Minutes 04-05-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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� But the itch to raise this '/4-cent tax seems to be a symptom of the hard-to-cure malady of more spending that is unwise because voters said no to the tax last year. Clearly, County residents were saying they already felt burdened with taxes in a poor economy when a majority voted no on the '/4-cent tax. Most of the County tax burden falls on the backs of residents, who were paying 86.4% of taxes as stated in an Orange County Economic Development Commission Five Year Plan for 2004-2009. Then property values fell in the last two years, as mine fell on my Chapel Hill house that lost $30,000 of its $200,000 market value. Why, then, are the Commissioners asking again to raise this tax, and why this year, when putting it on the ballot will cost more? It is rumored the cost will be $80,000 to open all precincts when voters will only turn out in large numbers for mayoral races in Chapel Hill and Carrboro precincts. Those Chapel Hill and Carrboro voters are the most likely to again say yes to the '/4- cent tax, as they voted yes last year to spend their share of 45% of the tax revenue for capital improvements on their already posh-looking school buildings. Again, one asks why raise the tax now, to spend 45% of the revenue for economic development and infrastructure improvements, when business and commercial development clearly are not moving to the county to help pay the tax. Indeed, this county allows less business development than surrounding counties and less than the state, where high taxes ranked North Carolina a low 41St among all states and low among neighboring states for doing business according to a 2011 study of the Tax Fondation. So I don't' see why you want to raise this tax now, when in my opinion the revenue will fall short of the hoped-for$2 million yearly revenue, because the majority of voters said no to more sales tax that comes straight out of their pockets at the moment of most purchases. People might look for better prices outside the county. Indeed, people who feel unfairly taxed might leave the state. As the 2010 census showed, people have been moving from high tax states in the northeast for sunnier climates with lower taxes." George Barrett said that he lives in Orange County. For 31 years, he has operated a company that does business in Orange County and surrounding counties. He understands what an increase will do. He said that it may seem like a small amount but collectively it is large. He said that this money will be taken from the shop owners and the entrepreneurs that have tightened their belts and are living within their own means. He said that it is time for Orange County to do the same. Daniel Ashley read a prepared statement. "I have been a resident of Orange County for over 35 years. Five short months ago the voters said no to this tax increase. Even though 1/4 percent tax increase will not be a tax on food, which will remain at 2%. There is one tax that no one wants to talk about. It's known as the Hidden Tax, better known as inflation and this is why this is not the time to raise taxes. This year food prices have seen the largest increase in 35 years. How about ground beef up 12% this year. Tomatoes are up 15% this year. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, yes, but it's up 10% from last year. Lettuce is up 9%. Yes, this is inflation. Our overall food prices are up here in the United States by 3%. Such foods as meat, poultry, fish, and eggs have risen 6.8% since last March 2010. And with 4% of U. S. food imports coming from Japan it's more than likely that our food exports are likely to increase due to the disaster in Japan. Anyone can find this information at the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and see for themselves that inflation is here. It's in our food prices, it's in our drive to and from the grocery store. Our cupboards are no fuller than they were a couple of years ago, but our wallets are closer to the side of empty as we load our groceries in the car. That extra quarter per$100 that you want from someone