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__~;';01t:"2,E::r,:,,~;::: n~ August 1999 Homeowner Incentives to Stimulate Mitigation, Another feature of Blue Sky Phase] was to market homeowner incencives to stimulate adoption of mitigation techniques, The premise, according to a ]ocal banker, is that if practices known as "Blue Sky techniques" are totally discretionary, homebuyers may not be willing to pay the expense of strengthening their homes, at least while the value of mitigation is not widely recognized,32 Blue Sky Phase I advanced a dual approach to financial incentives, For home builders and homeowners who use Blue Sky techniques, short-term financial relief options under consideration include: . \",aivers or reductions of building permit fees; \\'aivers of increases in property taxes prompted by improvements; . fee and interest rate breaks on bank loans; and . \vaivers of insurance deductibles for hurricane-related damage. One long-term financial incentive under consideration is based on the expectation that insurance companies will begin to differentiate between strengthened and unprotected buildings, Variable insurance premium rates and deductible amounts can reward responsible homeowners and pass the appropriate financial burden to homeowners who have not strengthened their homes, To reflect anticipated reduction in demands on public services, certain taxes could be reduced or waived, Blue Sky Foundation - Plwse II, Phase I] started in the fall of ] 998 with the establishment of the B]ue Sky Foundation of North Carolina [no., a non-profit, charitable and educational foundation, Its goal is to work in the public interest to provide information, education, and training that, in turn, promotes safer construc- tion, wise land use, hazard mitigation, and sustainable development for all commu- nities in North Carolina, The Board of Directors of the B]ue Sky foundation is comprised of representatives from the following organizations: loca] government, state government, the insur- ance industry, the N.C. Association of Floodplain Managers, and homebui]ders, The interdisciplinary, public-private structure will enable the foundation to expand its activities across the state in a long-term effort to foster sustainable communities, The foundation has developed a plan with six strategies: . public information and education, . mitigation incentives, . community land use and sustainable development. . ne1,.V building construction, retrofit of existing structures, and . community preparedness. The Foundation: A PlatjormJor Sustainable Development. The Blue Sky Foun- dation will build on the initiatives of its predecessor organization, but will differ in several important respects, The foundation will: