0 f~ M G M I~ ~ N N O O M~ 00 ~ Ln O O N E CO O r r 0 00 CO 00 O O I~ l1') O O M O M O N M (D O CD M r N~~ O dw (O I~ In O~ O f!-! M Efl N M M N N M r 00 00 ~ r 00 ~ r ~ r r r bF} ER ER d9 EA EA EA r d9 ~ EA E!3 d9 ~ EA E!-? EA EA ~ EA Ef3 69 d9 d9 E{3 ff? ~ O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O M O lL~ O N M r f~ (D 00 ~ M f~ r CO N (D ~-' N C O Cf 00 O M l1~ I~ r O O N r H O LL N L C O .~ ~O f~ r N 00 N d' O CO O O O (O ~f 1~ N M r (p N O l!7 O ti~~ N r In 00 ~ CO I~ M 00 (O I~ M O ~ ti O ~ M Lf~ CO (O 00 OD O CD O N M f~ r O d' r 00 r 'Cf lf') ~ l[~ M (D EA N fA O~ Cfl r r N 00 CD CO M r O 69 d4 EA ~ E!} ~ 69 69 d9 EA EA 69 d9 r E!3 ~ Efl EA b9 ER ER EA b9 d4 O lA E9 K3 b9 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O N r r 00 ~' O~~ N O O O M O O M M CD 00 CO CO d0 O Op mot' O O O O O OD O N~ I~ O O O M~ N r M 00 t!'1 O~~ ~ N CD 00 ~t r M to r~ N tt (D op o0 00 N N 1~ f~ O O O~ N~ f~ O O r O N M M 00 M (D ~~ op M CO N LO N O M N O CO r I~ O M M 00 O ~ M 00 00 I~ O r lC) 00 00 (D 00 I~ 01 I` M M 00 O M M r r f~ O M ~ CO Cfl N Oi r N M 0 0 M f~ ~ O~ r r M Op O r M O r O O M N ~ ~ N CO H M O I~ O r O r N CO M N O Cfl O O O N O O r l1') M M r O N (D Cfl OD M M N M M~ N r N O r M CO lf') O N r O r r Ln ~ L ~ L ~ C ~ ~ C C f0 ~ :-~ p O y C C~ to C (A ~+ - C C~ N fn C C ~' N Q (0 >' C U N N L C y ~ C U C N N p ~C N O O~ 'O (0 >+ Y C L L U 3~ E O C Y Z' ~~ C L O C Y s.. fA .+ Y f A -p C O ~ U > > > t ~ OF j{tA ~'" ~ d -- - CP~~ March 31, 2003 Mr. John M. Link, Jr. Orange County Manager PO Box 8181 Hillsboro, NC 27278 Dear Mr. Link: APR - 7 2003 Please find enclosed Senate Bi11277 as sponsored by Senator Tony Rand and others. This bill, if passed, will exempt property that is held by anon-profit entity in trust for a public or private university from local ad valorum taxation. Watauga County stands strongly opposed to this bill and you and your Council or Board may be as well. In Watauga County, Appalachian State University has created a foundation that entered into a partnership with a private corporation to develop a large apartment complex that is held in trust by the foundation to be turned over to the University after a period of 25 to 30 years. This arrangement allows the developer to use tax free bonds for financing as well as to claim a return on his investment in the years of operation prior to turning the property over to the University. This places an undue burden on the counties and cities in removing valuable property from the tax base and at the same time increasing the demand for locally funded services. The complex in Watauga County is located approximately 2 miles from campus and it is my understanding that the developer of this project has others, planned or completed, in other college counties and towns. Watauga County currently has denied the application for exemption for this particular piece of property. The Property Tax Commission has agreed with Watauga County. It is anticipated that the University will appeal to the Court of Appeals and possibly to the Supreme Court depending on the outcome. Watauga County's concern goes beyond this single project. If Senate Bill 277 is passed by both the House and Senate, nothing would prevent a university from building new or purchasing pre-existing apartment complexes to house their students thereby taking valuable property off of the tax base. This creates an unfair advantage in the apartment rental market and if the practice becomes widespread it may further erode local tax bases. An additional concern of the rental proprietary property market is the provision in the bill that would allow for public use of these facilities so long as there is no "material amount of business or patronage with the general public". In closing, I appreciate you sharing this information with your Board or Council and would ask that if they share Watauga County's concern that they communicate their reservations to their representatives. It appears that this bill may pass in the Senate leaving the best avenue for defeat in the House of Representatives. Thank you for your time and your strong consideration of this request. Sincerely, /~~~ Robert E. Nelson, Jr. County Manger RENjr/ajf WATAUGA COUNTY COUNTY MANAGER Courthouse, Suite 1- 842 West King Street -Boone, NC 28607 - (828) 265-8000 TDD 1-800-735-2962 -Voice 1-800-735-8262 -FAX (828) 264-3230 Enclosure ~~ NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY RESOLUTION REGARDING LEGISLATIVE MATTERS BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County that the Board hereby requests the Senator and Representatives representing Orange County take the following positions on legislation regarding the following matters: 1) Oppose House Bill 863, version 1, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A, and oppose all subsequent versions or other bills that seek to require all school systems in the State to delay (except in instances of year-round schools and "good cause" as defined in the bill) the beginning of the school year until after Labor Day; 2) Oppose any bill, any amendment, or any addition to a bill, including an appropriation bill or a bill or resolution funding the State budget, which has the effect of mandating the merger of any separate school systems within one county, a proposal which was included in a report from Governor Mike Easley's Commission to Promote Government Efficiency and Savings on State Spending; 1 a~ Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner the foregoing resolution was adopted this the day of 2003. I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on _, 2003 as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in Minute Book No. of the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of 2003. Clerk to the Board of Commissioner 2 Exhibit A a7 H GENERAL ASSEI~ffiLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003 HOUSE DRH80141-LB-130A* (3/12) ;~ou5~ a~t~ ~~3 D Short Title: Schools Start After Labor Day. