On February 19, Orange County commissioners will decide which tax hike to put on the May ballot — a 0.4 percent land transfer tax or a .25 cent sales tax. In this News & Observer story, Commissioner Barry Jacobs characterizes the county as an underdog in the debate over the transfer tax and says the county’s role is to educate, not advocate:
Jacobs said board members are leaning toward presenting only the transfer tax option, but he said they still need to talk it over. He recognizes that a transfer tax referendum would face stiff opposition and might have few advocates.
“The home builders and the Realtors have made it clear that they will pour money into campaigns to defeat transfer taxes,” Jacobs said. “And since the government’s role is to educate, not advocate, it raises the question of where’s the counterbalancing force.”
I think Jacobs then contradicts that position with the following piece of information, also from the N&O story (emphasis is mine):
Jacobs added that because Orange County residents traditionally show strong support for education funding, the revenue options likely would be tied to schools. But the board is planning to test that hypothesis with a poll, he said.
I ask this: Do you believe the county will use poll results to “educate” and not advocate?
