Guilford County commissioners favor presenting voters with an increase in sales tax instead of the land transfer tax:
Commissioners were more enthusiastic about the sales-tax plan, which would raise the countywide sales tax one-quarter cent — adding $1.25 to the price of a $500 television.
That tax would generate an extra $15.7 million for the county, or about $2.1 million more than the transfer tax, according to early estimates.
“Of the two, I think the quarter-cent sales tax is probably a little more palatable,” said Democrat Paul Gibson, the commissioners chairman.
The options weren’t available until Gov. Mike Easley signed the $20.7 billion state budget. Counties said they needed more ways to bring in revenue other than jacking up property taxes, so state legislators gave them other choices, and the governor agreed.
Installing either new tax requires a two-pronged process: County commissioners must vote to send the measure to a referendum. Then voters would decide whether to tax themselves. Commissioners have talked about scheduling bond votes in May 2008.
So you see the situation commissioners are presenting citizens: Vote to tax yourself or watch your property taxes go up. That’s not a good choice. But again the question is whether this truly is an ‘either/or’ situation. As I’ve said repeatedly, I just don’t believe it is. So, if presented with a referendum on a sales tax or a land-transfer tax, voters should err on the side of caution.
