====== Sour & Seedy - The Musings, Sayings, and Antics of Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs ====== === September 2010 === ===== County Spends Millions More On Buckhorn Broken Field Of Dreams ===== ==== Press The Image To Hear The Voice In Commish Jacob's Head ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:fd_-ease_60s.mp3|{{:ho:ed_field_dreams.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ In most of North Carolina, when you find yourself in a hole, you stop digging. However, Orange County isn’t like the rest of the state. Here, a financial hole is simply another "Progressive valley". Pulpsters will remember over the past few years the Pulp reporting on the Buckhorn Village project. In 2008 Orange County Commishes selected their [[ph:start#developer_dream_team|Developer Dream Team]]. They threw millions in county finances to develop infrastructure for their Dream Team. Heck, they even got the Buckhorn Flea Market in trouble using the [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ps:ldp#pattern_of_official_actions_leads_up_to_buckhorn_village_deal|County Manager and his “PZI police”]]. Fast forward two years. Developer Dream Team member Roger Perry delivers the requiem for Buckhorn Village. “//[T]he Buckhorn Village project is dead, and no major retail center is likely to replace it along Buckhorn Road at Interstates 85 and 40.//” (See [[http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2010/09/15/59500/buckhorn-project-goes-bust.html|CHN Buckhorn Obit]].) Admitting defeat to the obvious, Mr. Perry notes that the Tanger Outlet Center opening just to the west across the Alamance County line renders Buckhorn Village a moot point. So what do the Commishes do? They get busy digging. Why stop throwing your money away? Perhaps they’re looking for the little blue pills that will cure Orange County’s flaccid ED problem. Having spent $2,000,000 installing public water and sewer lines to serve Gravelly Hill Middle School and the Eurosport Soccer Complex, these financial geniuses plan to spend another $2,300,000 expanding that infrastructure to the north side of I-85. "//Any activity with [the town of] Mebane will probably offer some economic development opportunity for the county. They're more geared toward it.//" Such is the genius of [[ss:bj|Commish Barry Jacobs]], This is the same person who said in April 2008 that [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ps:ed#higher_paying_tax_exempt_non-profit_public_sector_jobs_grow_while_private_sector_jobs_and_wages_languish_commish_jacobs_responds_with_pledge_of_living_wages_for_buckhorn_village_retail_workers|Buckhorn Village]] would create living wages. This is the same person who for two decades has overseen the looming ED disaster in Orange County. Of course, neither he nor any of the other Commishes have any responsibility for the problem. They simply offer more Progressive platitudes. If you build it in the middle of the Great Recession, they will come. Everybody loves a good wake. \\ \\ === March 2009 === \\ ===== Orange County Property Taxes Must Increase 12% To Be “Revenue Neutral” ===== ==== Press The Image To Hear The Commish Explanation ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/{{:ho:clinton_meaning_word_is.mp3|{{:ho:oc_tax_ball.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ In most of North Carolina, if the county commissioners said they are not increasing the real property tax rate from the previous year, then that means that the assessed value //ad valorem// rate is not changing. But Orange County is not like most of North Carolina. In Orange County property tax rates can be set to rise by 12% and yet still be declared by the [[ph:start#commish|Commishes]] as “revenue neutral”. How is that possible? Welcome to the world of linguistic nuance. As long as you are not bringing in more “Total Budgeted Revenues” in FY2009-2010 than you did in FY2008-2009, you are being “revenue neutral”. Adjusting the real property tax rate higher to be “revenue neutral” to the county, is not actually “increasing taxes”. Got it? Let’s look at the sketchy facts that have been revealed to date. The Pulp will not try to confuse you by citing tax rates based on real property reevaluations. The "86 cent" rate being tossed around by the county manager is comparing apples (raised future real property evaluations rates) to oranges (current evaluation rates). In FY 2008-2009, the OC Total Budgeted Revenues (TBR) amounted to $205,924,141. That amount includes the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Proprietary Funds, and Fiduciary Funds. Of the TBR, $128,359,609 came from real property taxes. That’s about 62% of the TBR. In order to calculate the real property tax rate for FY2008-2009, the county Budget Office looked at the assessed value for real, personal, and corporate excess property in OC. That amount is $11,940,513,287. In order to yield $128,259,741 in a General Fund Levy (close to the budgeted amount above but not exact), the //ad valorem// tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation has to be set to 0.998. That’s the OC real property tax rate for FY 2008-2009. However, the Commishes have reported two important shortfalls looming over the FY2009-2010 budget. First, there will be a shortfall of $6,300,000 in motor vehicle, public utilities and personal property taxes in the coming fiscal year. Second, there will be an additional [[ho:march_2009#orange_county_manager_quits_unexpectedly_announcing_8_700_000_shortfall_in_county_revenues|$8,700,000 shortfall]] in other funding sources such as state grants and sales tax revenues. That’s a total estimated shortfall of $15,000,000, out of a “revenue neutral” TBR of $205,924,141. [[ss:mn|Commish Mike Nelson]] declined to comment on why the public is learning about a $15,000,000 shortfall barely three months before a budget has to be passed. In order to raise that $15,000,000 shortfall, how much will the real property tax rate have to rise? According to the commish approved county budget, for each one cent rise in the //ad valorem// tax rate, the county raises an additional $1,272,224. Thus, in order to raise $15,000,000, the number of cents that need to be raised equals $15,000,000 divided by $1,272,224 or 11.79 cents. The FY2008-2009 //ad valorem tax// rate is 0.998, or otherwise referred to as 99.8 cents. If you add 11.79 cents to 99.8 cents, then the county must increase its //ad valorem// tax rate by 12%. That tax increase will the percentage of real property taxes up from 62% of TBR to over 70%. For county budget numbers see [[http://www.co.orange.nc.us/budget/documents/0809/Approved/3.Summaries.pdf| FY2008-2009 Budget]]. So a 12% //ad valorem// tax rate increase isn't really an increase, but just keeping revenues unchanged. In the words of [[ss:bj|Commish Barry Jacobs]], "//It's revenue-neutral for the county, but it doesn't mean it's going to be revenue-neutral for the citizens, I actually thought I was accomplishing something for people. Even by being revenue-neutral, the majority of people are going to have a tax increase, even though we said we didn't want a tax increase. That doesn't really address their concern adequately.