Frank W. Clifton Jr.
Nov. 2, Orange County voters have an opportunity to express their opinion on whether to enact a one-quarter percent local-option sales and use tax.
If the tax is approved by voters, revenues it generates will be dedicated for the next five years to education, economic development, library services and emergency medical services. At the end of that five year period, the county commissioners will evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts and consider how best to obligate these revenues going forward. In order to track the use of these funds, a separate budgeting process is being developed that will provide a specific accounting of the receipt and use of funds received.
These are difficult economic times for everyone in Orange County. Over the years, we have been insulated from dramatic variances in our local economy. This is no longer true. We live in a great region of North Carolina. However, we are part of a global economy and subject to a variety of issues and realities beyond our local control.
While education remains a top priority in Orange County, economic development and creation of meaningful private-sector employment opportunities along with diversifying the county’s tax base are paramount. If we are to maintain a sustainable, balanced local economy strong enough to support valued human services along with two great school systems at desired levels, new financial commitments are required.
Library services are an important quality-of-life issue. Famed author Alex Haley was credited with saying, “You can gauge the character of a community by its public libraries.†Chapel Hill and Orange County have great libraries. Extending those services within Orange County so other residents may benefit is the challenge.
Emergency medical services (ambulance and emergency responders) may only be a concern if you need them. At that point, they are vital. Orange County is working to improve this service and ambulance response times. Partnering with the towns’ fire and police departments, the sheriff’s office and local volunteer firefighters’ efforts are being pursued to improve response times, but improved equipment and manpower are essential to that effort.
During these most difficult economic times, an argument can be made to delay these needs and tighten the county’s budget. This fiscal year, we have done just that.
There are fewer county employees today than one year ago. Almost every county department and service saw either a reduction in staffing, a reduced budget funding level or a reduction in service levels provided, or a combination of all three.
County employees are doing a great job responding to public need, but reductions are being felt by residents who are used to a higher level of service in prior years.
Projections for the next few years do not assume that funding will grow to any significant extent. In simple terms, Orange County government staffing and services will continue at existing levels or be reduced to balance budgets. The fact is that economic-development efforts must go forward if there is to be a more diversified tax base other than residential properties to support future public services.
Educational funding is going to face further reductions as the N.C. General Assembly deals with major shortfalls to the state budget. Library services and emergency medical response times are not going to improve without new resources and these services must compete with human-service needs within the county budget process.
On Nov. 2, Orange County voters have an opportunity to express their opinion on whether to enact a one-quarter cent sales and use tax. The outcome of that vote can help develop a broader property tax base, provide improved technology within older schools, enhance emergency response times and improve library services for county residents.
The decision will rest with those individuals who vote in this local referendum.
If you do vote, you must vote on this specific issue, which is listed near the end of the ballot, to have your vote counted.
If you vote a straight-party ticket, you must also vote on this item separately if you want your vote counted.
Your vote is important. Regardless of outcome, the referendum does impact everyone in Orange County in some manner. Be an essential part of the decision process. VOTE!
Frank Clifton is the county manager for Orange County.
Frank is correct on the problem but an increase in the sales tax is the wrong answer. The right answer was the property transfer tax.
In May 2008, Real Estate Interests and Property Developers defeated that effort in a self-serving campaign.
Despite the real needs for local government services, we should not choose a regressive tax to support a progressive community. The reality is that Orange County has stong property values and relatively weak sales tax base. The sales tax is the wrong answer for Orange County. And just as the “Education Lottery” is proving to be just another source of revenue, no real permanent promises can be made about how a sales tax increase will be spent.
Bert Zellmer
Resident of Carrboro