Why doesn't the county attract more commercial development to reduce the burden on personal property owners?

Orange County is continually looking for projects that will bring better jobs to the county as well as increase the commercial property tax base. In recent years, the county has landed investments like the Morinaga plant in Mebane and the Wegmans Market coming to Chapel Hill in 2020. These projects will increase the commercial property tax base and, in the case of Wegmans, will bring in more local sales tax revenues.

Unfortunately, it would take dozens of similar projects to increase the commercial property tax base enough to realize an overall reduction in the property tax rate. The county and towns' commitment to preserving the rural nature of the county through the Rural Buffer and other programs limits how much commercial development can be brought into Orange County.

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1. How does the county budget process work?
2. What is the relationship between the BOCC and school budgets?
3. How much influence does the Board of Commissioners wield with school budgets?
4. What are property tax rates in Orange County?
5. How will you spend revenue from the 1/4 cent increase for climate change?
6. Instead of climate change, why doesn't the Board do more to eliminate poverty?
7. What role do the commissioners play in the budget?
8. Why doesn't the county attract more commercial development to reduce the burden on personal property owners?
9. Can the public get involved?