Liberty
Might Have Been a Better Way to Say Thanks
Last night, Asheville City Council gave John McKibbon permission to go ahead with revamping the BB&T building downtown. The building is described by experts as ugly, but I’ve always found…
Tourist tax
Liberty
How’s It Workin’ out for Ya: Part II
Joel Burgess at the local daily put together a nice article about the recent increase in the Buncombe County tourist tax from 4 to 6 percent. He tells of his…
Liberty
Helpless Tourists, Blindly Ambling
The Henderson County TDA wants to collect tax money from tourists so it can buy tickets for the Flat Rock Playhouse for innkeepers to give away to guests. A normal…
Liberty
Better Than on the Neck
The Jackson County TDA would like “boots on the ground.” They just don’t agree on how much Cuffy Meigs should be paid, and whether his salary should come through the…
Liberty
Using the Tourist Tax I
Let’s say one of your college buddies is getting married, or maybe an old aunt is about to die. You take time off work, drive a long distance, check into…
Liberty
No Taxation without . . . What Was That?
The Smoky Mountain News published a rundown of the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority’s budget. As it turned out, the authority collected $50,000 more than the $600,000 expected. If you…
Liberty
Revenue for Anything
As you may know, I don’t support tourist taxes. They make outsiders who cannot vote pay for local amenities. Even weirder than usual is the Henderson County TDA’s announcement that…
Liberty
Live Long & Prosper, Jackson
Kudos go out today to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners for failing to loan $700,000 to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, while question marks go out to Swain County’s…
Liberty
Too Big to Fail
The Flat Rock Playhouse needs money badly. The article in the local daily featured a photo of Las Vegas style women to help you understand. The General Assembly approved a…
Liberty
No Money for Basic City Services
Asheville City Council has a tradition of holding gripefests on fifth Tuesdays. The meetings represent an attempt to avail members of city council to the public for input. This is…
Liberty
In Case You’re Having Trouble Finding Government
Of trace significance in comparison to the last post, but by no means exempt from partial culpability, is a celebration next Tuesday. No reports appear to be published online, yet,…
Liberty
In-state tourism
State government wants more North Carolinians to vacation in North Carolina. I thought one of the arguments or tourist taxes is that they get paid by other people. If state…