Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:13:27 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
From: Bill Crawford
Subject: Sales Tax Referendum March 3rd
The Democrats on the Chatham Board of Commissioners have recently announced that they are instructing their staff to develop a budget with “no property tax increase” in 2020. This is a cheap election year tactic, belied by their move last year to raise property tax valuations, knowing full well that that and the wave of property reassessments would work together to raise property taxes by an average of near 10% countywide.
This also follows a referendum to raise the County sales tax from 6.75%-7%, all of it to raise Chatham’s share of it from 2% to 2.25%. They deliberately put this referendum on the Primary ballot on March 3rd, knowing full well that the vote turnout would be lower than the November election, giving them a better chance of passing it.
This referendum is open to every registered voter in Chatham. It is imperative that you find a time to get out and vote NO on this, especially since the Commissioners have not stated any specific need or target for the new revenue.
Early voting starts Thursday, Feb. 13, through Saturday, Feb. 29. The Primary election will be held at the usual local polling places on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30am to 7:30pm. There are four early voting sites:
1) Siler City Earl B. Fitts Community Center, 111 S. Third Ave.
2) Goldston Goldston Town Hall, 40 Coral Avenue
3) Pittsboro Agricultural Center, US HWY 64W Business
4) Pittsboro CCCC Health Science Bldg., 75 Ballantrae Ct.
The last site is new, for North Chatham. It is near the corner of Taylor Rd and 15-501. This is a new building and you will not find it on your maps. It is a block north of Andrew Store Road, if you are coming north, there is no left turn. You must drive further and do a U-turn.
All early voting sites are open weekdays from 8am to 7pm, Saturdays from 8am until at least 1pm.
We need to deal with the sales tax increase now. When November comes, you will get a chance to end this craziness by voting for the three Republican Commissioner candidates: Jimmy Pharr, Jay Stobbs and Andy Wilkie. The two Democrats up for re-election are Mike Dasher and Karen Howard. We need to do the humane thing and promote them- from public servant to citizen. Imagine how much more peaceful their lives will be, if they are not forced to sit in public for hours and pretend they are listening to people they disagree with, when they line up to publicly speak of their displeasure at how they are being governed.
Let’s shoot for a County government for all of us, not just those who agree. Make sure you mark both sides of the ballot. Vote NO!
Bill Crawford
44 Hawk’s Spiral Way
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Mobile: (919) 704-6742
“God does not play dice with the universe”
2020-02-02