With Mecklenburg County facing anywhere from a $16m. to a $63m. budget shortfall, the commission needs to take tax hikes off the table. Now.
As we have pointed out here for years the county embarked on a priced-for-perfection spending spree at the start of the decade, led by an explosive growth in county debt. The county cannot afford the debt in the pipeline. Folks do not want to hear that — particularly the ones who recklessly campaigned for irresponsible bond offerings in recent years, but it is the truth.
It is also the truth that the local economy remains weak with high unemployment and fragile real estate values. If county leaders really want to hop on the express line to Detroit-on-the-Catawba, go ahead and raise taxes this year.
