Money, Money, Money,

Mecklenburg property tax increase likely
VICTORIA CHERRIE

Mecklenburg County property owners will likely pay more in taxes next year. In a series of preliminary budget votes, Mecklenburg County commissioners agreed Wednesday night to increase the county property tax rate to 83.87 cents per $100 of assessed value. That's about a 2 percent increase from the current rate.

The increase would mean a $39.60 annual increase in the tax bill for a county home with a tax valuation of $200,000. Charlotte residents also would pay city property taxes. County Manager Harry Jones had recommended a higher tax rate in his proposed $1.46 billion budget. After two days of debate, the commissioners, divided along party lines, agreed to cut the proposal by about $11 million. The board is set to formally adopt the budget Tuesday.

The budget includes more money for employee raises, the county's share of Medicaid health costs and debt service for school and other construction costs. It also includes $25.2 million more than last year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. That's about $4.8 million less than the school board's $346.5 million request.

Commissioners also gave $24.9 million to Central Piedmont Community College, $1.7 million more than its current allocation. The school had asked for $26.1 million, but Jones had recommended an increase of only $300,000. Under the proposal, a small percentage of property owners in the county's unincorporated areas would see their tax rate increase an additional 1.15 cents to pay for police services. To pay for the changes, the commissioners allocated $9 million in lottery proceeds to help pay for CMS debt service.

The board also cut about $2.6 million from the $28 million the manager recommended for its pay-as-you-go capital program. The program is like a long-term savings account designed to avoid interest when projects are paid for with bonds.

Republicans Bill James and Dan Ramirez said they understood the theory of the program but questioned a property tax increase paying for projects that could be funded with bonds. About $6 million from the program is earmarked for refurbishing the county's 440-bed jail annex to ease overcrowding.

This of course was backed up by Bill James' Newsletter.

Double paying on PAYGO and doubling up on pork the County Commission's 5 Democrats worked in lockstep to raise taxes two cents and add programs from those that where their friends and supporters.

The tax rate was 81.89 cents and is now 83.87 cents, a 2 cent increase that equates to about 2.4 percent. The budget has some big winners including $25 million for CMS.

The budget has some big losers including Mecklenburg County taxpayers who will have to pay another tax increase to re-establish the PAYGO fund the Democrats raised taxes for in 2005, and raided in 2006. Had they not raided the fund in 2006 the budget would not have a tax increase today. On May 30th 2006, Commissioner Dumont Clarke and the other Democrats voted to remove $18 million from PAYGO. Now, to replenish that fund, a tax increase was voted in.

In the Clinton White House days folks used to joke about the lavish treatment a 'friend of Bill' received with guest stays in the Lincoln bedroom and such. If you contributed to Clinton's campaign, you got special treatment.

This County budget is essentially 'friend of Democrat' budget.

The pork was ladled hot and heavy as one program after the other received 100% increases (new programs) and others who 'only' received 60% increases.

The strangest of the new budget items was the funding of $50,000 in new money for "Aerobo-Cop". See copy of DVD from his WTVI show from the 90's. For those new to Charotte he is the buff guy in blue spandex who teaches kids to get exercise.

One of the issues that remains to be seen is what effect a tax increase will have on the voting public's decisions about CMS bonds this fall and questions about Transit.