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives C. Wilson and Hill (Primary Sponsors). Referred to: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL OPEN AFTER LABOR DAY EXCEPT IN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE FAMILY UNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN NORTH CAROLINA. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. G.S. 115C-84.2 (d) reads as rewritten: "(d)Opening and Closing Dates. - Local boards of education shall determine the dates of opening and closing the public schools under subdivision (a)(1) of this section. Except for vear-round schools, each local school board shall set the school calendar so that the first day students are requirea to attena school is after Labor Day. The State Board of Education may waive this requirement on a showing of good cause. For purposes of this subsection, "good cause" means that schools in that local administrative unit have been closed an average of eight days per year during any five of the last 10 years because of severe weather conditions, energy shortages, power failures, or other emergency situations. A local board may revise the scheduled closing date if necessary in order to comply with the minimum requirements for instructional days or instructional time. Different opening and closing dates may be fixed for schools in the same administrative unit. Local boards and individual schools shall give teachers at least 14 calendar days' notice before requiring a teacher to work instead of taking vacation leave on days scheduled in accordance with subdivision (4) or (5) of t~~s seetie~. subsection (a) of this section. A teacher may elect to waive this notice requirement for one or more such days." SECTION 2. This act becomes effective beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. 1 of 1 4/7/2003 3:15 PM a~ ~•~ ~~ lAr~r~ Tuesday, April 1, 2003 12:OOAM EST Businesses seek later ~ school start By TODD SILBERMAN, Staff Writer Time was, schools set their calendars to meet the needs of the farm. Now, the state's tourism industry wants schools to adjust their calendars to fit the needs of the vacation trade. Hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and other businesses that rely on tourism say they're being hurt by a decadelong trend of schools opening earlier in August every year. They're backing a bill being introduced today that would prohibit schools from opening before Labor Day. Exemptions would be granted to schools that follow year-round schedules or in those in mountain counties that need to plan for more snow days. Rep. Connie Wilson, a Republican from Charlotte and a co-sponsor of the measure, said that a later start for schools would provide a needed boost to tourist-oriented businesses. Were looking at how to create more jobs, Wilson said in an interview Monday. "There's not a person in the 'General Assembly who isn't focused on creating jobs. People in beach communities and in the mountains say that if they had the whole month of August, that could generate an additional $200 million in business." Rep. Dewey Hill, a Democrat from Lake Waccamaw whose district includes southeastern beach towns, said August is a key month for vacationers and the businesses that rely on them. "When you start school in early August, it cuts out a whole month," Hill said. But teachers, principals, school boards and other education groups are likely to oppose any effort to impose a post-Labor Day start. They say it would rob them of the flexibility they now have to set their own calendars and would squeeze schools to find the time they need for testing and teacher workdays. "It's hard already to get all the days in," said Jan Crotts, executive director of the N.C. Association of School Administrators. "It sure would make it more difficult for school systems to build calendars. It's getting more and more complicated." Should the bill pass, North Carolina would join at least three other states that already require schools to start the fall term late in August or after Labor Day. Texas legislators in 2001 passed a measure that prohibits schools from opening earlier than the week that includes Aug. 21. Virginia has had a law in place since 1986 requiring schools to resume classes after Labor Day. And legislators and education leaders in South Carolina have been debating the issue since last year. For years, school systems across North Carolina, including those in the Triangle, have set the first day of school earlier in August. Most area school systems go back this year Aug. 11. Educators point to several factors driving the trend: additional workdays inserted during the year for teachers, growing accountability pressures on schools and a push by high schools to schedule exams before winter break. Many high schools also are now following a "block" schedule similar to a college semester, with students finishing yearlong courses each term. "It would severely limit things that schools could do, especially with high schools on block schedule," said Jim Causby, superintendent of Johnston County schools. "I just don't agree with the reasoning about why it has to happen." Tourism