AG 1994 09 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senator Roy Cooper, III July 6, 1994 The elected officials of Nash County are not asking that the State provide for their needs or alter the State/ County relationship in school funding that has served the people of North Carolina well for many years. Rather, they seek the flexibility and the tools necessary to respond to their needs more fully. The Nash County Commissioners believe that their having the option to increase the local sales tax by up to 1 cent for school facilities would be acceptable to the people of Nash County. They further think that a referendum for the needed $30 million would easily pass if it were to be repaid from this new revenue source rather than from an increase in property taxes. From my position as both State Treasurer and Chairman of the Local Government Commission, several points are worthy of note: 1. Infrastructure needs have and will continue to grow as our State grows and as legislative and court ordered mandates continue to place demands on local governments. 2. The pay-as-you-use method of financing these needs will be preferred over the pay-as-you-go if North Carolina is to maintain a progressive reputation and competitive cost of doing business. 3. citizens are opposed to property tax increases necessary to support the needs, regardless of their understanding and acceptance of those needs. 4. If the State does not provide local governments with the flexibility they need to manage their responsibilities, the State may well be asked to accept and finance those responsibilities. 5. State government can not and will not be as responsive to, nor as efficient in providing for local needs as will local officials, further State government does not need to expand its role in this process.