David Bass’ Carolina Journal (unposted) cover story warns us about government advocacy of land transfer and sales taxes on the May 6 ballot:
Educating without advocating is a fine line that county commissioners are required to walk as a number of local tax options go before North Carolina voters this May. But some observers say local government officials are violating state law by using public dollars to wage media campaigns to persuade voters to support the tax increases.
Some county commissioners are keeping a close eye on county government here in the Triad, though. Rockingham County Commissioner Bert Jones spoke out out against the ‘educational brochure’ he says advocates for the quarter-cent sales tax. Now we have Commissioner Skip Alston and Sheriff BJ Barnes, admittedly Guilford County’s version of Barber and Perkins. Alston says the sheriff department’s new Web site, gory pictures and all, is advocating for the $115 million jail bond.
I can’t say I recoiled with horror when I saw the pictures, but you can’t look at them and not get the feeling it’s an emotional plea for the bond. Get ready for more emotional pleas. The school bond advocates are just getting warmed up. What could they possibly put out there to shock us into voting ‘yes’?
