Orange County Commission Chairman Barry Jacobs acknowledges in this Chapel Hill News story the oppressively high taxes the county imposes on its residents. The county, Jacobs tells the paper, has reached a tipping point. This week, Jacobs expects to hear the county manager recommend an 8 percent hike in the property tax rate. To his credit, Jacobs also acknowledges exactly what and who drives the budget: (emphasis is mine)

“We hear from the people who know how to work the government,” Jacobs said.

“What we don’t hear usually are the people who don’t know how government works, don’t think the government will listen to them, don’t drive at night, don’t have cars.”

Bingo.

Now comes the test for Commissioner Jacobs: Will he vote against a tax hike? He’s consistently voted for them in the past, and recently was a loud proponent of another tax hike: the land transfer tax, which Orange County residents defeated by a 2 to 1 margin.

The answer to this problem is, of course, obvious: Stop spending. But will they?