//" Taxpayers are admonished by Commish Jacobs to take solace in their aging, depreciating assets. He pointed out that taxpayers they will pay lesser taxes. So the personal economic development program advocated by Commish Jacobs is to own delapidated property! Either that or be the caretaker of the property and let someone else pay for the taxes. [[ss:bp|Commish Bernadette Pelissier]] appears to be in disagreement with Commish Jacobs. She says, "//We are going to spend less, no matter what the tax rate is going to be.//” (See [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1457012.html| N&O Budget Story]].) \\ \\ === March 2009 === ===== Orange County Manager Quits Unexpectedly Announcing $8,700,000 Shortfall in County Revenues ===== ==== Press The Image To Hear The Sound Of Your Tax Dollars At Work ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/{{:ho:toilet_flush.mp3|{{:ho:oc_tax_ball.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ Orange County Manager Laura Blackmon submitted her resignation notice unexpectedly barely three months before a new fiscal year. It comes right in the middle of a budget cycle. She had taken over from Mr. Link after his retirement some almost three years ago. She had to report [[ho:november_2008#commishes_shocked_to_find_millions_missing_from_county_till_not_shocked_at_primary_election_cycle_coverup|missing county moneys]] although she wasn’t in charge when the bungling occurred. [[ph:start#commish|County commishes]] have handed Ms. Blackmon “Mission Impossible”. They don’t want to fire any county employee they irresponsibly hired as the good times rolled. (Pulpsters should remember that government has been the growth employer for the past decade in Orange County.) However, from Ms. Blackmon’s resignation statement it appears that this will require large cuts in services. According to Ms. Blackmon, “//Revaluation and neutral tax rate, however, are not the problem in and of themselves. The real problem for the coming year is most of our other revenue sources are declining, we have new facilities opening which means an increase in utilities and general operating costs, we have an increase in demands for services, especially in the human resources departments and the state is beginning to withhold revenue from us because of its budget shortfalls. Things are not looking good for the county or the two school systems, which have already been told they too will see a decrease in funds next year. The Budget Office has estimated the shortfall to be about $8 million, which will be difficult to absorb without cutting services or staff.//” More bad news comes out upon her notice of leaving. Ms. Blackmon reports that the county faces an 8% increase in medical benefits cost next calendar year. The Department of Public Works, the Information Technology Department, and the Parks and Recreation Departments all report increases in the cost of doing business. While the Health Department, the Department of Social Services, and the Emergency Services Department all report increased demand for services. Meanwhile the Commishes who are responsible for overhiring in times of plenty, despite warnings from the Pulp for years, remain firmly ensconced, enjoying their medical benefits for a part-time job "well done". __Ms Blackmon’s Resignation Statement__\\ //Dear Employees,\\ \\ By now you have probably heard I gave notice to the BOCC on Friday that my husband and I have decided to leave the area and move to Tennessee. My last day on the job will be June 30, 2009. I know the timing of this announcement is not good, but my employment agreement with the county requires I give 90 day notice and I was running out of time. By the end of June I will have been here over 2 ½ years. This is not as long as I had originally thought I would stay, but life isn't always as we plan it.\\ \\ I know you understand how difficult a year this will be for the budget. The BOCC has committed itself to a revenue neutral tax rate which means the tax rate will generate the same amount of revenue from property taxes as last year. A lot of residents are upset about the revaluation of their property, but the neutral tax rate should keep their taxes in check unless their property has increased in value above the average of all properties in the county.\\ \\ Revaluation and neutral tax rate, however, are not the problem in and of themselves. The real problem for the coming year is most of our other revenue sources are declining, we have new facilities opening which means an increase in utilities and general operating costs, we have an increase in demands for services, especially in the human resources departments and the state is beginning to withhold revenue from us because of its budget shortfalls. \\ \\ Things are not looking good for the county or the two school systems, which have already been told they too will see a decrease in funds next year. The Budget Office has estimated the shortfall to be about $8 million, which will be difficult to absorb without cutting services or staff. The BOCC has emphasized its desire NOT to reduce staff but to seek other ways of cutting expenditures. Those of you who are fully funded from outside sources such as grants, state and/or federal monies are more vulnerable than other employees because it will be hard to absorb the cost of your salary and benefits should those funding sources disappear. Nevertheless the Commissioners and Management are adamant about keeping everyone employed, so we will do our best to make sure no one loses their job. \\ \\ Having said all that, it is crucial everyone understand and support the difficult decisions being made over the next few months. You have probably already heard there will be no cost of living or merit increases for employees next year. We are also expecting about an 8% increase in the cost of medical benefits next calendar year. These costs can be contained if we work hard to stay healthy and reduce our claims for insurance. Unfortunately that is easier said than done.\\ \\ The department directors have submitted their budgets with a 10% reduction in operating line items, overtime and temporary employee expenditure requests. I am hoping this 10% cut will be enough given the shortfall we are expecting in revenues. However, some departments are actually seeing an increase in the cost of doing business (Public Works, IT, Parks and Recreation for example) or an increase in service demands (such as Health, DSS, and Emergency Services). In reality, once the final budget is approved some departments will see more cut from their budgets than other departments. I don't see how this can be avoided. Tough decisions will have to be made about whether or not we open new parks or county buildings that are now almost complete, whether we cut operating hours for libraries, the animal shelter, senior centers and other county facilities, or whether we limit the amount of services we provide for those residents in our community most in need of assistance.