In this second round of questions, the order in which candidates were asked questions was reversed so that the same candidate would not always answer first.
County Commission Race, Question 2:
“Vance County is in the process of re-evaluating property values. How will the upcoming re-evaluation process and the current plans to repeat this process every eight years impact our ability to grow the economy in Vance County?”
Hughes responded first, stating that property value assessment was important for development and that zoning would have a major impact.
After a few moments of silence, Hughes reiterated that it was important to assess property values for development and to try to recruit new businesses. He said it was the best answer he could give “right now” but it was going to be one of those things he was going to “look into”.
Hester replied that the tax rate is currently $.92. He said when the tax rate is re-evaluated every eight years, then what is being reevaluated is the value of those properties. He went on to say that the county has looked at lowering that to four years.
Hester said that the growth rate is not where it should be, and said it was because there is no county-wide zoning. He said that other, zoning counties would be the worst customers of zoned counties, and property values would go down.
Brummit, Boyd’s District 4 challenger, said that re-assessment is a benchmark to assess values, but that the measuring tool is the county budget. He said that the most recent county budget was $42 million, and increase from past years of 25% without any real economic growth.
The challenger said that the cost of government needs to be lowered to “get things in line”.
Brummit said that the county cannot spend $1 million just to look at zoning. He said that the county cannot continue the cost and not get benefit.
Incumbent Commissioner Boyd responded to the question by stating that it is a matter of fairness. He said that it makes sure that property is re-assessed at market value at that time. Before the county can determine budget, they must make sure they have the money available. That comes from the reappraisal, according to Boyd.
He said that the county has an eight year cycle because it is not growning that fast.
Sheriff’s Race, Round 2:
“The Vance County Jail has experienced challenges and considerable PR and overcrowding. How will you improve the operation of the jail if you are elected?”
Democratic nominee White answered that he would look at the training and level of dedication of jailors. As for overcrowding, he said, it requires close work with the District Attorney’s office. White said that we need to ensure that the cases are processed through court as rapidly as possible, thereby reducing overcrowding at the jail.
He also said there may be some at jail who may not be able to post minimum bond. He said there may be a way to consult with the bail bond people.
He said that he believes that inmates should not be sleeping on the floor.
White said that the key is training and dedication. He said there could be 100 people on the jail staff, but if they are not trained and dedicated, there will be the same situation that there is now. He said he would also concentrate on perimeter control and increased confinement.
Hoyle responded by restating his opening that prisoners would spend more time in lockdown. He said that prisoners did not need the privledge of watching TV.
He also said that he would ask the County Commissioners to tear down the old jail. He said that no one needs to live where rodents are running around.
Hoyle stated that he would give the inmates religious opportunities.
“I think Jesus needs to be put back in the jail,” Hoyle said. The independent candidate for Sheriff said that he would work with local preachers to make sure that inmates had an opportunity for religious instruction three times a week.
Hoyle said that jailors need continuing education. He said he would work with Tony Pendergrass at Vance-Granville Community College to that end. He also said he would ask the County Commissioners for a pay raise to keep jailors in their jobs.
North Carolina District 7 Race, Round 2:
“North Carolina remains the only state in America, as mentioned during the open, that shifts the burden of Medicaid funds to county governments. Medicaid funds represent a significant portion of Vance County’s budget. How can we receive relief from the burden of Medicaid funding without negatively impacting other taxes in the county?”
Stires replied that the question has been before the state legislature for quite a long time. He said there have been complicated tax swap schemes that are not well-received across the state.
He said that a proposal by Berger was critiqued as a “far-fetched approach” by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
Stires was not specific as to the nature of the proposal.
Stires said that the easiest way is to have the state pay for it. He said it could be paid for with $1 billion dollars of excess, recurring money identified by Governor Easley. He then said counties should be held accountable for the extra money, and it should be used for things like school construction.
Berger responded that there has been no harder-working senator than he on this issue in the Senate. He said he sponsored a bill to freeze Medicaid and establish a study commission on the issue, which is, he said, what happened.
According to Berger, Vance leadership asked that the state take over Medicaid and give the county a penny sales tax for school construction. He said that the Senate developed a proposal by which a penny would be taken back from all the counties so that the state would be able to pay for Medicaid and give each county the ability to raise an additional penny tax.
He said that his opponent talked vaguely about what he would cut. Berger said that of $800 million in excess funds, it was more important to give teachers and state employees pay raises.
Listen to Panel Prepared Questions, Round 2 here.