August 14, 2007 - 6:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

10 375 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners August 14 , 2007 Special Meeting The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special session Tuesday , August 14 , 2007 at 6 00 pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Cookie Pope , Chairman , Wade M Stewart , Vice Chairman , Allen L Mims , Jr , Jeffrey P Carver , W Ray Woodall , DeVan Barbour , and Tony Braswell Absent None Also Present Rick J Hester , County Manager , Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the Board , J Mark Payne , County Attorney , John R Massey , County Finance Officer , and Deva C Holt , Deputy Clerk Chairman Cookie Pope called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm Commissioner Tony Braswell led those in attendance in the pledge of allegiance to the American flag Commissioner W Ray Woodall opened the meeting with a prayer The following business was transacted 1 Possible County Tax Advisory Referenda At the request of Chairman Cookie Pope , County Manager Rick Hester stated the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of conducting an advisory referendum in November for the purpose of determining citizen input on either a land transfer tax on all real property sales in Johnston County or a one - quarter cent county sales and use tax in Johnston County Mr Hester noted at the September Board meeting , the Blue Ribbon Committee will be presenting their findings to the Commissioners Mr Hester stated he did want to note to the Board , one of the many recommendations of the Committee , is for the Board to provide an opportunity for the citizens to vote on the two tax provisions Commissioner DeVan Barbour questioned if the Blue Ribbon Committee had specified whether the vote should be held as part of the November ballot or some other time Mr Hester reported he was unsure of a specific time the Committee had recommended , but he reiterated the Committee felt the citizens should be allowed to vote on the issue Commissioner Tony Braswell inquired about the deadline in order to place the items on the November ballot Mr Hester reported the deadline to allow for printing times would be August 17 , 2007 Chairman Pope called on Board of Elections Director Leigh Anne Price to comment on the cost of the election Ms Price reported the November 2007 election was a municipal election and if the County chose to put the questions on the ballot , then it would be a shared cost between the County and the towns Ms Price estimated the County’s share of the election would be approximately 42,000 Commissioner Jeffrey P Carver asked about the cost of the bond referendum in May 2007 and if the County would save money by adding these items to the November ballot Ms Price reported the cost for the May 2007 bond referendum was approximately 72,000 and the County would indeed save money by adding this to the November ballot Mr Hester reminded the Board that if the Commissioners choose to put both tax provisions on the ballot , and both pass by a vote of the citizens , then the Commissioners would only be allowed to implement one tax Commissioner Carver noted the time to discuss the implementation of the tax would come at a later date , and that this meeting was about giving the citizens the opportunity to vote Motion Commissioner Jeffrey P Carver moved the Board adopt the resolution to direct the Johnston County Board of Elections to conduct an advisory referendum on the November 2007 ballot for the purpose of determining citizen input on either a land transfer tax on all real property sales in Johnston County or a one - quarter cent county sales and use tax in Johnston County Commissioner Tony Braswell seconded the motion Page376 August 14 , 2007 – 6 00 pm Continued Further Discussion Commissioner DeVan Barbour stated he would not stand in the way of the voters having a say in the matter and would vote to approve putting both the tax provisions on the ballot in November However , Commissioner Barbour noted he felt the County was in good financial shape and did not need the additional money at this time ; therefore he would vote against the taxes in the November election Commissioner Carver noted Commissioner Barbour made a fair statement and there was no question about the financial stability of the County Commissioner Carver stated if the tax provisions passed in the November election , but the County did not need the additional revenue , then the Board would not implement the tax Commissioner Tony Braswell stated there would be plenty of time to debate the implementation of the tax at a later date Mr Hester reported he had received a few calls regarding the implementation of the tax , if it is passed by the voters in November Mr Hester reiterated that if the tax provisions pass in the election , the Board does not have to implement the tax There being no further comments , Chairman Pope asked for a vote of the Board on the motion by Commissioner Carver , seconded by Commissioner Braswell Vote The motion to adopt a resolution to direct the Johnston County Board of Elections to conduct an advisory referendum on the November 2007 ballot for the purpose of determining citizen input on either a land transfer tax on all real property sales in Johnston County or a one - quarter cent county sales and use tax in Johnston County carried by the following vote Ayes Commissioners Allen L Mims , Jr , W Ray Woodall , Jeffrey P Carver , DeVan Barbour , and Tony Braswell Nays Commissioners Cookie Pope and Wade M Stewart RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON COLLECTING EITHER A LAND TRANSFER TAX OR A ONE - QUARTER CENT COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX IN JOHNSTON COUNTY WHEREAS , pursuant to NCGS § 105 - 601 and NCGS § 105 - 537 the Board of Commissioners of Johnston County do hereby direct the Johnston County Board of Elections to conduct an advisory referendum for the purpose of determining citizen input on either a land transfer tax on all real property sales in Johnston County or a one - quarter cent county sales and use tax in Johnston County ; and WHEREAS , the Board of Commissioners has agreed to instruct the Johnston County Board of Elections to place the following questions on the election ballot for the next scheduled election in November of 2007 ; The questions on the ballot shall be Authorizing the County to levy a local land transfer tax on instruments conveying interest in real property in the County , at a rate of up to four - tenths percent 04 of value or consideration ____ FOR ____ AGAINST Authorizing the County to levy a local sales and use tax at the rate of one - quarter percent 025 in addition to all other State and local sales and use taxes ____ FOR ____ AGAINST THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Johnston County Board of Elections will hold a referendum on the next scheduled election date being November 6 , 2007 on the collection of either a land transfer tax on all real property sales in Johnston County or a one - quarter cent county sales and use tax in Johnston County th This the 14 day of August , 2007Page377 August 14 , 2007 – 6 00 pm Continued There being no further business , Commissioner Jeffrey P Carver moved the Board adjourn Commissioner W Ray Woodall seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 6 08 pm ____________________________ Cookie Pope , Chairman Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the BoardPage