leaders say businesses need the help. "Properties along the coast and in the mountains say that the most critical issue impacting their business is school systems' going back to school earlier and earlier," said Jim Hobbs, president of the N.C Hotel and Lodging 1 of 2 4/3/2003 3:23 PM 1 ~~ Association. "It's only a matter of time before a majority of kids are going to school at the end of July. Current school calendars also leave businesses short of summer help as teenagers return to school. "It's a problem having children to go back so early from an employment perspective," said Jim Godfrey, president of the N.C. Travel Council and a retired business leader in Kinston. He said the Kinston Indians minor-league baseball team often loses teenage workers in August. Yet education leaders worry that the calendar bill would put the needs of businesses above those of schools. "It sort of lets the school calendar become dependent on the needs of business and industry, like it did under the old agrarian calendar," said Eddie Davis, vice president of the N.C. Association of Educators. "The education of children becomes dependent on the needs of the work force." A© Copyright 2003, The News & Observer Publishing Company. All material found ortriangle.com (including newsobserver.com, carvnews.com, chaoelhillnews.com, smithfieldherald.com, and easternwakenews.com) is copyrighted The News & Observer Publishing Company and associated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused without explicit permission from The News & Observer Publishing Company, Raleigh, North Carolina. The News & Observer Publishing Company is owned byThe McClatchy Comoany. BAC K 2 of 2 4/3/2003 3:23 PM 30 Subject: FW: Proposed Bill on School Not Starting until Labor Day From: "Rep. Verla Tnsko" <Verlai@ncleg.nev Date: Thu, 3 Apr ?003 16:29:58 -OSOO lo: "Geoff Gledhill (E-mail)" <geoffreygledhill@cgandh.com% FYI. This is a strong arguement. --Original Message----- From: Brad Shackelford [mailto:Brad.Sh3ekelfordC'mail.wilson.kl2.nc.us] Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 12:08 PNi To: Rogerw@ncleg.net; Rons@ncleg.net; kussellc@nclea.net; Same@nclea.net; Stanf@ncleg.net; Stephenl@ncleg.net; Stevewo@ncleq.net; Timm@ncleg net.; Tomw@nclecl.net; Tracyw@ncleg.net; Trudiw@nclecr.net; yerlai@ncleg.netc^ Waltc@nclea.net; Wayneg@ncleg.r.et; Waynes@ncleg.net; Williamhl@ncleq.net; williamw@ncleg.net; wilmas@nclea.net Subject: Proposed Bi11 on School Not Starting until Labor Day I am a principal in Wilson County successful over the past few years has been due to the careful planni is important for students to have the semester of school before getting out past, because of the late start in the achieve. We owe it to students to give and academic success. It makes more s first. Regardless of this, T feel tha I do not support this bill. Schocls. Our school system has been very and I believe that part of our success ng of our school calendars. I believe it opportunity to complete a full for a winter/Christmas break...in the summers., this has been impossible to them this opportunity for continuity ense to me to complete the semester t it should be a local (LEA) decision. 1 of 1 0/04/2003 2:50 PM From: "Debbie Shinbara" <dshinbara@ncsba.org> To: "Leanne Winner" <Iwinner@ncsba.org> Date: 3/14/03 12:53PM Subject: Merger of School Districts There is a lot of talk in Raleigh about merging school districts so that there are only 100 in the state. NCSBA has had a long standing position opposing any such legislative action. The Governor's Efficiency Task Force is recommending this. It was brought up at the last State Board of Education meeting with the caveat that some incentive should be made available so that districts will merge on their own. They will be voting on this at the meeting the first week on April. There is also a lot of discussion in the General Assembly about doing this. If it happened it would most likely be a special provision in the budget bill. In the first two years it would save the State less than $500,000 per year but beginning in year three it would save the State approximately $13 million. What you should do if you are impacted by this 1. Contact the members of the State Board of Education prior to the meeting the first week of April 2. Contact your legislators. It is especially important for them to hear from the elected folk. Legislators that are chairmen of the Appropriations committee, the Education Appropriations sub-committee and the Education committee will have particular influence in this decision. If you wish to contact me about this please feel free to either call me 919-841-4040 or a-mail me at Iwinner@ncsba.org. Leanne W inner Director of Governmental Relations NCSBA 3a Thursday, April 3, 2003 9:15AM EST Board of education drops merger request The Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -The state Board of Education won't endorse a proposal to merge remaining city school districts with county districts. The proposal was boosted in December by a report from the Gov.'s Commission to Promote Government Efficiency and Savings on State Spending. Under the recommendation, the state would pay for just one group of school administrators per county. The recommendation would cut the number of school systems from 117 to 100. During the first day of the board's regular two-day meeting Wednesday, the board said it is preparing a report stating there is no specific funding formula that would guarantee mergers would save money. The report will also outline ways that city and county school