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County considers sales tax for sewer

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Staff

By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
On Monday, the Orange County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution officially implementing the voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax in 2012.

Commissioners discussed what would be considered appropriate uses for the revenues from the tax, specifically regarding the portion to be used for economic development.

While new businesses and grants for infrastructure related to new business are included in the approved uses for economic-development funding, Commissioner Barry Jacobs noticed that what seemed to be missing was a category for existing businesses.

“Were a municipality to approachus to help fund a private sewer line for businesses, where would this fall?” Jacobs asked.

The municipality Jacobs referred to is the town of Carrboro. Last month, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen wrote to commissioners requesting their help in funding a new sewer line for businesses on the 100 block of East Main Street.

On Aug. 26, a private sewer line began to discharge sewage in a parking lot behind these businesses, and while a temporary fix was put in place, a permanent fix is necessary to keep the businesses, especially the two restaurants and bar on the block, in operation.

Commissioner Alice Gordon said that she read the list of approved activities for the funds as examples rather than as a strict list.

“We certainly made it clear we would coordinate with towns in the sales tax, but we didn’t make it clear how we would collaborate,” newly reappointed board Chair Bernadette Pelissier said, adding that the board wrote something to that effect in response to Carrboro officials.

Since the tax is not set to go into effect until April, Commissioner Valerie Foushee said she felt the time frame they had would allow for needed conversations with municipalities about the uses of the tax revenue.

Also discussed at the Monday night meeting were book-drop options for the Orange County Public Library in Hillsborough.

Residents expressed their discontent with the three options proposed to commissioners at their work session on Oct. 25.

The options presented were to either provide a drive-by book drop or a walk-up book drop at the handicapped ramp on the side of the building or to designate a book drop-only parking space.

Commissioners decided at the work session that the third of those options was the best and most cost-effective, with estimated costs of $150 to $200.

However, some residents who came out to speak were skeptical of the practicality of this option, saying it would be nearly impossible to enforce without increasing the workload of staff.

“I’m a book lover,” Peggy Murray told the commissioners Monday night. “But the situation with the parking and book drop-off has made me so angry that I rarely go.”

Murray and other residents told the commissioners that at present there is a designated five minute-only parking space in front of the library, but that it is generally occupied for upwards of 15 minutes.

Jacobs said that he would still like to pursue the option, considering it the most cost-effective and convenient, but with the condition that the commissioners revisit the issue at a later date to gather more public input.

“It may not be the most satisfactory solution,” Jacobs said, “but we tried to think of everything and couldn’t. A better solution is possible, and hopefully we will find it.”

The motion to approve the parking option with an additional review was passed unanimously.

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