With the adoption of an unjustifiable $1.38b. county budget — funded in part by a $50m. to $70m. per year hike in property taxes, depending on how you calculate the revenue neutral rate — Charlotte’s future is set. The county says the new rate of 81.66 is about 3 cents above the revenue neutral tax rate, but I think that includes inflated growth from the Hot Check Era. If you assume that almost 5 percent annual growth in the tax base is never returning — and it is not — then the county’s tax base growth will be essentially flat and hence the revenue neutral number should be closer to 75 cents.
In any event, what is done is done. It was a masterful job of propaganda and misdirection by the Uptown crowd. Pete Gorman kicked it off with school closures and layoffs to help return Democrats to control of county commission and followed that up with threats to cut popular, middle-class activities. Library closures further pushed the notion that the county was broke. The reval’s impact on property tax bills was deliberately obscured by county staff for as long as possible. Harry Jones then opened high with 82.40 cent budget proposal, which Jennifer Roberts then drove even higher with the suggestion that the rate be left unchanged at 83.27 cents. That allowed a “compromise” of a $50m. property tax hike appear “reasonable.”
The upshot is tax hikes as far as the eye can see for Mecklenburg County. The local public sector has overcome the greatest threat to its continued growth in at least 20 years. Char-Meck is now all about big government.
At least until the money runs out when the private sector leaves.