\\ \\ I think the bottom line will be for us to reduce, eliminate, or delay those services that are important but not as critical as our core services, which are the services the county provides because it is legally required by statute or because government is the best agency to do so. Such decisions will not be easy and we must do all we can to suggest, inform, recommend and ultimately support the Board of Commissioners who will be tasked with that responsibility.\\ \\ In closing let me just say thank you for all you do for the residents of Orange County. As public servants we have a unique responsibility to the community and I know you will continue to do the very best job you can despite the difficulties ahead.// (See notices in either the [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1434942.html| N&O]] or the [[http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1116691.cfm| Herald Sun]].) \\ \\ === January 2009 === \\ ===== Miracle At The Dump! Closure Date Extends As Non-African-American Community Sites Require "Thoughtfulness" ===== ==== Press The Image To Hear Solid Waste Faith ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/{{:ho:miracles.mp3|{{:ho:miracle_at_dump.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ Almost two years ago [[ps:start#commish|Orange County Commishes]] were told by Mr. Gayle Wilson (Orange County Solid Waste) that the county landfill was running out of space by 2010. (See the [[http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/03/29/commissioners-approve-transfer-station-for-solid-waste-at-eubanks-road-site/|Carrboro Citizen Trash Transfer Series]].) Time had run out. A decision had to be made “RIGHT NOW”, said Commishes [[ss:mc|Moses Carey]] and [[ss:mn|Mike Nelson]]. With much public hand-wringing they voted unanimously to place a county trash transfer station on Eubanks Road. Only a few stood up against the Commishes. Neither the Chapel Hill nor the Carrboro town governance boards stood up against a Eubanks Road trash transfer station. They showed their political courage by remaining mute, even though Commish Moses Carey asked them in writing for their opinion. Grassroots anti-ANY-trash transfer station groups didn’t exist. As long as the same old working class African-American Rogers Road community was being dumped on, the local media remained mute. Then the trash hit the fan. A formal complaint of environmental racism was filed against Orange County with the US Department of Justice by Rogers Road residents. The Commishes hadn’t followed federal government guidelines for locating the proposed transfer station. How rude. It was hard to keep the environmental racism garbage from clinging. Public shame was followed by political challengers having the nerve to run in local elections. They actually attempted to make the trash transfer station process an issue. The local media responded to these charges of environmental racism by waiting until AFTER those elections to pound their chest. Ensuring that only the “right people”” are elected takes progressive precedence over outing local environmental racism. The local chapter of the Sierra Club remained mute as well. One Carrboro municipal challenger walked out on their political forum to dramatize the failure of the local chapter to get involved. The chapter president declared "foul" because Rogers Road environmental racism was "//one of their issues//". The reward for these //faux// environmentalists making like a herd of ostriches was support by the local Orange Progressive political groups behind their chapter president [[ss:bp|Ms. Bernadette Pelissier]]. She was handily elected to a county commish spot in 2008 without once speaking out against the environmental racism practiced by local government. (Bootlicking remains the favored mode of progressing politically in Orange County.) Fast forward two years and consider the new found distaste of local Orange Progressives for employing what two years ago was proclaimed to be state-of-the-art, clean, attractive technology, a distaste that wasn't expressed at that meeting in 2007. Once alternative trash transfer station sites were considered, alternatives that aren’t not located near an African-American working class community, the shine came off the trash transfer station "//shinola”//. The town of Hillsborough was considered as a site. The mayor said, [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ps:er#state_of_the_art_solid_waste_trash_transfer_station_not_welcome_in_progressive_hillsborough_tourism_trumps_environmental_justice | “thanks, but no thanks”]]. Grassroots groups (such as the "not-near-my-farmette" [[http://www.orangecountyvoice.org/|Orange County Voice]]) sprung up to protest the use of a solid waste trash transfer station once it was to be moved off of Eubanks Road. Finally, on 22 January 2009, with about one year to go to closure and the political heat on, a miracle happened. The dump wouldn’t close at least for another year, not until 2011, said Mr. Wilson. Although two years ago, the Commishes “had to vote now” and build that station, miraculously the Commishes could now vote to “//examine alternatives to building a solid waste transfer station//". In the words of [[ss:bj|Commish and nearby Hillsborough resident Barry Jacobs]],"//The basic assumption that a transfer station is the best alternative may be too narrow… There's no reason to not get a good answer to a question if you have time. After a certain point, you're out of options. We're not out of time and we're not out of options.//" (See [[http://www.chapelhillnews.com/front/story/38356.html| Chapel Hill News Landfill Miracle Story]].) Now that a non-African American working class community isn’t involved there’s time for the Commishes and local Orange Progressives to be thoughtful. Time they didn’t have two years ago. Time they have now. In more words of caring from Commish Jacobs, "//We want to satisfy that we've looked at all reasonable alternatives. We want to be sure that we're taking an approach that is thoughtful and, within the realm of solid waste management, progressive. Within the philosophy of trying to reduce waste, are we making the best choices in how to dispose of waste? Those are the questions.