My Opinion about the Sales Tax Referendum:
VOTE May 4th!
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It makes full sense to me that a landlord will vote NO on the Sales Tax referendum, because he/she can recoup their taxes from their tenants. That is one reason rents are so expensive in Onslow County. Every time we have a revaluation or a property tax increase, landlords can easily raise the rent to cover not just their property tax increases and insurance cost increases, but also a nice little increase for "management costs" the next time the lease comes due. That is called good business practice and investment management for landlords.
The burden of caring for our county is currently borne by land owners and property owners. Landlords have it made. The rest of us, who own our homes and are trying to make ends meet have no way to offset the burdens of Property Taxes or Ad Valorem taxes under current law. I am FOR fair and even distribution of the tax burden, and I would love to live in a community where the tourists and visitors, and temporary occupants all get to share in the burden of educating our students and cleaning our streets... where our young families have affordable rents to pay, not inflated every time the tax rate changes.
Onslow County is home to a Retail Center on Western Boulevard that supports a 5 county region. I know people who travel here, spend the night at the beach, shop the Commissary and eat in our restaurants because of our convenience. If we capitalize on our outstanding qualities, we have the right and the responsibility to share the costs of maintaining these attractions with our visiting populations. The few property owners here should not be forced to carry the entire burden of balancing our budget.
I spoke with Ms. Thomas of our Onslow County School Board last week, and she is hoping that if this referendum is approved, maybe we can begin to pay our debts. This County passed a HUGE School Referendum Bond several years ago that is digging in to our available budget because we have been neglecting it. Would it not be nice if we citizens had the COURAGE to pay our bills? Decrease our Debt? Apply at least a FEW dollars to keep our children from bearing the County Budget burden? I am speaking of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, here. I have some.
Our costs to do business in Onslow County will go up this coming year. Medicaid alone will cause some of the pain, in addition to costs for the Jail operations once it becomes a reality. Our NC State has continuously dumped mandated burdens on the County without funding. The Commissioners are now working through those costs to determine where they can cut and where they cannot. My bet is that the overall County Budget will go up at least a percent or two. If we vote NO on the Sales tax, 100% of the increase will be forced on the property owners. If we vote YES on the Sales Tax, then the property owners will get a break of about $1.16 Million Dollars and all of us will share in providing the other $Million. Every 1/4cent helps, in my humble opinion, and I am voting for the referendum.
We ALL have to take part in this vote, and we all need to be fully informed about the consequences.
Please keep me posted.
CALL me and let's talk about this!
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