BC 2014 09 02 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 2, 2014 (Work Session) Page 2150 Londa Strong, Active Living and Parks Director, and Blake Kiger, Active Living and Parks Commission, Property Committee Chair, presented the following information relating to a request for matching incentive grant requests for FY 2015 and responded to questions from the Board. The Active Living and Parks Department has a Matching Incentive Grant Program that provides seed money for civic, community and school groups to construct, improve or acquire recreational and park facilities in Cabarrus County. The grant will fund up to 50% of a project. The Active Living and Parks Commission reviewed seven requests for the Matching Incentive Grant program funds totaling $66,700.00 at its June 19, 2014 meeting. The Commission recommends awarding $50,000.00 toward these community projects. Funding is included in the FY 2015 budget. BOC - NCACC Solicitation of County Legislative Goals Proposals for 2015 -16 Biennium - Tabled from August Mike Downs, County Manager, stated the following proposed list of Legislative Goals proposals was sent to all department heads. 1. Request Federal and State legislatures to stop passing on unfunded mandated programs to local governments. 2. Schools Return North Carolina Lottery revenues to the schools' operating and capital improvement budgets. Return to original allotment structure and funding levels. 3. Board of Elections - a. Allow for the creation of larger voting districts. b. Allow county to reduce amount of operational voting precincts. 4. Require /permit state administrative offices to provide "sales tax" information when requested by counties /cities for their budgeting purposes. 5. Allow local public health departments /alliances to create and collect fees for restaurant inspections. 6. Oppose collective bargaining programs for local government employees. 7. Oppose shift of NCDOT (N.C. Department of Transportation) responsibilities to the counties. 8. Support the State's Pilot Project to Benefit Local Farmers and Lower Income Households. 9. Maintain Medicaid funding at current levels. 10. Reinstate sales tax exemption for public schools. 11. Study the impact to local government finances of exempting nonprofits from the requirement of paying property taxes and review possible payment in lieu of taxes requirements. 12. Address current unfunded mandates (DSS, Schools, Jail, etc.) by providing additional funding, or additional funding sources. 13. Review the use of local government incentives in business recruitment, in particular, the practice of local governments bidding against each other for projects. 14. Change NC Rural Center's grant /loan award criteria to more closely match the USDA Rural Development aid requirements (specifically, remove the prohibition against aid to municipalities in Tier 3 counties). 15. Authorize local option revenue sources already given to any other jurisdiction. 16. Revise current tier structure for counties to become more equitable with respect to the recruitment of and expansion of jobs within North Carolina. 17. Protect Soil & Water Conservation grants and /or funding streams per the "2012 Policies, Positions & Action Items ". Mr. Downs reviewed the following proposed additions to the Cabarrus County 2015 -2016 Legislative Goals: 1. Reinstate the Asset Test to determine eligibility for the Food and Nutrition program. (Requested by Commissioner Oesterreich.) 2. Reinstate full funding for school growth based on Average Daily Membership (ADM). (Requested by Chairman Poole.) Kelly Sifford, Planning and Development Director, presented an update on the "2014 Policies, Positions and Action Items" published by the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. She requested