Joe Coladarci, High Rock Lake, N.C.
Are You Happy with the Current Property Tax Rate?
Thank you for responding to our latest survey the results were interesting as you will see below..
No the rates are too high 44.29 %
Yes they are adequate 21.43 %
New Central office 12.86 %
Soak the rich 8.67 %
Other 8.57 %
First let me address the folks that wrote in replies.
One said he would pay more for education but not a building for the Central Office. This view point is very interesting and one I believe many in Rowan county have had for years. The good people of ROWAN would walk through fire for their children and even their neighbors kids. However, the “20 plus year Grand Vision” the Elected School Board has tried to force down the throats of Rowan Citizens will not fly.
Another poll respondent says, “seniors should get a break, we can’t pay more.” I will soon be 63 years old. I believe my property values are directly associated to the value of my community; Good Schools, Good Jobs and Safe Neighborhoods. We all use these things to different degrees at different times in our lives. Therefore we all should pay appropriately.
The last fellow should have just marked other. Throwing the Government out is not an answer.
Now to the meat and potatoes.
44.29% said taxes are too high. Really? Our County Commissioners have held taxes at the same rate for more than 6 years. What has happened to food cost and other family expenses during that time? Just like you and I, the commissioners have cut, squeezed and made due during these difficult economic times. They have spent the rainy day fund to a safe but low limit hoping the economy would turn around.
21.43% say they are adequate, good for you I agree. However, we must get an uptick in the economy soon in order to replenish our long dwindling reserves. If the economy does not start to drastically rebound we may have to talk about a tax rate adjustment.
I have this to say to the 12.86% who say we need a 10 million dollar new office for approximately 200 employees at the CENTRAL OFFICE. Yes, I said 10 million. Remember, the County is giving $6.5 million and a mysterious DADDY WAR BUCKS is kicking in the rest {or so we are lead to believe}. How about we think outside the BOX? Now that Rowan County owns the WEST END PLAZA, in the city limits of Beautiful Historic Salisbury, why not take 60,000 square feet of the Plaza and give it it to the Rowan Salisbury School System. We can even throw in 200+ parking spaces.
Gary Page, the County Manager, is presently renovating offices for County employees at a cost of $50.00 / Square foot. I say we give the School system a budget of $60.00/ Square foot. That’s 20% higher or an additional $600,000.00. It is also a savings of $2,900,000.00.
What other projects can we do with almost 3 MILLION DOLLARS, in partnership with our School System that will directly affect our kids?
And finally to the 8.67% that said we need to “Soak the RICH” to produce a more level income distribution, “Bless You HEART, NOW GO GET A JOB.”