//" (See [[http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1081173.cfm|Herald Sun Plenty Of Time Story.]]) No word on when the Vatican will send representatives to visit the landfill to witness the site of the miracle. \\ \\ === November 2008 === ===== Commishes “Shocked” to Find Millions “Missing” From County Till, Not Shocked At Primary Election Cycle Coverup ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear Commish Reaction ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/{{:ho:shocked_gambling.mp3|{{:ho:jacobs_shocked.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ Timing is everything in life. If a bureaucrat sees an impending disaster on the horizon, retirement is a good option. If a Orange County [[ph:start#commish| Commish]] sees an impending political disaster on the horizon, then delay it until few will pay attention and by the next election cycle it’s “old news”. An excellent example can be found in the latest “shocking” discovery from Orange County, where incompetence rules, and accountability is absent. It’s good to have a one political party system. Barely one week before the general election in November 2008, the Orange County finance director, Gary Humphreys announces that he has discovered that $15,500,000 is “missing” from county capital project accounts. By missing Mr. Humphreys isn’t talking about embezzlement or theft. No he’s talking about good old fashioned bungling, bad bookkeeping and accounting practices. Apparently, Orange County has booked as "sold" bond monies that have been approved, but haven’t been raised,// i.e.//, sold to the public. In the encouraging words of Mr. Humphreys, “//This is like a Chinese puzzle.//” Mr. Humphreys did not explain how $15,500,000 could be “missing” from county bank accounts without anyone noticing it isn’t earning interest or being employed elsewhere. So when did Mr. Humphreys discover the problem? One month ago? Two months ago? No. He discovered it before the primary election for county commishes. Somehow the news never was made public before current county commishes could waltz to reelection. (Pulpsters know that Orange County is a one-party [[ph:Start#palocracy| palocracy]] where the primary is THE election for local partisan elections.) Could this news have changed the election outcome? You’ll never know, as intended by those in power in Orange County. Mr. Humphreys somberly reports that all of the discrepancies showed up on the county books before 2003, before he and County Manager Laura Blackmon showed up on the job. Revenues were put in wrong accounts. Anticipated grants were not received. Costs were underestimated. These creative errors occurred under the administration of former County Manager John Link. Commish response was intense and probing, as befits a governance board made entirely of people who have never created a for profit job or handled a for profit budget. Commish [[ss:ag| Alice Gordon]] says “//This is all very mysterious the way you have explained it.//” Commish chair [[ss:bj| Barry Jacobs]] said, “//If I were asked to explain it to somebody I might be able to do it. I’m not sure I’d be right. I might be able to sound authoritative, but I’m not sure I’d be right.//” Commish [[ss:mn| Mike Nelson]], former pool chemical salesperson and //faux// environmental scientist, opines, “//Now in probably the toughest budget year we’ve had in a decade, we’re going to have to find $5,000,000 to cover these mistakes.//", conveniently ignoring that over $15,000,000 of county net worth doesn’t exist. (See the [[http://www.chapelhillnews.com/front/story/23400.html| Chapel Hill News Missing Money Story]].) No one will lose their job. No one will not receive a raise. No one will pay any price. According to your Commishes, that's just like in the real for profit world. None of the Commishes asked why the discrepancies were hidden for months during the primary election cycle. None of the Commishes asked why Mr. Link was not asked to attend the bad news presentation. None of the Commishes asked, how much more than the double digit increase should the //ad valorem// real property tax rate been raised to fund the "missing" monies? None of the Commishes commented on their decision to name the new county administration building for Mr. Link upon his retirement. Timing is everything in life. \\ \\ === October 2008 === ===== Commish Jacobs Scolds Representative Faison For Having To Fight "Rear Guard Action", Developer Pals Not Part of Local Airport Economic Engine ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear Taxpayer Reaction To Commish Disrespect ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/{{:ho:head_up.mp3|{{:ho:head_up_oc.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ In most North Carolina counties, if a local state legislator ensured that the economic development engine of a new local airport was located in their county, the local governance boards would hail a job well done. But the Pulp focuses on Orange County, where the concept of taxable economic development is more shadow than substance, and where paybacks for personal affronts trump sound governance. __Some wounds never heal.__ State House District 50 (covering northern Orange County and Caswell County) was created by local Democrats earlier in the decade in order to give part-time sports journalist, [[ph:start#developer_dream_team|developer dream team]] promoter, and [[ss:bj|Commish Barry Jacobs]] a shoe-in promotion, rewarding a long time politico who has been a stalwart promoter of local land development interests over local taxpayers. Unfortunately, the southern Orange palocracy doesn’t extend far beyond I-40. A local Democrat personal injury lawyer, Bill Faison, filed for the position along with Mr. Jacobs, without asking permission from the palocracy. Adding injury to insult, Mr. Faison won the election and has done so since that first election. His reward has been constant enmity from local media sources, except the News of Orange. If Mr. Faison says “night”, then the local politicos and their lap dogs (//aka// local media) say “day”. Since Mr. Faison’s election, what to do with the Horace Williams UNC airport in Chapel Hill has been bandied about by self-proclaimed, local [[ph:start##economic_development_or_ed|ED]] experts like a shuttlecock at a teenage garden party. Will it be closed? Will it move to RDU? Will there be a replacement airport built? A 2005 report by the airport engineering firm Talbert & Bright indicates that a general aviation airport in Orange County (as opposed to a commercial aviation airport like RDU) could generate from $40,000,000 to $53,000,000 into the local economy. However, it’s not an economic engine that can be dominated or tapped by land developers and their political minions. Moreover, Talbert & Bright report Chatham and Alamance county sites within 25 minutes of UNC Hospitals and 30 minutes or more from other airports, as well as sites in Orange County. __Costs versus rewards__ What’s the airport cost Orange County? About 90% of the cost can be covered by federal grants. To capture an ED engine, Mr. Faison amended a local airport authority bill (which created a board having eminent domain powers) to limit the authority's jurisdiction to Orange County. (Not widely reportd in the local media is the fact that Rep. Insko also sponsored the airport authority bill.) In Mr. Faison’s words, “//I was really concerned if we didn't get [the airport] tied down to the county that they would subtly sabotage the whole process. The university's been trying to figure out how to close Horace Williams for 15 years or more. What I would have hoped is that our county commission would have been advocating for the economic impact in Orange County. This is an economic engine. The county should be taking the lead, rather than sitting around grousing about it. If you can invest $50 million and get that much back on an annual basis, you'd be crazy not to do it.