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What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing Union County in the next decade?
It's track record of only looking for short-sighted band aids in all aspects of growth - quick fixes do not enable for stability, real solid business development, schools, support, tax base, value in residents homes, or any real plans able to work. It has such potential, but will remain there until it understands and how other counties get there without screwing the residents in the process and are able to create balance, and that value spills over to residents, business, infrastructure, etc....
What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing Union County in the next decade?
The lack of an open and free discussion of the issues facing the county including county services, tax base, development, the Monroe bypass, schools and last but not least redistricting.
One of, if not the biggest, shifts in the county in years happend late last Thursday night yet no one is really talking about it. May 22, 2014 is a day that will live in infamy in Union County for some but may be the day when UC finally grew up...
It would be great to analyze it and debate it. But this of course this is impossible now. Even here.
Last edited by SunshineCJ; 05-26-2014 at 07:39 PM..
The lack of an open and free discussion of the issues facing the county including county services, tax base, development, the Monroe bypass, schools and last but not least redistricting.
One of, if not the biggest, shifts in the county in years happend late last Thursday night yet no one is really talking about it. May 22, 2014 is a day that will live in infamy in Union County for some but may be the day when UC finally grew up...
It would be great to analyze it and debate it. But this of course this is impossible now. Even here.
...While discussing options, Yates mentioned that past bond referendums for school construction included authorization to increase property taxes by 8.2 cents. But the past board of commissioners from 2010 never implemented the tax increase. That meant about $19.5 million in annual revenue the county did not have for paying down the debt.
“So let me understand this,” Commissioner Frank Aikmus said. “A prior board went out to the voters and said we want to take on new debt. The voters approved it. And the prior board did not provide a funding source for that new debt?”
Aikmus said the county is in the current funding bind because past commissioners “didn’t have the guts” to raise taxes the public had approved. Meanwhile, the county’s needs grew while the tax base shrank. County staff cut services and employees to keep government operational while making payments on the school debt.
“We’ve already cut services. I challenge anyone to come in here and find where we can cut more,” Aikmus said.
After explaining how much he did not want to but felt it was the right thing to do, Aikmus moved to instruct Coto and her staff to work an 8.2 cent tax increase into the 2014-15 budget.
“There’s no way in the world I’ll support raising the taxes at the level of which you spoke,” he said. “But I will commit to implementing that 8.2 cents and raise the taxes to pay for the debt that this county has already incurred.”
Richard Helms and Jerry Simpson, though reluctant, agreed. Commissioner Jonathan Thomas was absent. The fifth commissioner did not agree....
Yes, it is huge. I knew this happened, but I cannot say I was completely surprised. In reality I figured eventually the area would have a a new tax or a higher tax.
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