Watauga County voters head to the polls next week to determine whether county commissioners will be allowed to raise the local sales tax rate by 0.25 cents. The Lincoln Tribune published a summary of John Locke Foundation research challenging that proposal. Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, drove to Boone to participate in a news conference with referendum opponents. The Watauga Democrat and GoBlueRidge.net promoted JLF participation in the news conference, while the event attracted attention from the High Country Press, Mountain Television Network, and the left-of-center Watauga Watch blog. On a related note, Topix.com publicized a Squall Lines blog entry about Carolina Journal Associate Editor David Bass‘ exclusive article outlining the strategy North Carolina counties have employed this year to win support for sales-tax referendums.