//" (See [[http://www.chapelhillnews.com/news/story/18562.html| Chapel Hill News Faison Airport Story]].) However, Mr. Faison isn’t talking about your average county. Property taxes in Orange County contribute the overwhelming majority of moneys (69%) towards general fund for county expenditures. In addition, in the land of the [[ph:start#non-profit|non-profit]], **over 50% of county land is either tax exempt or taxed at a reduced rate** for agriculture or timber production. Here ED is a concept for enriching your pals. The past fifteen years have been spent largely debating the evils of allowing national chains into Orange County. __Focus on the little picture__ Commish Jacobs would rather complain about how UNC officials aren’t showing enough respect to the Commishes than explain why geographically disadvantaged neighboring Alamance County has a tax rate of about 58 cents per $100 of assessed value on lower median value residences while Orange County has a tax rate of about 95 cents per $100 on higher median value residences. Typically, the higher median value county should have a lower tax rate, not a higher one. Mr. Jacobs is upset at "//already fighting a rear guard action//" on the airport location. He wants respect for local zoning regulations. Translation, with no land currently zoned for an airport outside of Horace Williams, the Commishes can control whether or not an airport gets built. As to his election nemesis, Mr. Jacobs kindly states, "//Mr. Faison speaks for himself//". No word on whether or not Mr. Jacobs realizes that he also speaks for himself. === August 2008 === \\ ===== Courageous Commishes Postpone New County Sales Tax Until 2009 Municipal Election When Voter Participation Drops ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear Commishes Explain Taxation In Orange County ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:taxman_beatles_clip.mp3|{{ho:oc_tax_ball.jpg?350x250}}]] \\ \\ County Commishes want a quarter-cent increase in the Orange County local sales tax rate right now. The extra 0.25 percent is estimated to raise an additional $1.8 million to $2.2 million for the Commishes to spend. The only problem is that in order to get the tax the state legislature requires the Commishes to get voter approval for the tax. The general election this year will be even more highly attended than May’s primary in which voters shot down the [[ps:octx|Commmishes attempt to ramrod through a local property transfer tax]] despite a costly re-education campaign. Moreover, the Commishes appear reluctant to spend another $100,000 in taxpayer money to “educate” voters on the benefits of an increased sales tax. Concidentally, some of the courageous Commishes are up for re-election. In the words of [[ss:ag|Commish Alice Gordon]], "//I think we need the revenue, and I think we need the alternative of taking pressure off the property tax. But I'm not sure we have time to do it right, and I'm not sure it would pass even if it did.//" However, [[ss:bj|Commish Barry Jacobs]] is considering the bountiful yield from this local tax versus the harvest from yet another local tax being considered, namely, a half-cent sales tax to help pay for rail, bus and road programs. That tax would bring in twice as much money. As Commish Jacobs says,"//There's just so many times you can ask the public to raise its own taxes//". \\ \\ === May 2008 === \\ ===== Orange Progressives Trip on Transfer Tax... Will Schools Be Fully Funded Without Local Transfer Tax? ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear the Commishes Educate You on the Next Local Funding Option ==== |[[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:pilot_monty_python_clip.mp3|{{ho:donkey_in_well.jpg?350x350}}]]| \\ The Orange County Commishes spent Wednesday May 7th toweling egg off their face as a record voter turnout defeated the land transfer tax option in a referendum vote of 2 to 1 against the tax. Pulp readers remember that the Commishes spent $10,000 to poll citizens. See ([[ho:february_2008#county_commishes_reveal_deep_listening_skills_ignoring_voter_poll_on_new_local_taxes| Pulp Commish Poll Story]]). That pricey poll revealed that 53% of the people polled opposed the local transfer tax. But the Commishes went forward with a $100,000 “educational” campaign to push the tax. They recruited every city school support organization (school board, PTA boards, //et cetera//) with the “promise” (a non-binding board resolution) to use the estimated $3,000,000 in local transfer tax funds for schools and parks. The implied threat was that without the tax, you can forget about full funding. The Commishes recruited political allies such as Carrboro Mayor [[ss:mkc|Mark Chilton]] to organize //Orange Citizens for Schools and Parks// to spread propaganda and not to tell the full story about the tax, how renters didn’t pay the tax and how developers such as Mayor Chilton took profits while leaving a $300,000,000 capital burden for you to pay. Despite every major Orange Progressive openly supporting the tax, it was turned down. The two thirds opposition was higher after the educational campaign than before. The $10,000 poll revealed 53% opposition with many undecided. The undecided apparently decided to oppose the tax after being educated. Even after rigging the vote to be during what many believed would be a poorly attended May 2008 primary election, as opposed to the better attended November 2008 general election, the Commishes couldn’t get their tax. Now the big question is, will the Commishes provide $3,000,000 in funding for schools and parks through raising the county property tax. If the school and park need was so great that a new tax was mandated (as Commishes and their supporters represented), does that need remain so great that they will raise property taxes? Local media-described "//newly elected//" Democratic commissioner at-large and local transfer tax advocate [[ss:bp|Bernadette Pelissier]] (running against Kevin Wolff in Novmber) showed her complete lack of financial understanding by saying "//I think the land transfer tax was put on too late in the whole process. I wish that the General Assembly had actually made it a tax more on new homes because there's a misperception that it's only for the seller to pay it, when it really can be in the closing costs and paid by the buyer.