taxes

The Transit Tax could have an added Poison

Chris Weaver — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:21:12 -0600

Well the Transit Tax for Orange may have some added poison. I say poison as for the Proponents of the Transit Tax for the Light Rail will not want an added sales tax Governor Bev Purdue has cast into the political winds this year. Outside the overwhelming distaste for more taxes by District Two, the poison for D1 is not notion of paying more tax for their costly train, it is the added threat to fuel to the fire in the pockets of D2 Citizens who have no use for a Choo Choo in a huge election year.

Durham's big margin for transit -- Orange to vote in 2012?

gercohen — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:19:39 -0600

Durham's 60% to 40% margin for the 1/2 percent transit sales tax eclipsed Mecklenburg's 58-42 margin on its initial vote on the same issue in 1998. In 2012, the two allowed dates for a similar referendum are the primary (currently scheduled for May) and the November general election. Putting the issue on the ballot will involve approval by the Orange County Commissioners, the Durham-Chapel Hill Carrboro MPO, the Burlington-Alamance MPO, and the Triangle Transit Board.

Letter to Representative Insko and Commissioner Gordon on School Funding

Jeff Danner — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:17:14 -0500

With the month of May coming, it time for flowers to bloom and for our school district to trim resources. Every year when this happens I appreciate the flowers and figure there has to be a better way to fund our schools. Below is the text of a letter I send to Representative Insko with copy to County Commissioner Alice Gordon. There has to be a better approach that what we have now. Thoughts and comments are appreciated.

BoCC passed sales tax referendum for Nov 2011

James Barrett — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:06:38 -0500

Public hearing on 1/4-cent sales tax proposal

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:33:17 -0600

Via e-mail from the County:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Contact: Frank Clifton, Orange County Manager, (919) 245-2300 or Michael Talbert, Deputy Financial Services Director, (919) 245-2153
Orange County Public Hearing on 1/4 Cent Sales Tax
HILLSBOROUGH, NC –The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 during its regularly scheduled meeting at the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
The Public Hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on a potential November 8, 2011 referendum on a one-quarter cent (1/4¢) additional sales tax in Orange County.
read more

Something's got to go

Ruby Sinreich — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:49:17 -0500

For better or worse, Orange County voters have rejected two different proposals for raising more money for county government. And yet, I don't hear anyone seriously calling for shutting down any of the vital services offered by the county. They're going to have to find some slack somewhere, so perhaps we can help.

Please vote for your top three recommendations for how to balance the county budget. If you don't see your preference, just write-in an option and it will be added to the poll.

Souls to the polls

James Barrett — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:57:41 -0500

It may be hard to think of a tax increase as "justice," but Orange County has an example of just that in its proposal on the November ballot to raise the sales tax by one-quarter cent. A portion of the revenue if this wins approval will go toward providing a solution for Habitat for Humanity homeowners in Efland (many of whose homes were built by our member churches), who have been facing a 300 percent increase in their sewer rates. Justice United agrees that this tax increase, which means paying 25 cents more per every $100 you spend, equals social justice.

We will gather at 9:30am at United Church. After a brief press conference with our partner groups, we will walk over to the Seymour Center to cast our votes.

Bring Afghan War $ Back Home to Orange County

Mark Marcoplos — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:36:44 -0500

Orange County has pressing local needs including education, infrastructure, social services, health, and small business support - just to name a few. We continually are forced to wrangle over restricted budgets which pit important local needs against one another. Meanwhile about $2600 per county citizen leaves Orange County annually for the national military budget. That's a total of about $351million.

Our current annual county budget is about $178 million. Imagine what we could accomplish for the citizens of Orange County if just 10% of our military contribution was retained at home for local needs?

A new day?

Terri Buckner — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:58:08 -0500

The Orange County Board of Commissioners will place a 1/4 cent sales tax on the ballot this November. Revenues generated from the tax, which is expected to raise $2.3M annually, will be allocated for economic development (42.5%), repairing older school buildings (42.5%), public safety (15%). The tax will not be applied to food or pharmaceuticals.

Of the $977,500 expected to be raised for economic development, the county manager has proposed that 30% ($293,500) go to building infrastructure within the economic development zones and 15% ($146,625) go to a small business loan fund such as the one Carrboro initiated many years ago. I haven't seen anything designating the use for the remaining $439,875 (55%) other than a report in the CH Herald about the need to offer incentives.

When we go to polls in November, we will not be voting just for the new sales tax, but also for this allocation plan. Can you support it? Does this plan signal a new day to you?

Increase County sales tax?

Ruby Sinreich — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:21:38 -0500

Orange County is well known as a place that values education and put our money where our mouth is. The County Commissioners have worked hard this year to hold the line on taxes and pending, but progress demands, well, progress. Advocates for the schools are clearly in support of a tax increase.

So having tried to pass a real estate transfer tax, and in the face of a slightly-more-rabid-than usual anti-tax crowd, the Commissioners are now considering a sales tax.