JLF report questions Onslow’s proposed sales tax hike

April 21, 2008

Click here to view and here to listen to Michael Sanera discussing this Regional Brief.

RALEIGH – Onslow County commissioners could avoid a proposed sales tax increase by diverting $9 million in existing revenue streams to high-priority county government functions. That’s a key finding in a new John Locke Foundation Regional Brief.

“The savings and revenue reallocation recommended in this Regional Brief would generate more than twice the amount of money the sales tax increase would provide to Onslow County,” said Dr. Michael Sanera, JLF Research Director and Local Government Analyst. “That means the county could adopt the ideas in this report before asking taxpayers to make a greater sacrifice.”

County commissioners are asking voters to approve a quarter-cent increase in the sales tax May 6. “Commissioners say they need to raise taxes for the justice complex, school construction, libraries, the government complex, and other county needs,” Sanera said. “Our report shows that Onslow County government could address its needs by setting better priorities with its existing resources.”

“And taxpayers should remember that commissioners’ statements about how they would use new revenue are not legally binding,” Sanera added. “Once they raise a tax, the law says they can use new tax revenue for any legal purpose.”

Onslow is one of more than 20 counties asking taxpayers this May for the right to raise local sales or real-estate transfer taxes. Sanera leads a JLF research team analyzing the potential impact in each county. Working with Sanera are Joseph Coletti, JLF Fiscal Policy Analyst, and Terry Stoops, JLF Education Policy Analyst.

Onslow County commissioners cannot argue that local schools are underfunded, Sanera said. “Over the last five years, the school population has increased by 7 percent, while inflation-adjusted local school spending has jumped by 20 percent,” he said. “That’s not to mention the inflation-adjusted 7 percent increase in state spending and the whopping 26 percent increase in federal spending.”

“If the school district has facility needs, county commissioners and the school board need to show taxpayers how they would spend the $29.7 million the state has promised for capital improvements over the next 10 years,” Sanera added. “Commissioners should also follow this report’s recommendations for reducing education costs without hurting classroom instruction.”

Onslow County revenues have grown 39 percent faster than the rate of inflation and population growth since the 2001 budget year, Sanera said. “Onslow raised $25.9 million more from its taxpayers in the 2006 budget year than in 2001,” he said. “The average family of four paid $656 more in taxes in 2006 than in 2001.”

Onslow County government doesn’t need to take additional money away from taxpayers, Sanera said. “If Onslow County adjusted its revenue stream to grow only as fast as the combined rate of population and inflation growth, total revenues would increase 28.8 percent during the next 10 years,” he said. “This increase is more than adequate to pay for county needs.”

County commissioners have easy access to one piece of Onslow County’s $9 million in funds available for high-priority government functions, Sanera said. “Onslow County government already has cash reserves equal to 12.2 percent of the county’s annual budget,” he said. “The state requires an 8 percent reserve for emergencies, but that leaves almost $5 million that’s still available to spend on pressing needs.”

In 2007, the General Assembly gave every county a chance to raise either the local sales tax or the real-estate transfer tax. The new tax options were part of a deal involving the state relieving counties of local Medicaid expenses. The deal also called on counties to forfeit a half cent of the local sales tax rate.

“Even though Onslow and other counties were forced to give up some revenue as part of the Medicaid deal, they now benefit from another part of the deal called the ‘hold harmless’ provision,” Sanera said. “It guarantees that Onslow County will have at least $500,000 in additional funds that can be used to meet other county needs. Onslow actually fares better than many counties, with $852,000 promised in the first year and $5.6 million expected over 10 years.”

Counties cannot raise the sales or real-estate transfer taxes without a local referendum. Twenty-eight counties have pursued that option since November 2007. Five counties placed both options on the ballot in November. Voters rejected each real-estate transfer tax hike. They also rejected most sales tax proposals. In all, voters have rejected 27 of 33 proposed local tax increases.

“The May 6 vote provides the opportunity for Onslow County citizens to be heard,” Sanera said. “Citizens, when given the chance, are rejecting tax increases.”

The John Locke Foundation’s Regional Brief “Does Onslow Need a Sales-Tax increase?” is available at the JLF Web site. For more information, please contact Sanera at (919) 828-3876 or [email protected]. To arrange an interview, contact Mitch Kokai at (919) 306-8736 or [email protected].