Research Reports: 2007

The Moore County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $16.7 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Chatham County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $24.5 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Greene County commissioners are asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase on November 6. But the county has about $8.2 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Macon County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $21.6 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Brunswick County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $75 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

Over the past six years, Goldsboro’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of over $2.5 million. The city unfairly competes with seven private courses in the area.

Over the past four years, Burlington’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of over $1.2 million. The city unfairly competes with 14 private courses in the area.

What follows is the minority report I submitted to the Wake County Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee on Thursday, September 13, 2007. Although I am a member of that committee, the chairs of the committee, John Mabe and Billie Redmond, denied my request to have this report included with the final committee report.

In the era of No Child Left Behind, students have not been discouraged from enrolling in courses other than language arts and mathematics. Both the number of class periods and the number of students enrolled in most courses has increased in concert with enrollment growth. Nevertheless, elementary foreign languages and middle school health and physical education courses have been on the decline.

Counties across the state are adopting Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) that require homebuilders to pay fees of up to $14,953 for each new home built.1 County commissioners favoring these ordinances argue that they allow public services to keep pace with population growth. Opponents believe that APFOs actually place an unfair burden on homebuilders and homebuyers because APFOs can significantly increase home prices.