//" Amazingly, Ms. Pelissier was against a fully burdened impact fee during her election campaign and for the transfer tax. Pulpsters, unlike Ms. Pelissier, know that the transfer tax was put on the primary election at the behest of the Commishes. Pulpsters also know, unlike Ms. Pellisier, that the Commishes could have asked, but didn’t, for the option of a higher impact fee from the General Assembly. Clearly, lack of knowledge is not a barrier to being elected in Orange County, so long as the candidate makes you feel good. Showing her non-profit, tax exempt financial acumen, Ms. Pelissier says "//I'd really like the commissioners to look at increasing the impact fees, though that wouldn't solve all of the problems//." Kenan business school professors are still pondering the meaning of this statement. Developer Dream Team water carrier and Chief Commish [[ss:bj|Barry Jacobs]], speaking through a yolky beard and albumen facial mask, said, //"I'm appreciative to the people who tried to take up the ball for the notion that local government needs more funding options. And in this case we only got to arrange for this option, which had the deepest pockets available opposing it. The notion that local government should have local alternatives is still important and still needs to be pursued//." No word on the next tax to be brought to you by the Commishes. === April 2008 === ===== Higher Paying, Tax Exempt, Non-Profit, Public Sector Jobs Grow While Private Sector Jobs and Wages Languish, Commish Jacobs Responds With Pledge of Living Wages for Buckhorn Village Retail Workers ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear the Fine Public Sector State of the Economy (Not the Private Sector, Of Course)==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:we_re_in_the_money_clip.mp3|{{ho:oc_jobless.jpg?350x250}}]] \\ \\ The good news, Orange County gained 10,000 jobs in the last decade. The bad news, 70% of them where dependent upon tax exempt, non-profit, public sector workplaces such as UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals. The good news, Orange County tax-exempt public sector jobs averaged $6,000 more a year in wages than similar workers in the Triangle region. The bad news, Orange County private sector for-profit jobs averaged $10,000 a year less in wages than their regional counterparts. In the words of Mr. Charles Hayes, president and CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, a well paying tax exempt, non-profit group representing economic development interests in the Triangle, "//The question is, how long is this [economic development] model we have in Orange County sustainable?//" According to the N&O, local leaders attending a luncheon presentation by Mr. Hayes (paid for by your taxes) displayed their deep understanding of economic development. In an amazing first exhibition of economic acumen, they conceded Orange County's small private sector is heavy on the retail and service industries. Then they quickly followed that revelation with another. They conceded that people who make pizzas earn less than those who make vaccines or drugs (the legal kind). Commish Barry Jacobs is going after higher-paying jobs for Orange County. How? By driving away the Buckhorn Flea Market, assembling the Developer Dream Team, and providing water & sewer to his developer friends! (See [[ho:january_2008#pattern_of_official_actions_leads_up_to_buckhorn_village_deal|Hot Orange Developer Dream Team Story]].) Yes, Commish Jacobs is looking to a megaretail center near Mebane to create higher paying private sector for-profit jobs. According to Mr. Jacobs, the commissioners will “press the developers” to have retail tenants sign a living wage and health benefits document. No word on how proud Mr. Jacobs is of the record of Orange County retail sales tax collections growing 2.3% over the past six years, one third the growth rate of the population (7.1%). No word on how proud Mr. Jacobs is of the record of Orange County retail sales per capita, about 70% of Durham County and well below the state average. No word on how proud Mr. Jacobs is of the record of Orange County tax base which over the past six years remains at 86% residential and 14% non-residential. See [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1031685.html| N&O Job Growth Story]]. === March 2008 === ===== Commishes To Spend $ 100,000 to Educate You on Local Transfer Tax, Tax Exempt Financial Acumen Triumphs Yet Again ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear Board Discussion of Financial Oversight of Your Education==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:take_money_run_steve_miller_band_clip.mp3|{{ho:cross_that_line.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ \\ Orange County commishes voted at their 18 March 2008 meeting to spend $100,000 to educate you about a local land transfer tax they so desperately want approved in a May 6 referendum (See [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ho:february_2008#county_commishes_issue_gangsta_warning_-_pay_me_now_or_pay_me_later| Hot Orange Commish Gangsta Warning Story]].) Pulpsters remember that the commishes have already spent $10,000 on a public opinion “poll” that resulted in a petition being filed in the County Board of Elections Office. (See [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ho:march_2008#commish_poll_meets_educational_petition_advocacy_line_crossed| Hot Orange Education Advocacy Story]].) Freelance sportswriter, tax-exempt historic estate sitter, former OWASA board member, non-breeder, and Chief Commish Barry Jacobs ignored public calls not to spend $100,000, arguing that the North Carolina Association of Realtors and other unnamed and unindicted co-conspiratory anti-land transfer tax groups were spewing out “//misleading information//”. As reported by the Chapel Hill Herald, Mr. Jacobs said "//I have reservations about sending the message that we don't have money, but we [need to] spend money because we need money,//" Mr. Jacobs complained about spending tens of millions of dollars on building new local schools in recent years. However, he made no connection between the county's net negative land use residential growth policy and the mandated School Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO, see [[ph:start#SAPFO| Phictionary]]) need for such spending as a profit service for local developers. Unfortunately one county resident, Mary Copeland of Mebane, pointed out that the commishes are rushing the vote on May 6 instead of having the vote in November. None of the commishes explained to Ms. Copeland that they picked the May date because an unrepresentative vote is more likely to be achieved