At its June meeting, the Chamber's Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the proposed 1/4 cent sales tax increase in Orange County. The proposed tax will raise $2.5 million in revenue per year, with 50% going towards capital needs for schools and 50% going towards economic development.

This proposed tax is not on gas, prescription drugs, utilities or groceries and is the equivalent of a quarter on a $100 purchase. It will allow Orange County to collect revenue from visitors and commuters alike, in addition to helping minimize the continual pressure to raise property taxes.

For more information visit the county's webpage at http://www.orangecountync.gov/salestax/.

Part of the Chamber's public policy agenda is to secure public funding for economic development - here is our opportunity. The economic development portion of revenue raised will go towards funding efforts to recruit new businesses and expand existing businesses in Orange County including:

Infrastructure improvements; Business loans and grants; Targeted business recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts; and Community branding and marketing.

The Chamber's professional staff has been working with an effort to pass the 1/4 cent called the Campaign for Jobs and Schools. For more information or to get involved in the campaign, contact Kristen Smith at 919.357.9988 or at ksmith@carolinachamber.org and consider becoming a fan of the effort on Facebook at facebook.com/jobsandschools.

The Chamber asks you to vote FOR the referendum during Early Voting or on Election Day November 8th.