BC 2015 01 05 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

January 5, 2015 (Work Session) Page 2248 Mike Downs, County Manager, advised the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) have a legislative agenda they adopt every year. Prior to that adoption, they get input from the 100 counties on the state and federal levels. He stated it is the time of the year for the federal and advised the proposed list for Cabarrus County is included in the Agenda for the Boards' review. The Board reviewed and discussed the list of priorities. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded. by Commissioner Mynatt and unanimously carried, the Board suspended its Rules of Procedures in order to take action on this item due to time constraints. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Shue, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt and unanimously carried, the Board approved the list of federal legislative priorities for submission to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). The list of Cabarrus County's 2015 -2016 Proposed Federal Legislative Priorities are as follows: 1. Support legislation to restore state aid funding of public libraries to the pre -2011 level of $15.7 million and eliminate special provisions that distribute state aid outside of the equitable formula developed by the State Library Commission. - State budget reductions have targeted state discretionary programs such as the State Aid to Public Libraries, decreasing funding therein by $2.5 million since 2010. 2. Support legislative priorities outlined by the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts as follows: a. The Association supports recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency, state and local water quality programs that nonpoint source program funding seriously lags behind point source programs, and is not allocated to NC based on the attributed nonpoint source proportion of the water quality problem. 2014 b. The Association supports federal and state legislation or other action to compensate landowners, through tax benefits or other incentives, for conservation actions taken in response to federal and state regulations for wetlands, animal waste management, buffers, and other water quality related programs. 20C3 I c. The Association strongly opposes any barriers such as federal technical assistance user fees that prevent or impede conservation planning and the implementation of BMPS for landowners. 2014 d. The Association calls on all agencies and partners such as NACD to work with USDA and Congress to minimize the impacts of federal user fees resulting from the Ryan - Murray Budget Agreement. 2014 e. The Association requests that the NACD works closely with the appropriate congressional committees to re- establish general and adequate salary funding for NRCS personnel within USDA that is separate and independent from Conservation Programs that are delivered through each occurring Farm Bill. 2010 * The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners are also in support of the issues outlined on the NCACC's list of 2014 NCACC Federal Issues. DHS - Adoption Services Free Schedule Ben Rose, Human Services Director, presented the following information relating to an Adoption Services Fee Schedule for the Department of Human Services and responded to questions from the Board. Cheryl Harris, Child Welfare Program Administrator, was also in attendance. Under the authority of NCGS 48- 3- 304(x) and NCGS 48- 2- 5049(a), the Department can assess fees for specific adoption services when provided in private cases or cases outside the scope of Cabarrus DRS mandated practice. The proposed fee schedule establishes fees for both family and independent private