by the "educational" campaign in the poorly attended May primary, as opposed to the better attended November general presidential election. Faced with picking a $75,000 non-bid contract from one Orange County firm and a $100,000 non-bid contract from another Durham County firm, county staff picked the higher cost contract from Durham-based Ballen Media, just as they did in selecting a non-bid contract for the poll. See [[http://www.ballenmedia.com| Ballen Media]]. Ballen Media is led by Mr. Dwayne Ballen, an award winning telejournalist, who has announced and hosted sports telecasts, in general, for The Golf Channel, TNT’s NBA coverage and Fox Sport Net, and college football and basketball, in particular, on CBS Sports, all of particular interest to Mr. Jacobs, a sportswriter. Its clients include Duke University Health System, iEntertainment Network of Cary, MPGN Gaming Technologies, also of Cary, Iamgame, also of Cary, NC Health & Wellness Trust Fund, and the Autism Society of North Carolina. Its projects include, “Atlantic Coast Conversations”, “The Bible and the Badge”, “The Color of Business”, “Sports Biz”, and “Strawberry Plains Forever”. No word on from where in the county budget the $100,000 is coming. No word on Developer Dream Team (see[[ph:start#developer_dream_team| Phictionary]]) reaction to commish cheerleading. No word from any municipal offical or politician on how SAPFO has mandated public school building to match residential development. See [[http://www.heraldsun.com/orange/10-934678.cfm|CHH Political Education Story]]. === March 2008 === ===== Commish Poll Meets Educational Petition, Advocacy Line Crossed? ===== ==== Press the Image to Hear Petition Highlights ==== [[http://squeezethepulp.com/w/_media/ho:rich_n_akon_cross_that_line_clip.mp3|{{ho:cross_that_line.jpg?350x350}}]] \\ Michael Griffin of Hillsborough filed a petition with the Orange County Board of Elections on 5 March 2008. Mr. Griffin is not happy with the Commishes using taxpayer moneys to have a poll conducted that he believes was more about advocacy (illegal) than education (legal). (Pulp readership is apparently on the rise.) Recently, the commishes played footloose and fancy with a poll on the local option sales tax and local option transfer tax. (See [[ho:february_2008#commishes_get_free_pass_on_ignoring_voter_sentiment_as_local_media_rolls_with_it|Hot Orange Commish Poll Story #1]] and [[ho:february_2008#and_the_survey_says..._county_commissioners_need_more_taxes_for_new_digs| Hot Orange Commish Poll Story #2]]|.) As reported in the N&O, the petition states “//An examination of the poll and its questions reveals that it is calculated to be used as a tool for advocacy by the Orange County Board of Commissioners for the passage of the land transfer tax. … In particular, the poll seeks an identification of likely voters' objections to the land transfer tax, while it does not seek to identify any reasons why likely voters support the measure.//" Although Pulp observers have heard Commish Barry Jacobs asking for the local option transfer tax for years, apparently simultaneously he has remained undecided on his vote for a referendum for such a tax. Mr. Jacobs is quoted at saying "//Since we honestly hadn't decided what we were going to do, and that's why we had the poll, I don't see how someone could assume that it was an advocacy tool.//" No word on whether or not Commish Jacobs is scheduled for a pinocchio rhinoplasty procedure at UNC hospital. No word on whether or not new furnishings will be arriving at the county attorney's beach abode due to petition. In related business news, share of Kraft Foods, makers of the Kool-Aid brand, rose significantly in heavy trading. See [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/984903.html| N&O Poll Petition Story]]. === February 2008 === ===== County Commissioners Blame Their Victims, Rogers Road Residents Responsible for Not Being Able to Take Eubanks Road Site Off the Table ===== {{ho:bocc_wo_shame.jpg?375x350}}\\ \\ Showing the tender mercies of their sense of justice, the Orange County commissioners blamed Rogers Road residents for not being able to take the Eubanks Road site off the table from the second trash transfer station search. Developer Dream Team solicitor, flea market bane, and dirty dancer Barry Jacobs smugly declares "//As long as it's there, we're not going to discuss in public our position. We're just going to listen and continue with our discussions.//" Hiding behind “advice of pliable counsel”, the shame-challenged commissioners don’t offer any explanation as to why a federal administrative complaint would prevent them from following the move of the city of Greensboro in taking the Eubanks site off the table. The unsinkable Ms. Neloa Jones, a Council for Ending Environmental Racism (CEER) co-chair is quoted as saying “//This is just something else for them to say//", calling the commissioners’ move "//a bunch of [d@#%].//" UPDATE: Ms. Jones denies using such an expression and has asked for a retraction from the N&O. (In a classic local media marginalizing move, the N&O reporter, Samuel Spies, conveniently failed to give Ms. Jones her full CEER title, labeling her simply a trash transfer station “opponent” and falling just short of applying the label “NIMBY”.)\\ \\ No word from the local Sierra Club on the single most important environmental issue in Orange County. \\ \\ No word from Ms. Pelissier, Sierra Club President and future commissioner candidate, on the acceptance of a Carrboro candidate’s offer in the last municipal election to call a Sierra Club meeting focused on this issue.\\ \\ No word from former Orange Democratic Party President Barry Katz and staunch Jacobs apologist on the morality and justice of this blame-the-victim move.\\ \\ See [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/926600.html|N&O Shameless Commissioners Story]]. See [[http://www.dailytarheel.