POLITICS
Commissioner Candidates Question 1: Orange County has one of the highest tax rates in the state. High tax rates make it difficult for lower-income families to afford to live here and discourage businesses from locating here. Specifically, how would you hold down the tax rate in the future? Mark Dorosin: Orange County taxes reflect the community’s demand for a broad range of high quality public services. As a commissioner, I’ve stressed that the tax burden undermines our efforts to maintain affordability and increases the already stark income disparities in the county. In response, the board has been successful at minimizing tax increases and in securing new economic development to expand and diversify the tax base. Because many of our funding options and burdens are controlled by the state, we must also work to secure additional funding from the legislature. There are some things we can do to further improve the budget process. In light of our limited resources, we need to more comprehensively determine and focus on our most critical needs and reexamine non-critical ones. During my tenure, we have been successful in limiting tax increases (only one from 2012-2018). However, additional taxes will likely be necessary to pay off the school and housing bond, although my hope is that those will be limited by our enhanced economic development. Those efforts must continue. In addition, we must adopt policies that will increase the supply of various housing opportunities in our community. We must develop policies to encourage smaller lot, multifamily developments (e.g., duplexes, triplexes, accessory units), tiny house, and mixed use developments in all residential zones. Such efforts can help reduce residential racial and economic segregation. I also believe that the county has been overly conservative in its fund balance reserve. Amy Fowler: Affordable housing is a critical issue in Orange County. While we need to increase the amount of affordable housing, we must not rely on increasing taxes to provide such housing, as that just makes Orange County unaffordable for many who already live here. Instead, I would focus on increasing economic development in Orange County to expand the tax base. I would also continue tax mitigation for the elderly and low income whose property taxes are becoming unaffordable. Plans are already under consideration to develop more affordable housing on the Greene tract, which is land already owned collaboratively by local governments. Using public lands that are already owned should help hold down the cost of development and would not be a new cost for Orange County. Partnering with nonprofits like DHIC and CASA that leverage federal tax credits and other nonprofits like Habitat will be essential. Regarding keeping tax rates low to attract new businesses, Orange County already offers a competitive tax incentive package with requirements for numbers hired and average wages which I would continue to support. I would also consider adding incentives for businesses that build environmentally friendly buildings. We also should be careful to court businesses that do not strain the water supply or pollute the environment which would then lead to greater expenses for current residents to bear. Jean Hamilton: Orange County high tax rates are a reflection of the level of services our residents want us to provide and the fact that we are overly dependent on residential property taxes to fund those services. It will take strategic planning, time, and some investment to diversify our tax base and increase revenue from commercial sources that align with our values of providing good jobs and protecting the environment. In the meantime, the commissioners should look to limit tax increases by evaluating county spending priorities and make sure funding is put to the best use. The commission must also evaluate past projects like light rail that have failed because of poor governance and unrealistic assessment of costs and benefits, and insure that such failures do not happen again in the future. Mark Marcoplos: So much depends upon flipping the State Legislature in the upcoming election. The Republicans have systematically siphoned money to their cronies in the form of tax breaks, money that should be used for the public good. Orange County is a microcosm of North Carolina in terms of income inequality and poverty in the midst of wealth. The most difficult decisions that a Commissioner makes are how to balance funding essential needs while minimizing harmful consequences of higher taxes. Currently we are in the second year of a three-year period where we need to raise taxes to cover the $120 million of school maintenance and construction costs that residents voted for in 2016. We may consider an additional tax increase to further address school repair and maintenance issues. Our schools will benefit greatly from this necessary spending, yet it does put pressure on low-income property owners. In the end, it is the job of the County Commissioners to look out for the needs of all the residents of the County and there are no simple solutions. The strong economic development future described below will provide more and more tax revenue which will greatly help to hold down the tax rate. Renée Price: The income disparity among the people of Orange County is very real; property taxes are unfairly burdensome for some of our residents, while for others, the tax rate is fine…and they would accept an increase to cover new costs. For the sake of those households with limited incomes, I would suggest the board of county commissioners exercise a few options with respect to the tax rate in the future: Penny Rich: In 2019, I was fortunate enough to work with our Economic Development Team to recruit two major companies, ABB and Medline, to the Buckhorn Economic Development District (EDD), bringing over $100 million investment to Orange County and the promise of 650 jobs over the next five years. In addition, healthcare technology company WELL, located in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street, will invest $5 million dollars and create 400 jobs in downtown. I understand how important it is to continue to bring new job opportunities to Orange County, diversify our tax base, and reduce the tax burden on residents. 2019 was a banner year and I look forward to what 2020 will bring.
