Alamance County commissioners approved a resolution supporting a referendum for a quarter-cent sales-tax increase with a 3-2 vote. The resolution passed after motions by Commissioner Tim Sutton to hold a public hearing and amend the resolution stating that property taxes would be reduced by a relative amount were voted down.
The highlight —-or lowlight, depending on your point of view —- was an appearance by former state Rep. Cary Allred, who spoke out against the county budget:
Allred, a former state representative who says he is running for a commissioner’s seat, blasted the commissioners, the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education and high-ranking school administrators.
Allred urged the commissioners not to put the sales tax referendum, which he called “an insult,” on the ballot. A sales tax increase will hurt home builders and retailers by causing shoppers to go to Virginia to buy big-ticket items, he said.
Allred also blasted Superintendent Randy Bridges and assistant superintendents for their high salaries.
During the public hearing on the budget, Allred returned to the podium and went on a rambling diatribe that included teachers, farmers and a request to delay a vote on the budget until the board could make more cuts.
Allred called the school board’s decision to build a career and technical education center “stupid.”
The county budget includes five mandatory furlough days for non-essential employees. However, “(a)s part of the furloughs, employees will get three ‘bonus days off with pay.”
Help me out here…….
