Some of us have this vision of a “well-rounded” community. There are parks, there are libraries, there are schools, there are recreation areas, there are places for music and the arts, and there are places for businesses and manufacturing. It appears that the Republican legislators in North Carolina have eyes for only business. They have no interest in good schools and education. They have no interest in repairing crumbling bridges and roads, harbors, museums. They have no interest in helping the uninsured get health coverage or the unemployed get any benefits. They only have eyes for businesses.
The most recent action in favor of business is to tell cities and counties in the state that they cannot charge businesses the fees and license costs that the cities and counties decide. The power to set the fees and license costs has been limited by the state legislators. Durham is claiming they will lose more than 2 million dollars. In Henderson, an example of the problem is that the city has a very high fee for video gaming business. The business permit is much higher than the limit set by the state. The fees on each machine is a $l,000. per machine in addition to the license.
So where does the city of Henderson and others have to go to get that lost income? Either drastically cut services and programs in their communities or raise local property taxes. Businesses won’t have to pay but the burden will be put on local citizens to make up that loss of income. At least, that is the way it looks to me.
The Gypsies in the Palace in Raleigh, who have always claimed to want government to be as close to the people as possible, have now run roughshod over local governments. Taken Ashville’s water system away, taken Charlotte’s airport away, and now taken local communities authority to regulate businesses in their own community.
Richard Brand
Mr. Brand the Republicans in Raleigh believe strongly in a “well-rounded” community so long as you have the financial means to access the parks, schools, libraries, and recreation areas. Art Pope, the real power in Raleigh, and his Republican minions struggle daily to maintain their businesses built upon the economic theory of passive – aggressive labor exploitation.
I have a friend in Greensboro who has a puppy which he named Obama. I asked him why the name and he said, “He is half white and half black. He whines incessantly, sleeps, eats and costs me money.” Sounds like Obama would fit in well with your crowd, Reverend Brand.
It is always good to get personal attacks from participants as that is absolutely positive evidence that the writer has no significant facts or arguments to refute the presentation. A friend with a dog has nothing to argue against the burden on local residents if city and county can not charge the fees that they believer appropriate.
Royal Rooter,
What a bigoted thing to say.
In the past you have posted your views on issues such as social and economic inequities. I expect more from you than bigotry.
Come on Michael. What is bigoted about my friend naming his dog Obama? I guess I could say I expect better from you, but I don’t. I guess you are just as sensitive as the liberal media when anyone cites Obama’s race. Brand spouts the party line here and in the newspaper and then cries “personal attack” if anyone is the least bit critical of what he says.
By the way, Michael, I don’t think you have heard me address “social and economic inequities.” I am very much farther to the right than either you or Rev. Brand and see no need to explain my views.
That is just the point Rooster. You did not criticize my concern about the State legislators limiting local governments’ ability to charge what they decided for business licenses and fees. You did not make the Republican party line that lower fees would bring more businesses. More businesses would bring more tax dollars. That would have attacked my post,
You are absolutely correct Michael and Rick. RR gave no justifications for “farther to the right” viewpoint, just an attack ( clever he assumes) on Obama. Adds no value to the discussion, but does reveal some underlying emotions.
Interesting, In today’s (May 29) News and Observer, on the front section, the Headline is “State May cancel business tax.” Under that Mayor says Raleigh may need to raise property tax to make up the 7.6 million cut in revenue.
State Senate gave approval to tax bill that includes a provision to revoke the authority of municipalities to levy privilege taxes on businesses.
“The move could lead to substantial cuts to government services –layoffs, closed parks or pot holed roads are possible or higher taxes. The cut is particularly tough on major cities. Charlotte pulls in 18 million, Raleigh $7.6 million.”
Those major cities might expect to see more businesses but Vance County and Henderson will not see that many new businesses by this reduction in taxes on businesses.
Ignorance is not worth making a comment about. Obamaidiots.
Again, personal attacks.
Gosh, J.J., you didn’t say anything, but you did manage to insult a lot of people. Typical regressive punk.
I’m sorry, J.J., I responded to your juvenile post with one of my own. Mea culpa. These kinda exchanges poison the atmosphere and only manage to set back the cause of rational political discourse. Like you, I really have no opinion on the issue brought up by Rev. Brand, so I will be quiet and let the adults talk.
Here’s a thought:
If the Democrats in government can shave off some of the free money that they hand out to anybody who cries “can’t find a job, can’t work”, the government will find plenty of money to replace their lost income from having control of what they can charge businesses for tax. Mr. Brand, I appreciate your article. However, until we as a country stop attacking each other’s party, we will get nowhere. There is no easy fix to our current situation and, although a Republican, I am the first one to say that I don’t think this was smart business sense to change this specific tax law. But I will also point out that our current welfare programs are what milks the most out of our tax base on a current level. So why aren’t we talking about that issue?? FORCING more people into the working class will increase the tax base in two ways. It will have them contributing to the current tax income, while also stopping them from taking out of our local tax income. Yet all you can think of to write an article about is a new tax law change for business charged income. Can we please talk about the more serious issues? And the very most serious issue, in my opinion, is our current welfare handout programs.
Some facts on the impact of Raleigh’s thinking and the privilege license tax that Mr. Brand has kindly brought to our attention. The following data is found in the city’s and county’s respective 2014 – 2015 fiscal budget proposals.
City of Henderson’s proposed budget – Business Privilege License:
FY12 Actual (taxes paid): $391,556
FY13 Actual (taxes paid): $175,345
FY14 Estimated (taxes paid): $203,000
FY15 Recommended (taxes expected): $211,000
Vance County proposed budget – Business Privilege License:
FY13 Actual (taxes paid): $8,371
FY14 Projected (taxes paid): $7602
FY15 Recommended (taxes expected): $6,500
Elimination of the business privilege license tax will essentially increase the citizens collective direct tax burden by a combined $217,500 all under the guise of reducing business costs. If you recall businesses do not pay taxes; business taxes are paid by the businesses’ customers.
I’m open to a discussion on this subject so long as we are focused on the facts as presented in the city’s and county’s proposed budgets.
I can appreciate your perspective, Mr. O, but there’s more to do than force people to work. First, there must be jobs and our area doesn’t have a lot of choices. Add minimum wages to the lack of a 40 hour week and you come up with an inadequate income. Even with a 40 hour week, at minimum wage, the average worker cannot pay all their bills. I see another important factor regarding attracting companies to NC and our little city, education. How can the Governor expect profitable companies to locate in NC with such low educational standards and funding? In 1970 NC stood at 48th in education (despite having such great universities) and in all those years NC now ranks 47th. See the problem? What family would want to locate in a state where their children wouldn’t receive a good education? Even if businesses don’t have to pay taxes, how will that entice them to locate here? Our highly educated work force?
Zep,
Well said.
Zep, very valid points you brought up. I agree that education is another serious topic that needs to be discussed. However, my grandfather used to tell me that, no matter what job I could find or that I had, to do it at 100% effort and that opportunities would always arise. People sit at home instead of taking the smaller paying jobs and busting their humps at work to earn promotions that yield better pay. How many people do you and I know that started sweeping floors at a factory or washing tables at a restaurant and now they manage those factories or those restaurants??? Our earlier generations of society understood this concept much better than our current generation. Our current generation wants it given to them upfront instead of working for it. And, until our generational mindset changes, we will continue to see people sit at home and milk our tax system for government assistance. This is why I feel the way that I do about stopping the government assistance after a period of time. We have to get our younger generation to go to work.