Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/550628
Thanks to great support from our legislative delegation, two of the local bills that Council requested have passed. Holly Brook Annexation Bill This was ratified on June 15 and became effective on June 30. Town services began on July 1 and the related utility projects are under way. A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for July 27. Authority for Council to delegate unneeded easements This was ratified on June 18 and is effective immediately. Staff will bring forward a staff report and resolution for Council consideration to put this into effect. Legislative Update This was signed on June 19. While this version is much better than what was introduced a few years ago, it will still affect some aspects of the Town's LDO. S25 Zoning/Aesthetic Control H201 Zoning Changes/Citizen Input This eliminates protest petitions. It passed the House and Senate but has to go back to the House for concurrence because of a change in the effective date. LDO changes will also be required to implement this change. In other areas, the General Assembly continues to be unfriendly to the interests of municipalities. A provision in the Senate's budget proposal would change the distribution of sales tax revenues that would significantly reduce revenues for the Town. Thanks to Senator Barringer, the proposal is currently structured so that the effects are phased in over several years. Fortunately, House members (and the governor) have been very cool to this redistribution proposal. Sales Tax Redistribution There have been no proposals to provide options for municipal revenues to replace the repeal of the privilege tax. Privilege Tax Revenue Alternatives Differences between the House and Senate budget proposals reflect large differences in policy and approach as well as spending levels. Since an agreement on the budget was not reached in time to be in place for the new fiscal year, a continuing resolution that funds state government through August 14 was passed, giving them several weeks to negotiate a compromise. At the federal level, thanks go to Representative Renee Ellmers who signed up to cosponsor the Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015. This bill would close the online sales tax loophole, leveling the playing field between online and our "brick and mortar" businesses. This bill would not create a new tax but would create a federal mechanism for states to enforce their existing sales tax laws thereby providing states and local governments with the resources they are owed. According to the NC League of Municipalities, more than $200 million in sales taxes from online purchases goes uncollected in North Carolina; about $65 million of that is local government revenue. A similar bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015, was introduced in the U.S. Senate. FYI: State News FYI: Federal News Town of Cary Insurance Rating Jumps to Best in the Triangle! After a three-month review, the Town's rating jumped from a Class 3 to a Class 1 ranking, and as a result, many businesses can expect a lower insurance premium. This achievement was the result of a coordinated effort among Town departments, which including assessing water supply and distribution systems; fire emergency operations, training, planning, prevention and equipment; and 911 Communication Center operations.