Title
Vote on a request to identify legislative goals to submit to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) for consideration at the Legislative Goals Conference in November 2022.
Abstract
The NCACC requests counties submit their top legislative goals for 2023-2024 by September 12, 2022.
The Board of Commissioners needs to discuss the current goals of the NCACC, its own local goals, and possible new goals to submit for consideration at the Legislative Goals Conference.
The NCACC approved Five Priority Goals for 2021-2022:
1. Seek legislation, funding, and other efforts to expand digital infrastructure/broadband capability to the unserved and under-served areas and residents of the state.
2. Seek additional revenue sources, including a statewide bond referendum and expanded lottery proceeds, and changes to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, to equitably address statewide public school and community college capital challenges. Revisions to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund that will allow more equitable access to counties to take advantage of the funds include:
a. Allowing Needs-Based Public School Capital Funds to be used for renovations and improvements in addition to new construction.
b. Reducing or eliminating local match requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties.
c. Eliminate the five-year prohibition of receiving funds from the Public School Building Capital Fund if a county receives a grant from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund by repealing G.S. 115C-546.2(f).
3. Support legislation to allow counties to include specific language on the ballot referendum designating how the proposed quarter-cent local sales tax levy will be spent.
4. Increase state funding and support legislation for behavioral health services and facilities, including dedicated resources for community paramedicine projects; inpatient crisis beds; substance use disorders; specialty courts; individuals with mental health issues in county jails; and single stream funding for area authorities.
5. Oppose efforts to divert to the state, fees or taxes currently allocated to the counties or to erode existing county revenue streams with unfunded mandates.
At the May 4, 2022 Legislative Breakfast, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners discussed the following legislative goals with Chatham County’s local legislative delegation:
1. Support NC Public School Construction and Renovation
2. Remove Rural Broadband Barriers
3. Redefine or Replace Economic Development Tiers
4. Protect the Property Tax Base from Further Erosions & Exclusions
5. Improve Water Quality in the State
6. Protect Local Control of Planning, Permitting, and Inspection Functions
7. Clarify Sales Tax County Assignment
8. Increase Funding for Home & Community Care Block Grant
9. Increase Funding for Senior Center General Purpose Funds
10. Increase State Funding for Adult Protective & Guardianship Services
11. Assure Adequate Funding for Public Transportation, Including that for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
12. Support the Creation of State Housing Tax Credit
13. Develop Legislation that Provides Local Government Authority to Facilitate the Creation, Preservation, and Support of Affordable Housing Within Development Agreements as Defined in G.S. 160D-1001 and G.S. 160D-1006
Staff suggests a new goal for consideration asking the Legislature to clarify whether remote attendance by members of a public body is allowed when there is not a declared North Carolina State of Emergency.