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&uStory_id=ea38e399-0418-4850-a834-a834fcb649b8| Daily Tar Heel Version]]. === February 2008 === ===== And the Survey Says... County Commissioners Need More Taxes for New Digs ===== {{ho:family_feud_more_taxes.jpg?375x300}}\\ \\ A pet project of Buckhorn Village Developer Dream Team solicitor, freelance sportswriter, tax-exempt historical estate sitter, and County Commissioner Barry Jacobs comes one step closer to fruition tonight, taxing those who move to Orange County just to “use our schools”. See [[http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/080205.html| BOCC Agenda]]. County Commissioners will vote on conducting a telephone poll of 400 (out of 90,000) voters at the cost of about $10,000. The survey results will be presented to the public just before the commissioners’ ballot referendum deadline meeting of 19 February 2008, allowing little time for the gathering and presentation of contravening information. The survey introduction informs the interviewee that they are being asked question “on behalf of the Orange County government”, but their answers will be held in strict confidence. (There is no suggestion of having any form of “blinded answer” survey.) See [[http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/0802054l.pdf|BOCC Voter Survey]]. The survey questions holds out the promise that if either the proposed local sales tax or local transfer tax is increased, property taxes **could** be “below what they would be otherwise”, sounding to some as if taxes will be reduced. Mr. Jacobs is reported to say that the commissioners will only present the local transfer tax option (although they could present a local sales tax option as well). Over in Durham County, Commissioner Chair Reckhow is quoted as saying "//The economy is very bad right now. The housing market is faring poorly due to the subprime mortgage debacle. There is concern about going into a recession. We don't feel the timing is very good to be asking voters for either a land transfer tax or added sales tax.//" No word from Mr. Jacobs on how a home-owning family sending children through public schools for between 12 years and 20 years is a deficit user of Orange County resources more than the perpetual transient flow of renting degree seekers in southern Orange. See [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/921307.html|N&O Transfer Tax Story]]. === February 2008 === ===== Solid Waste Election Day Shuffle, or Dirty Dancing on Eubanks Road ===== {{ho:dirty_dancing_jacobs.jpg?350x500}}\\ \\ Showing the famous political dance steps that make local progressivism a moral //force majeure//, Orange County Solid Waste (OCSW) bulked up its land needs at a BOCC meeting conveniently held for citizens at 5:30 PM on 29 January 2008. County commissioners didn’t say “yes” and didn’t say ”no” to OCSW’s request for a larger “dance floor”. Just as they wouldn’t take the Eubanks Road site off the OCSW search table, failing to mirror the smooth moves of the city of Greensboro in responding to its environmental injustice solid waste concerns. Less than six months ago, the BOCC had to find only 10 to 15 acres for a trash transfer station when they decided to dump on the Eubanks Road community again. Fed up, local residents decided to file a complaint for environmental injustice with the EPA against the Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro governments. Now, the commissioners’ staff needs a whole lot more land, including 5 to 10 acres for a materials recovery facility, 60 to 100 acres for a permanent storm debris, organics, and land clearing operation, and 3 to 5 acres for a parking/crew facility. That means that OCSW needs about 80 to 130 acres, or about as much land as may be available around the present county lands at Eubanks. Despite requests from attending Coalition to End Environmental Racism (CEER) members, the BOCC indicated by its actions that Rogers Road environmental injustice concerns are just like any other community specific criteria, a less than sympathetic or conciliatory response to CEER’s formal charges of environmentally unjust conduct by all southern Orange governments. The BOCC further showed its collective opinion as to the environmental injustice complaint by doing its own dirty dancing. Any decision to pull Eubanks off the table (if it’s entertained at all) will not be until May 20th, a date falling serendipitously two weeks after the May 6th Democratic party primary election for county commissioners, the //de facto// election for commissioners in Orange County. \\ \\ The intrepid Ms. Neloa Jones, CEER co-chair, delivered the following remarks to the solid waste shuffle:\\ \\ “//My name is Neloa Barbee Jones, and I am speaking on behalf of the Rogers-Eubanks Community and as Co-Chair of the Coalition to End Environmental Racism (CEER). My comments relate specifically to the site search criteria established thus far.\\ \\ In mid-November, when CEER presented to you, we pointed to TWO points of especial importance:\\ \\ 1) __Establishing a site search advisory panel (or committee) __\\ \\ As recommended by BOTH the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (NEJAC) and the EPA in their Waste Transfer Stations: A Manual for Decision-Making, establishing a site search advisory panel is absolutely essential to ensuring meaningful participation from the residents of Orange County and residents of the Rogers-Eubanks Community.\\ \\ Furthermore, this panel should be comprised of not just local and state elected officials, but also representatives from environmental justice organizations from relevant civic groups, from adjacent neighborhoods, and from concerned community groups; from businesses and solid waste industries, and from academic institutions AS WELL AS technical consultants such as the Olver firm, who advised you in the first flawed site search.\\ \\ According to BOTH NEJAC and the EPA, this diverse panel is FIRST educated on site search issues and it is THIS panel that develops the initial set of site search criteria. Already evidenced by the materials thus far developed, having Olver alone, a technical consultant who lacks expertise to serve in diverse capacities, the present site search criteria thus presented is clearly and already flawed again.\\ \\ 2) __Meaningful participation of the public and the application of community-specific criteria__\\ \\ For some inexplicable reason, the process outlined in your flow chart does not include public input OR apply community-specific criteria until very late in the site search process. Public input should begin immediately after the above site search advisory panel develops the initial set of criteria. Community specific criteria should be applied much earlier in the process. The flow chart shows that community specific criteria is not applied until after four (4) sites have been finalized. Developing site search criteria for a waste transfer station site in this manner violates EPA recommendations. For these reasons, we view this current process as already and clearly flawed again.\\ \\ The NEJAC EPA site search steps listed in Figure 1, Exhibit 1 (below) merely represent a COMPRESSED version of the process and were intended merely as an outline. We assumed that you along with a site search advisory panel would do the work that each step demands. We are disappointed that this has not been done because what this means is that the process once again will at best yield flawed results. So at this point, we implore this board to establish an appropriate advisory panel to begin developing legitimate criteria as soon as possible.\\ \\ Figure 1 Exhibit 1: Steps in Implementing an Area-wide Facility Selection Process//”\\ {{ho:epa_process_figure_1.jpg|}} \\ For a more BOCC friendly view, see [[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/911852.html |N&O Trash Story]].