referendum

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.

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.

State legislators are currently considering proposals to issue hundreds of millions of dollars in additional debt without seeking voter approval. The billions of dollars worth of bonds and other debt already approved since 1996 have more than quadrupled the state’s debt service and represent as much as a third of the fiscal impact of the tax hikes passed by the General Assembly since 2001. It’s no wonder politicians are wary of asking voters for more. But that’s why they should.

RALEIGH — Voters in Raleigh and Wake County are overwhelmingly in favor of holding a referendum on a proposal from city and county officials to build a new convention center…

State lawmakers are considering a proposed constitutional amendment to allow local governments to issue bonds without a public vote to construct convention centers, sports arenas, and other “economic development” projects. Careful research of these programs in other states reveals that they do not enhance a community’s economic growth over time. Moreover, they weaken governmental accountability to a voting public that does not favor subsidizing private businesses.