Raleigh
Outfoxing the Tax-and-Spend Dog
Last week on this blog, Carter did that voodoo he does so well: attack tax-and-spend Democrats. His target was Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker Here was the money punch: “From 1992 to 2001, under Republican mayors, Raleigh never raised property taxes. Now, under Mayor Meeker we are staring at the second tax increase in three years.…
Read MoreThe School Superintendent Speaks Out
Wake County School Superintendent Bill McNeal told the News and Observer, (5/16/06) he could never recommend a measly $625 million School Bond. McNeal said he couldn’t put kids in schools with adequate heating, air-conditioning and a roof that doesn’t leak for $625 million. Huh? The superintendent is saying if he doesn’t get a billion dollar…
Read MoreA Few Statistics from the News and Observer’s School Bond Poll
The News and Observer and WRAL-TV polled to find out if the taxpayers would support a $625 million school bond (with no tax increase), a $998 million bond (with a tax increase) or a $1.15 billion bond (with an even bigger tax increase). 1. Voters opposed the $1.15 billion bond (with the biggest tax increase)…
Read MoreStrange Logic II
I asked a retired friend, who occasionally serves as a substitute teacher, why the School Board was determined to push for a tax increase when three independent polls show it losing overwhelmingly. He told me an interesting story about the dress code in the Wake County Schools. He said students ignore the dress code and…
Read MoreThe Taxes Just Keep on Coming
Wake County Manager David Cooke wants to increase property taxes three cents. The way the politicians describe this type of tax increase, they say it’s “only” a $45 increase on a $150,000 home. Let’s look a little closer. On top of Mr. Cooke’s three-cent tax hike, the Wake County Board of Education wants a 3.9…
Read MoreStrange Logic
WRAL-TV and The News and Observer have taken a poll on the Wake County School Bonds. They found voters: Favored a $625 million bond with no tax increase 64% to 28% Opposed a $998 million bond with a tax increase 59% to 27% Opposed a $1.15 billion bond with a bigger tax increase 57% to…
Read MoreRaleigh Mayor
A good way for Republicans to get a head start on the next Mayor’s race is to start making Mayor Charles Meeker’s runaway spending an issue. Now. On top of proposing to raise taxes on new homes, and raising property taxes to pay for a school bonds and raising property taxes two years ago, the…
Read MoreA Small Cut
With Mayor Meeker talking about raising taxes again, and the City Council talking about spending $11 million more than it has, Republicans should be recommending ways to trim the budget. Here’s a small idea. The City publishes a newsletter, “Liveable Streets Update: Downtown Raleigh.” The newsletter seems to exist for only one reason – to…
Read MorePolitics and Impact Fees
Someone once quipped the two greatest lies are ‘the checks in the mail,’ and ‘I’ll still love you in the morning.’ He might have added, ‘We’ll tax someone else.’ The great debate over ‘Impact Fees’ is underway in the Raleigh City Council. The smallest amount being considered to increase this tax is 72%. Even that…
Read MoreParking Deck – Another $45 Million
The Raleigh City Council has approved Mayor Meeker’s new underground parking deck – to go with his downtown Hotel and Convention Center. This $45 million parking deck brings the total cost of Mayor Meeker’s Center/Hotel complex to over $250 million.What would taxpayers have saved if the Mayor had decided to build an above ground parking…
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