Commissioner Candidates Question 2: Many Orange County residents must commute to Durham and Raleigh for high paying jobs. What specific steps would you take to promote private sector employment that pays well enough to enable workers to afford the cost of living in Orange County? Mark Dorosin: Economic development is vital to maintain affordability, reduce income disparities, diversify the tax base, and create new jobs. It has been a focus of the BOCC for several years, and as a result of infrastructure planning and recruitment in our economic development districts, and improved collaboration with the towns, we are beginning to realize the fruits of those efforts. Medline and ABB are bringing new tax dollars and jobs to the county, and Well and Wegmans will do the same in Chapel Hill. The BOCC should continue that recruitment, as well as our successful efforts to support local businesses and entrepreneurs by expanding our small business loan and grant programs; providing more training, resources, and technical assistance to local businesses in navigating our regulatory and planning processes; and enhancing outreach to minority and women owned businesses. While we should continue to recruit and support private employers that pay a living wage (and make that a condition any recruitment incentives) we must also look at enhancing support for public sector employees. In addition to ensuring that all local employees earn a living wage, we should also consider policies to incentivize housing opportunities for public employees, many of whom cannot afford to live in the community they serve. Amy Fowler: Jean Hamilton: The first step would be to work with the county economic development department to see what initiatives are in the pipeline and learn what are the barriers to well paying private sector employment growth. The second step is to look at those barriers and identify the ones that are directly under the control of the county. Third step would be to see if county funds should be reallocated to address those barriers and where changes in regulations, processes, or training are needed. For example, do we need to work with Durham Tech to expand training for high paying skills. Fourth step would to identify barriers that are not directly controlled by the county and advocate and/or partner with the appropriate entities; e.g., investors, the state, the university, or town. Next steps would be to develop and implement the plan for increasing well paying private sector employment, monitor the results, and make changes if necessary. Mark Marcoplos: When I served on the Economic Development Commission in the late 90’s, the Economic Development Districts had been created but there was neither a strong commitment to helping businesses locate in the County or to install water and sewer in those zones. In 2011, Orange County voters approved the Article 46 One-Quarter Cent Sales Tax. Half of the funds have been going to school facility improvements and technology procurement and the other half has gone toward economic development prominently including infrastructure installation. We are now reaping the benefits of those investments and a renewed commitment to economic development. In the previous year, we have negotiated commitments for over $100 million dollars that will be invested in the Buckhorn EDD, bringing 650 living wage jobs over the next 5 years. Additionally, the County worked with Chapel Hill to locate WELL, a health care company, on West Franklin St. which will create more than 200 jobs. Additionally, the County has spawned many successful local food businesses through the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center and helped many local businesses through it’s Small Business Loan Program. Personally, I was one of the original steering committee members of Orange County Living Wage. Now there are over 200 living wage businesses certified in the county. Before I was elected in 2016, I worked with county staff to certify Orange County as a Living Wage Employer. The county has since shown leadership by continually raising wages above the local living wage threshold. Renée Price: In recent years, Orange County staff, with support from the BOCC, has made remarkable progress in attracting, retaining and expanding private sector businesses that pay living wage jobs with benefits. Looking forward, I would Penny Rich: As County Commissioner I will continue to support economic development opportunities in Orange County, including:Supporting our local businesses with Article 46 tax dollar grants; Supporting and encouraging start-up companies like Innovate Carolina, LaUNCh, WEpower and 1789 to create and keep business in Orange County; Supporting the Orange County Visitors Bureau – Visitors have a huge economic impact in Orange County, generating over 200 million dollars annually and sustaining over 1900 jobs in the travel and tourism industry; Supporting programs at Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus to help train residents for our newly located company workforce; and Supporting education opportunities in our high schools for skilled labor programs. By supporting economic development opportunities of all types and sizes across the County, I will continue to move us toward a vibrant and thriving future, with employment opportunities right here in Orange County.
