The problem with temporary taxes is that they aren't always temporary.
Binker: Legislators should consider keeping the remnants of a temporary
sales-tax increase on the books rather than phasing it out next summer
as scheduled, Gov. Mike Easley said Tuesday.
"The question I
want to take up with the legislature is, 'Is there something we'd
rather do with that quarter-cent?'" Easley said during his traditional
year-end interview with newspaper reporters at the Governor's Mansion.
Why not do what you promised to do with it?
That is, stop taking it away from North Carolinians in the first place. If the state has a legit need for the money, start from scratch and fund that need. But first, do the right thing -- the thing you told us you'd do all along.
Right. That sentence from Easley irks the hell out of me. Spoken like a politician who thinks it's all his money to do with what he pleases rather than the people's money for which he must make a case each time he wants to use some.
Posted by: David Boyd | Dec 13, 2006 at 09:01 AM
Right on the money, so to speak. Sales tax sucks anyway, so if they need an extra quarter cent they should get it from somewhere else.
Posted by: PotatoStew | Dec 13, 2006 at 09:35 AM
I'm with you, Boyd. It irks me to. Locally, how many times have we been told that taxes have to be raised to begin paying for some recently passed bond? How many times have we been told that taxes are being lowered because the bond has been paid off?
It shouldn't be too difficult for a cost-concious city government to notify the citizens when a bond has been paid and what the annual payments had been. There should then be discussion about whether or not to reduce taxes proportionally or whether to continue to collect the proportional tax for other purposes.
Posted by: Roch101 | Dec 13, 2006 at 09:40 AM
Good post, Ed. Restoration of truth-telling is a good thing.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | Dec 13, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Yes, kind of like Bush's tax cuts- let's make them permanent so the Feds can stop taking it away from North Carolinians in the first place. If the Fed's have a legit need for the money, start from scratch and fund that need.
Otherwise, we agree.
Posted by: The CA | Dec 13, 2006 at 10:59 AM