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leah.friedman@newsobserver.com or (919) 932-2002
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TAX OPTIONS
The state legislature gave counties the authority to ask voters for permission to levy a 0.4 percent land transfer tax or a quarter-cent sales tax. Counties may put both on the ballot, but if both pass may levy only one.
Commissioners have the option to levy either tax that passes, but they're not bound to.
If the measure fails, counties can ask voters again as often as they want.
If another board is elected, it can repeal the land transfer tax without voter permission. A special election would be required to get rid of the sales tax.
TRIANGLE COUNTIES
Chatham and Johnston counties have put the land transfer tax on their November ballots. Johnston also is asking voters to approve a sales tax.
Wake and Durham counties chose not to put the measures on their ballots.
Orange County voted Wednesday night to have one or both new tax options on the May ballot.
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Voter educationThe county has spent $3,500 on a consultant and shiny brochures that they say will educate the community about the tax. Education with public funds is allowed, Meyer said, as long as it doesn't say how citizens should vote.The brochure has "The Voter's Choice" on the front with a picture of the Chatham courthouse. Inside are pictures of school children with backpacks, and lists of school needs."Additional revenue from the land transfer tax, if approved, could be used to help the county increase its borrowing capacity ... up to $43 million in additional funds for schools and other needs," it reads.The county will pay as much as $10,000 for the consultant, according to the county manager.Johnston County voters will have their say on both a land transfer tax and a quarter-cent sales tax increase. The county would earn more from the land tax, raising about $4.5 million per year.Commissioner Allen Mims has said if voters back a land transfer tax, he would favor devoting it to school construction. The county also could use more money for debt service, road improvements or a break on property taxes.Wake County has not put a tax measure on the ballot. County Manager David Cooke and several commissioners have expressed concern that asking voters to approve a new land transfer tax or sales tax on the same ballot as $187 million in bond issues would be too much.Orange County commissioners declined to put a land transfer tax on the November ballot, but decided Wednesday night to put some local revenue measure on the May primary ballot.Fearful that the prospect of a new tax would jeopardize three bond proposals, Durham County commissioners, too, put off a fall referendum on the taxes.
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