systems already pool their resources. Board member John Tate suggested the state could reward collaborative efforts by allowing school systems to keep 50 percent of the money they save. Supporters of merger said it could save the state as much as $14 million. Some board members contended that the cost to provide federal and state-mandated programs would just be shifted to local governments. "We've squeezed enough blood out of this turnip," said State Superintendent Mike Ward. "I don't want to discourage efficiencies, but central offices have never been the bloated bureaucracies they are portrayed to be." Asheville City Schools Superintendent Robert Logan attended the meeting and said he was pleased with the outcome. He said that the Asheville and Buncombe county school systems already share transportation and services for children with disabilities. Information from: Asheville Citizen-Times I~© Copyright 2003, The News & Observer Publishing Company. All material found ortrianale.com (including newsobserver.com, carvnews.com, chaoelhillnews.com, smithfieldherald.com, and easternwakenews.com) is copyrighted The News & Observer Publishing Company and associated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused without explicit permission from The News & Observer Publishing Company, Raleigh, North Carolina. The News & Observer Publishing Company is owned byThe McClatchv Comoanv. BAC K 1 of 1 4/3/2003 3:02 PM 33 Subject: RE: special provision From: "Rep. Verla lnsko" <V'erlai@ncleg.net> Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 16:56:29 -0500 To: "Rep. Douglas Yongue" <bouglasy@neleg.net> Thanks --Original Message----- From: Kathryn Bishop (Rep. Yongue) On Behalf Of Rep. Douglas ', Yongue Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 4:56 PM To: Rep. Verla Insko Subject: RE: special provision Haven't heard that one! -.Doug --~--Original Message----- ~ From: Rep. Verla Insko Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 2:08 PM To: Rep. Douglas Yongue Subject: special provision Y have heard a rumor - 'tell me it isn't 'true - that a special provision in the education budget would require all counties with more than one LEA would be required to merge them. Representative Verla Insko ~ House District 56 i Orange County 2121 Legislative Building ', Raleigh, NC 27601-1096 phone: 919 733-7208 fax: 919 754-3185 « File: Rep. Verla Insko.vcf » 1 of 1 04/04/2003 ?:51 PM ~_ !f yti-iu don't votes it's ~~o trams ~dc~n~t ca~~t. To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu. This story was printed from The Daily Tar Heel. Site URL: http~//www.dailytarheel.com. State: Schools' merger might cut costs by Mary Mcguirt Staff Writer Apri108, 2003 As local school officials and county commissioners explore the option of merging the two area school districts, they might be affected by a decision made by the N.C. State Board of Education last week. The State Board of Education has been studying ways to reduce funding formulas for central office administrators, and merging the city and county districts across the state could reduce spending. But in a statement released Wednesday, the board said there isn't a specific formula that guarantees merging would save money. Jane Worsham, executive director of the State Board of Education, said members from the N.C. School Boards Association and the N.C. Association of School Administration suggested merging to cut down central office staff. Orange County Commissioner Moses Carey, who made a proposal in January to merge Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools with Orange County Schools, said the state's decision should not affect the decision to merge locally. "The reason I proposed a merger was not to save money but to equalize funding for the two schools," he said. Carey also said merging the two districts would improve educational opportunities for all schools in the system, especially those in the county schools. The two area school systems are not sold on the merger idea, and officials appreciate the flexibility to make their own decision. Neil Pedersen, superintendent for the CHCCS, said merging usually is suggested to help solve problems with racial imbalance, small size and economic factors, but he added that none of these problems really apply to the two districts. "I would agree that saving is not a sound reason for merging," he said. 1 of 2 4/8/2003 4:13 PM 3~ Kim Hoke, spokeswoman of the CHCCS, said the state's decision could be crucial to local school and county officials. Since Carey's proposal was made, officials have been considering merging county schools with CHCCS. "The discussion at state level may have added some additional cause to pursue discussion here locally," she said. She said the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education will meet with the Orange County commissioners next week to further discuss the merger. Before a decision about merging is made, UNC's School of Government will conduct a study to identify obstacles in linking the two systems. The commissioners will discuss the results of the study with members of both school boards. Dana Thompson, member of the Orange County Board of Education, said commissioners want to make sure they have all the information necessary to make an intellectual decision about merging. "I appreciate the commissioners tackling this issue," she said. "Their approach is the right approach to take." Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu. © 2003 DTH Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. 2 of 2 4/8/2003 4:13 PM