Can you come to the commissioners meeting Monday night?

We need as large of a crowd as possible to come to the commissioners’ meeting this Monday evening, March 24, at 6:30 PM. 

The commissioners will be voting on two important issues: approving a taxpayer funded brochure to promote the May 6 referendum on a local sales tax increase, and a resolution to use higher sales tax proceeds for education capital needs in Rockingham County.  This shell game approach is common to push for tax increases, so proponents will be able to say it’s “for the kids.”

We need as much support as we can get to resist yet another tax increase. 

Please let people know that it is NOT that we are against school funding. “For the children” is just a red herring to bring in more tax money, and keep spending it at higher rates.

There is already an $80 million wish list being promoted by proponents of this tax hike, even though the best projections see the higher sales tax rate generating less than $2 million annual.
 
This is a unique opportunity for people against higher taxes to make it known that we demand reduced spending by our county government. 

We are just getting started building our committee. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jeffrey Sykes at this email or jeffreyhsykes@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Sykes
Frank Zulauf
Citizens for A Better Economy in Rockingham County

Seven reasons to oppose the tax:

It’s bad for economic development and jobs.
It’s bad for attracting retail stores to our area.
It’s bad fiscal policy – reduce spending instead.
Current sales tax:  Virginia 5%, NC 6.75%.
Va. has less income tax and gas tax too.
Wonder why more new stores are in Danville?
Don’t give people another reason to leave.

Rockingham County already missing one-third of its sales tax

According to data provided by Rockingham County:

The state average for sales tax revenue by a county with population of 50-100,000 is $17.4 million, or $201 per capita.

The average for Rockingham County is $12.1 million, or $132 per capita.

That is a 35 percent shortfall.

Are higher taxe rates the answer?

Higher sales taxes rates=even more people buying outside of Rockingham

Vote NO May 6

Four reasons to oppose the sales tax increase on May 6

The proponents of the tax have already started pushing that the extra quarter-cent sales tax is only 25 cents for every $100 spent.

They usually use a similar ploy regarding marginal property tax increases, and it’s effective.

But what about the effect of the sales tax increase on businesses and the county as a whole?

Proponents say it will raise $1.8 million a year

That is $1.8 million taken every year out of local citizen’s pockets and into government’s. That is $18 million over a ten-year period.

We want people to spend their money in our county

Local businesses, particularly that sell higher priced items, already complain of a real disadvantage because sales tax is so much lower in Virginia.  We need to be recruiting more retailers into our county so people will spend their money here.  Higher sales taxes are a disincentive for those retail businesses.

The overall tax burden in our county is already very high

Neighboring Virginia has lower personal income tax, corporate tax, sales tax, gas tax, and in general, property tax.  Neighboring North Carolina counties have lower property tax.  Our state has the highest tax burden in the Southeast region from Texas to Virginia.  People want local government to recruit businesses to come here and bring jobs.  Like it or not, businesses and jobs, whenever possible, will locate in areas where their overhead costs, including taxes, are lesser rather than greater.  This is devastating to the county’s tax base and ability to pay for services.

The proponents already have a list of capital improvements and services that exceed $80 million

Keep in mind the tax will only raise $1.8 million a year.  And, that is gross.  Consider the effect of sales tax revenues we are already losing every year, because people choose to do their buying outside the county.  A higher sales tax will only make this problem potentially worse.

VOTE NO ON “COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX” ON THE BACK OF THE BALLOT MAY 6

Commissioners have 22 million choices other than a tax increase

There exists $22 million in optional funding in the RockCo budget.

Real leaders would find a way to cut spending instead of hitting the easy button and raising taxes.

The county’s budget analyst, Adam Lindsay, has spent several years now analyzing county spending and laid out the details in plain English.

You may view the list of $22 million dollars in optional funding here.

Just say no to Amelia and Bobby

Amelia Dallas in the Greensboro News and Record:

*”We’re just hoping to work out some other ideas and thoughts and ways of revenues that can get us through,” Dallas said late Wednesday afternoon. She said if voters approve the quarter-cent sales tax in May, it would help the coming year’s budget.*

What about the next year and the year after that?

Bobby Stanley follows the leader:

*Commissioner Bobby Stanley said it’s time to “step up to the plate and do the right thing here.” Stanley said all the projects are in the best interest of the county.

A quarter-cent sales tax could generate $1.6 million a year, said Mike Apple, county finance director.*

The right thing is to start cutting away at the $22 million in optional spending that is sucking critical money that could be used for schools.

What we are up against

Source: WFMY News 2

Eden, NC – Rockingham County voters will see an extra question on their May primary ballot. Leaders will ask tax payers to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase.

Commissioners say they need the money to get the county out of a million dollar debt and pay for school repairs.

Early estimates show the sales tax could bring in more than $1.5 to the county. A big chunk of that will help the school system repair some its oldest buildings, like Douglass Elementary.

The Eden school is 70 years old and the building shows its age.

“We’ve had on going problems over the past year or so,” said the school’s principal, Gary Pyrtle.

Students study in rooms with ceilings that drip water. Masking tape holds together a number of old pipes and hot furnaces are uncovered.

County leaders say Douglass along with Stoneville Elementary and Reidsville High School need to be fixed. But the only way to do it is to raise the sales tax.

The county wants to up the sales tax a quarter-percent over the current rate of 6.75%.

“The easiest way to put it, if you spend a hundred dollars it’s costing you an additional quarter,” said county superintendent, Dr. Rodney Shotwell. “That’s a small price to improve our schools.”

But not everyone is on board. Eden resident Jean Harrington said she would vote against the sales-tax increase.

“There’s a lot of foreclosures on properties and I think people are really hard pressed,” said Harrington. “I would really hate to ask a lot of people who are on a limited income to have to cough up more for sales tax.” County leaders say the additional revenue will also help pay for a new animal shelter and a library in Western Rockingham County.

If approved, the sales tax could bring in $1,673,750 to the county. But leaders cannot impose the tax until October 1st.

Guilford and Randolph counties will ask their voters to approve the same sales tax increase in May. If approved the tax could generate more than $15.6 million dollars in Guilford County and just under $2.5 million in Randolph County.

Open thread: For or against

If you are opposed to the quarter-cent sales tax increase in RockCo that will be on the May 6 ballot tell us why. If you are for it, do the same.

Contact

This website is set up to facilitate communication among citizens of Rockingham County, N.C. who are opposed to the May 6 sales tax referendum.

The administrator of this site may be reached at stopthehike@gmail.com

Please send us your ideas and get involved.