Agenda - 02-17-1998 - 9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 21, 1998 (LEGISLATOR) In Re: Tax Reform Dear (LEGISLATOR): 4 CATAWBA COUNTY P.O. Box 389. 100-A South West Boulevard - Newton, North Carolina 28658 -0389 - Telephone (704) 465 -8200 http: / /www. co. Catawba nc.us FAX (704) 465 -8392 Catawba County is facing tremendous challenges due to a growing and changing population. It has become obvious through a year of careful research and study that the needs of our community are out pacing the resources available. We are experiencing a surge of demands on our local school system, community college, criminal justice, emergency services, and public utilities, just to name a few, with no end in sight. Given this reality, the County is forced to take action and request your help. A$er a painstaking evaluation of the options which included merging the three school systems, the Board has determined the best solution to this challenge is to seek authority from the State for a reform of the local system of taxation. By actin on the attached Resolution, we seek authority to levy an additional one -cent sales tax to provide the resources necessary to face the needs of the present and future in Catawba County. Lf your answer is no, I must advise you that we will be forced to continue to place the burden of paying for schools, jails, ambulances, and the like on the backs of homeowners and local businesses through increased property taxes. Currently, this segment of our community is carrying over 700/6 of the local tax burden. With the additional sales tax, we could reduce this burden to a mote equitable 60% and even forego the scheduled 1999 property tax increase scheduled for school bonds. If you choose to igome this problem and the solutions we seek, the citizens of Catawba County simply will suffer greater tau inequity. The sales tax will give businesses and homeowners a break and not hold private property as collateral for public facilities. It will capture the participation of commuters and illegal immigrants in paying for services they are helping to create the need for. A pay -as- you -go sales tax puts the power of taxation in the hands of every consumer. Everyone will have a stake with the purchasing decisions they make --one penny at a time. Elderly folks will be less at risk of losing their lifelong investments in their homes each year at tax time. A one -cent local option sales tax for Catawba County is a concept which time has come. Please give us the means to meet the mandates of school facilities, jails, courtrooms, and the like. Without reform of the local tax system, the inequities will only grow and the needs will continue to be unmet and the quality of life in Catawba County- - something we are all proud of—will deteriorate. None of us want it to be said of us as elected officials that we presided over this deterioration, but it is up to you to act. The Commissioners cannot enact this reform without your help. The 130,000 citizens of Catawba County await your response. Very truly yours, Robert E. Hibbitts, Chairman —atawba County Board of Commissioners amn PC: Catawba County Board of Commissioners .. p�to