Commissioner Candidates Question 3: Our schools are aging and we are seeing roof leaks, mold and other infrastructure problems. How would you make sure school maintenance is adequately funded and that needed repairs are completed? Mark Dorosin: As Board Chair, I worked to create a more transparent and collaborative school budget approval process. It is critical that we continue to improve that process, and for the school boards and the commissioners to work together to balance prioritizing our most urgent needs and the responsible use of our resources. Collectively, we did a good job setting those priorities for the last school bond; we have not done as well with the ongoing facility needs. Both the BOCC and the school boards have some agency in this matter. Because the BOCC’s role is limited to funding, we depend on the school boards to make the difficult but necessary assessments of what are the most urgent needs and which can be delayed. The BOCC and the school boards should also work more closely to provide ongoing budget review and feedback, to ensure that identified projects are being completed in a timely manner. Accountability would also be improved through a more specifically targeted and prioritized plan. Working together and effectively prioritizing our most urgent capital needs is a necessary first step. We must also work together to push aggressively for additional funds from the legislature, since we cannot make up all lost state support with local funds. It is also vital that we recognize that that universal student success depends not only on funding for schools, but also on ensuring equal access to affordable housing, well-paying jobs, transit, and clean water. We must also address the impacts on students and families outside our school facilities. Amy Fowler: Whereas the state is responsible for funding school operations and school districts are responsible for providing instruction and school operations, funding for school construction and maintenance is the sole responsibility of the county. The school systems create and present continuing maintenance and capital investment plans yearly to the Board of County Commissioners. Currently, the BOCC gives a set amount of funding and requires the school systems to make do with their allotment and prioritize what to repair. Instead, BOCC should be funding school maintenance according to actual need. There are industry standards for maintenance of buildings based on expected life-time of HVACs, roofs, etc that should, along with boots on the ground inspections of needed repairs, be dictating funding of maintenance and repairs. Each year that the schools delay repairs, there is a domino effect of additional needed repairs. In addition, the school systems collectively have $260 Million dollars of unfunded major renovations. This list of needs was created prior to 2014. Each year delayed, the cost of construction has increased between 6-15% per year. As a county commissioner, I would encourage the board and county administration to create a plan for addressing both school system’s renovation and reconstruction needs. Given the amount, we will need debt funding. Given the county debt load, that will not be possible until 2024. However, the BOCC could and should increase funding now for the ongoing maintenance to help prevent the need to add new school buildings to the major renovation list. Jean Hamilton: I believe in prioritizing the funding of safe school buildings in Orange County. Conservative estimates show that are about $260 million of unfunded facility needs in the two school systems. Health and safety should be addressed first, which means prioritizing work on buildings with mold or other air quality issues, that are not ADA compliant, and that need critical security and safety features. Other issues to be addressed include upgrading HVAC systems and replacing old playground equipment. Finally, we need funding to renovate or replace our older buildings including better energy efficient lighting, new roofs, and space for newer buses as outlined in the 9/29/15 and earlier presentations to the Orange County Commissioners. I would advocate for a review of all the funding mechanisms for school facilities. I would look to reallocate Article 46 county sales and use tax to allocate more than 50% to the schools, determining the percentage based on the needs of the schools (based on data such as square footage, usage, age, and condition). In determining the allocation, I would also review the results of our economic development strategies. In addition, I would look at the amount of revenue generated from Article 42 sales tax and if the current 60% formula share meets the needs of the schools. In addition, I suggest we use some of the ¼ cent climate tax for school facility improvements that would reduce our carbon footprint at the same time. We should continue to use all lottery funds and any state funding sources. Finally, we should ask the General Assembly to reinstate the authority of Orange County to levy impact fees on new construction to help pay for the expansion of school facilities. I will advocate for a schools facility plan that sets funding for ten years including estimates from bond funding. To make sure that needed repairs are done, I would ask the school districts to report on the implementation of the plan at collaboration meetings between the commissioners and both school boards. Mark Marcoplos: The process begins with school board and staff prioritization. Difficult decisions need to be made. A new program that many parents or staff desire needs to be weighed against repair needs. Their budget request is then presented to the county. The staffs collaborate in a process that considers the school priorities and financial resources. We are fortunate here that we share a strong commitment to education and are #1 in funding per student in the state despite being #13 in tax revenue per student. Dare is #2 in funding and #1 in tax resources available. The state rescinded impact fees. Local money has also been allocated to school operational needs that the state is underfunding. We do need to address the repairs and maintenance. I am open to considering a tax increase this year for that. It’s never easy since a lot of low-income people could suffer with new taxes. Renée Price: While the County provides approximately fifty percent [50%] of its tax revenue to the two school systems, the school boards and administrations currently determine the use of that funding, inclusive of maintenance, repairs and security concerns. I would suggest that, going forward, the two school systems and the County collaborate in prioritizing, budgeting and scheduling improvements to school facilities and campuses. Funds are limited and the needed improvements may very well equate to further tax increases or another bond. All of us, together, have a responsibility to assure that all the children in Orange County have safe and decent learning environments. Penny Rich: I am concerned, as are all elected officials and parents, about issues related to the maintenance of our aging schools. As we continue to collaborate with our school board partners, it is my intention to continue to press for systematic reporting on various maintenance and repair issues and expedite, where possible, completion of necessary repairs.
Commissioner Candidate Bios The same ideals and optimism that inspires my work as a lawyer also drives my other engagement in the community. For 10 years, we owned a nightclub in downtown Chapel Hill and provided employees with a living wage and free health insurance. We made the bar a safe and inclusive space, and I am humbled whenever one of the old regulars tells me that the bar created a welcoming community for them at an important time in their lives. That experience is a reminder of the critical role that small businesses play in our community and on our broader quality of life. I have spent time sharing that background with and helping mentor other local business owners. I also worked at Self-Help, assisting and advising predominantly minority small business owners across the state. I still believe in the importance of education and our responsibility for “passing it on” to the next generation. I spent several years teaching history at Alamance Community College, and at Duke and UNC law schools. It has been especially rewarding to see former students or interns becoming engaged community members and leaders. I’ve also been honored to work with local nonprofits, speak on panels, and collaborate with grassroots groups dedicated to racial and social justice. I’ve served on the BOCC since 2012, and served as Vice Chair in 2016 and Chair in 2017-2018. For over twelve years, Dr. Fowler has been heavily invested in improving local education. She has served as a member of the NAACP’s education committee and served as leader of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) from 2015-17. In 2017, she was elected to the CHCCS Board of Education. She is currently the Board’s vice chair and has served in a variety of other roles, including: Dr. Fowler is also engaged in the community in other capacities, including as leader of the Orange-Chatham chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina. During the five years she was in residency, she lived in Hillsborough and attended Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. For the past 16 years, she has attended and volunteered at Blacknall Presbyterian. She is a member of the Sierra Club. Dr. Fowler is married to Dr. Vance Fowler, a physician-scientist, who is a member of a Century Farm Family and is still involved in running the family farm in Cumberland County. Together, they have three wonderful, unique children and a dog. Jean was appointed to serve on the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education in 2019 and 2010-2011, and was elected from 2005-2009. She served on the Board of Directors of Women AdvaNCe for four years and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Arts Center in Carrboro. Also, Jean is a member of the NAACP, a volunteer in local Democratic politics, and a regular participant in the Triangle Insight Meditation Community. She is married with two adult sons who graduated from Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. He was appointed by the County Commissioners to a variety of boards and committees beginning in the late 90’s including the Economic Development Commission, OWASA, the Planning Board, and the Orange County Housing Authority. Since his election in 2016 he has been heavily involved in transportation planning, solid waste management, working with the Family Success Alliance to reduce the achievement gap and inter-generational poverty, and been a local and regional leader on climate change.
