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The Land Transfer Tax is...

Good.

 

Dear Editor,

I could not believe what arrived in my mailbox today. A mailing stuffed full of erroneous information about a "HOME TAX" This is so wrong. It does not describe the "Land Transfer Tax" We in Clay County have worked hard to make our schools among the best in North Carolina so that our students can compete with other students across the country and worldwide. What would have happened if we had not passed the bond issue back in the 80's? We would not be where we are today. This week the school had to move two more portable classrooms onto the campus. This is not the best learning environment. Turning our school into a trailer park is not the answer.

The County Commissioners have indicated that returns from this Land Transfer Tax will be used to construct a badly needed elementary school.

Life is not free. The Land Transfer Tax has been around North Carolina for a long time. Dare County, (The Outer Banks), had to have some money to pay for the services the people who bought all those beach houses required. The Land Transfer Tax fit he bill. It paid for their ambulance service, water rescue, schools, and many other amenities.

This tax is actually paid by the buyer. The people who will buy the property. Many of whom have children in our public school. 4/10 OF 1 PERCENT of the sale price, which translates to be about $400.00 per $100,000.00. So on a $100,000.00 house the price would be $400.00 more. (Not a great sum). Do you really believe $400.00 is going to stop the sale of a $100,000.00 piece of property?

When property is transferred to our children or within the family this will not apply.

The realtors do not want this tax passed and have worked very hard behind the scenes to prevent Clay County residents from passing this or even having the opportunity to vote on it.

It might take a little out of their commission (of approximately $6,000.00 on that $100,000.00) piece of property in Clay County.

If you are not planning to sell your property this tax will have no affect on you at all.

Except it may keep your annual property tax from going up to pay for the school!

We have to pay our bills One thing that has impressed people about Clay County is the quality of our educational system.

One more thought-what has caused the school to need more space? More students, Of course. This increase in numbers has been brought about by the influx of new people to our county who are buying property here. Since new citizens to our county are causing the problem let them help pay for the solution through this tax.

We will be building this school. The Land Transfer Tax is a painless way to do it. If we don't enact this our property taxes will have to go up approximately $.06 per $100.00 of accessed value. The new reevaluation will be more also. This will apply to every property owner in Clay County whether you sell your property or not. We must provide the best facilities and learning environment in order to maintain our high standards of education. PLEASE VOTE "YES" FOR THE LAND TRANSFER TAX!

- Paul and Pat Jordan
 

Bad.

Dear Editor,

 

The "Land Transfer Tax" is bad for citizens.

So far, of the 19 counties that have put this on the ballot, 19 have voted it down, with no votes for the tax.

Don Swanson, Macon County Chapter Director of Freedom Works explained to Clay County Republicans that the organization is "Fighting for Lower Taxes, Less Government, and More Freedom" by monitoring and engaging government officials, elected representatives, and special interests who could take our freedoms away (often by taxation). Allen Page, SE Regional Director of Freedom Works was also present for questions.

Currently members of this organization have researched the pitfalls of the "Land Transfer Tax." Passing the "Land Transfer Tax" would allow the government agency receiving the tax to do with it as it wants, without having to use either for all of a proposed project(like our schools), or for other projects too. And if voted in, the amounts and areas of the spent money would not have to be reported to the public.

For additional information, contact: Freedom- Works.org The Washington DC number is: 202 783 7380. Don Swanson's number in Macon County is 828 524-2960.

- Freedom Works in connection with the John Locke Foundation
 

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