|
This is Joe Daughtery, sending you information
on the upcoming vote to increase your sales tax. I have
never ducked the tough issues and this is no exception.
Seems no one wants to speak about the negatives of
imposing additional taxes on the average working family.
I agree
that a sales tax provides a fairer method to pay for
services. I think we need to realize that once a tax is
imposed, it stays and always increases. Lets review some
history of local taxes.
In 2005, our current commissioners went on record
stating that by voting to increase your 911 tax from 85
cents to $1.85 (118% increase) per month, the revenue
would pay to keep the county's communication system
current for the next 15 years. This fee now
generates approximately $1 Million per year which is
more than enough to pay for the improvements.
See
the News-Argus Story here.
Even the Goldsboro
City Council would not support he $1 increase. The
News-Argus reports. "But during a work session
prior to Monday night's meeting, council members
expressed reluctance to go on record supporting the fee
increase, saying their backing was unnecessary and that
they were concerned about how long the surcharge
would be levied."
See News-Argus
Story here.
Now they want you to
support an increase in your sales tax to support
improvements to the same communication system.
See News-Argus
Story here.
Sounds
like they are using the "Need for replacing outdated
communication system" to justify both taxes.
Wayne
County currently has over $50 MILLION in reserves and
can afford to pay for the improvements from funds on
hand.
See the NC Treasurer's report
According
to the non-partisan John Locke Foundation
the Wayne County revenues have grown 27 percent faster
than inflation. It goes on to state that in Wayne County
"The average family of four paid $608 more in taxes in
2006 than in 2001." See
the JLF report here.
Several
surrounding counties have agreed to reduce property
taxes to adjust for the sales tax if it passed. Wayne
County has made no such commitment.
I
believe our families work hard to make ends meet and
that they already pay too much in taxes.
I urge you to get
the facts before you vote.
I support the
sales tax ONLY if the property tax is reduced to offset
the revenue from the sales tax. It is time that we give
tax relief to OUR CITIZENS.
If the sales tax increase is implemented, I will
work to reduce the property tax by an equal dollar
amount to make the additional tax revenue neutral.
Thank
you,
Joe Daughtery,
Please
Forward this Email to All Your Friends and Relatives to
Keep them Informed
Visit
Us on the web at
www.electjoedaughtery.com |
