What is the state and county’s role in economic development and how well are they doing?
These questions beg to be answered before the city taxpayers are required to throw more money at economic development.
Why do I say more money? Because as residents of this city, we are already paying plenty to get this job done, and I don’t think we are getting our money’s worth. Why is it necessary for the city to throw in more money to duplicate services? We already pay taxes that underwrite job recruitment, training and screening, grants for infrastructure, and incentives for job creation. The city taxpayer should not be asked to bear any more.
Our tax dollars go to the Sate Department of Commerce. This is an entire division of state government that is assigned to commerce and most recruiting agencies go through them rather than the local level.
Next, our city taxpayers pay the county taxes that support the Vance County Economic Development Commission. When I last checked with Benny Finch, their board was Chairman Sam Watkins, Terry Garrison, Cliff Rogers, Dennis Tharrington, Andrea Harris, Ron Gregory, Chuck Teeter, Chic Young, and Bob Hubbard. This group was started in 1970 and in 1995 went to a county only operation even though there is a lot of city representation on this board. Their annual budget was around $500,000 the last time I checked; but, since then, the county sold the shell building; so, that budget should have been reduced by at least $100,000. Have we gotten our money’s worth?
Our community college has a small business center and provides industrial training service. Our tax dollars go to support this. Their record of achievement probably shows the best return for our money, but our local tourism department would run a close second.
The Research Triangle Regional Partnership consists of 13 counties from Warren to Moore. This group is charged to create economic opportunities. Our taxes also go to support COG, the Kerr Tar council of governments that has its offices in the School Board Building on Graham Ave. These groups are overseeing the HUB. Many questions about HUB money and land need to be published since it is our tax money funding this venture. Who is benefiting from those millions of dollars and again, are we getting our money’s worth?
People in Henderson pay taxes to operate the Downtown Development Commission which is suppose to be a non-profit. We pay state taxes that underwrite the Rural Center and the Employment Security Commission and the Department of Transportation not to mention the entire North Carolina Legislature all of whom have a direct hand in jobs.
With all these combinations of agencies working for jobs, why do we need to spend city tax dollars that are desperately needed other places? Our new governor has issued dire warning about the state of finances in North Carolina. Is Henderson listening? Or does the sitting city government believe that the taxpayers provide a bottomless pit of money that they can throw at every idea that comes their way?
Elissa Yount
Henderson