Mark Dorosin Bio: An abiding commitment to civil rights, racial equality, and social justice has been the prime motivating factor in life. I became a high school civics teacher because I believed that the most meaningful way to give back to community and create social change was through engaging young people. But after witnessing firsthand the institutional discrimination in schools and the limited impact I could have in the classroom, I resolved to go to law school. In 1994 I became a civil rights lawyer and have dedicated my career to addressing racial and economic justice. My work included employment discrimination, fair housing, environmental justice, and equal access to public services. I’ve spent much of the past decade focused on education-related advocacy across the state. This work has included anti-segregation efforts, litigation on ending discriminatory discipline, school policing, anti-privatization efforts, and redistricting. I am proud to be one of the lawyers in the long-running Leandro case that seeks to ensure sufficient funding for all schools statewide to be able to provide a constitutionally adequate education.
Amy Fowler Bio: A lifelong North Carolinian, Amy Fowler, MD, MPH, was born in Winston-Salem and attended the NC School of Science & Math in Durham. She studied biomedical engineering at DukeUniversity and earned her M.D. and a Master’s of Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill, completing residencies in pediatrics and preventive medicine. She currently works as a pediatrician at the Chapel Hill Children’s Clinic in Southern Village.
Jean Hamilton Bio: Jean Hamilton is a LCSW who has a private psychotherapy and counseling practice in Chapel Hill, has taught mindfulness meditation classes, and has worked part-time at the UNCG student counseling center. She received a MSW from UNC Chapel Hill in 2010. Before becoming a social worker, Jean received a PhD in Economics from UC Berkeley and worked as an assistant professor of economics at Occidental College in California. She also worked as a public health researcher on issues facing young children in North Carolina and California.
Mark Marcoplos Bio: Mark Marcoplos has lived here for forty-six years. He runs a small residential green building company. He lives with his wife, Wanda Sundermann (a leader and practitioner in the healthy birth community), in their home that has been slowly vacated over the years by sons Lucas, Dakota, and Riley. He spent decades involved in environmental activism, defending rural Orange communities from landfills and airports, and working with Orange County Living Wage.
Renée Price Bio: Commissioner Renée Price has devoted her life to community and economic development, natural resource conservation, civil rights, women’s equality, and justice for all. Her professional background is in city and regional planning, with a focus on environmental planning and design, and she has worked in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Elected to the Board of County Commissioners in Orange County, NC in 2012 and reelected in 2016, Renée serves on various local, state and national boards and policy steering committees.
Penny Rich Bio: Penny owns her own personal chef and catering company. She teaches cooking and healthy eating to children and works with local chefs testing recipes and developing menus. She was raised in New York City, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art at Pratt Institute and a Masters of Arts in Communication Technology at New York University. She lived in Ft. Lauderdale and New Orleans before moving to Chapel Hill with her family in 1998. She now lives in Carrboro. Penny has two sons, Mikko who graduated Appalachian State class of 2016. He is now working on his MPH at George Washington University and teaches young children how to move and live an active lifestyle. Brody is a senior at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro studying film and communications. He will graduate spring 2020. Penny’s mother, Jacky Rich resides with the family.
Please note how many seats are open to be voted on in each of the races.
Please note that the number of seats available for each position is listed on the right side of the home page under “Orange County Candidate Filings.”