The Spag Report

The County Tax Increase

From this morning's News and Record:

“What I can say to you with confidence is that between 2004 and now, values are down in Guilford County and across the country,” [Don] Jud said. “I’m rather suspicious of something that would say that there’s been an appreciation and it’s been more rapid in more expensive homes than in less expensive homes.”

The reassessments were really just a massive tax increase by the County. Instead of forcing the Commissioners to take a politically costly vote to raise the tax rates to pay for the past decade of profligate spending , the County simply raised the tax basis.

Jeff Phillips is exactly right:

“Do I feel like the revaluation is a mechanism by which higher revenue is generated, allowing for more spending in the budget of Guilford County?” Phillips said. “I think it’s a valuable question.”

One possible conclusion is that Democrats and so-called conservative Republican's on the Board helped craft this for political cover. Despite assertions to the contrary, that is the one thing they could all agree on. Politics makes strange bedfellows. The lack of any protest from the Commissioners is telling.

Meanwhile, that taxpayer will experience no meaningful distinction when they write out a heftier check this year for taxes on properties that have lost significant value.

An Unpleasant Precedent For Robbie Perkins ?

"It can reasonably be argued that Mayor Perkins was subjected to a potential financial detriment, e.g. the potential loss of his real estate listings with Park View Development"

If that is the view of the City Attorney, then Robbie Perkins and his wealthy cronies may not have the taxpayer-funded, pocket-lining adventure they had hoped for since he was elected mayor.

I question how long this will last before Perkins fights back.

A Gift From You To Robbie Perkins' Rich Friends

Is anyone surprised that the City Council led by crony-capitalist mayor and developer Robbie Perkins is considering spending your money to help Robbie's wealthy friends get even wealthier ?

These wealthy people are playing with YOUR money rather than risk their own capital. Remember the saying "privatize gains, socialize losses" ? This is simply a variation on that where all of the gains will be realized by this crowd, while the investment is paid by the taxpayer. We should all be so lucky. Maybe it's time for an "Occupy Robbie Perkins" movement.

It's interesting that the voices who so often complain about the rich getting richer and not paying their "fair share" were some of Robbie's strongest supporters. They must suddenly believe in the trickle down theory when it comes to crony-capitalism, but not when it comes to federal tax rates.

Some of us warned you about Perkins using his office to enrich he and his friends.

But getting rid of the conservative Bill Knight was apparently more important. Bill just wasn't competent in transferring your money to his friends like Robbie- probably because he had no desire to do so.

Rich Brenner Has Left Us

Our friend Rich Brenner has passed away. He will be missed. He was a principled guy, always enthusiastic, and he never stopped working for what he believed in. 

My condolences to his family, our friends at WGHP, and everyone who was affected by his life. Rich influenced a whole generation of sports reporters, not to mention he was also a loyal conservative.

Rich Brenner was 65, but his constant energy made him seem younger. I am confident he is in heaven right now watching the rest of the Daytona 500 with Dale Earnhardt.

  WZTK's Britt Whitmire also offers a nice tribute.

Rich's friends at News 2 pay homage.