CCEC Bulletin: 
CCEC, Inc. - 2/8/2007

OF BARKING DOGS & SQUEAKY WHEELS

The old adages are true; it’s the loudest barking dog that first gets fed and the squeakiest wheel that first gets the grease.  These realities should be at the forefront of the minds of all citizens of Chatham as our Board of Commissioners leads the charge toward the implementation of a 1% Land Transfer Tax that could significantly boost the revenue needed to fuel the burgeoning county budget.  A read of the well presented information on the LTT as a potential new option for the county should go a long way in demonstrating its merit as compared to other choices.  To view the PDF document, click on this link to the county web site FAQ sheet:

http://www.co.chatham.nc.us/BulletinBoardItems/
FactSheetOnLandTransferTax.pdf

Most folks we know think the idea is the best thing since sliced bread.  After all, it is fair to everyone (equitable) since people with less income tend to pay less on a real estate transaction or new building than with the current revenue source of a county school impact fee of $2,900.00 levied on any new home in the county (no matter the value of the house).  That impact fee would be gone with the wind if a new LTT blew in to replace it.
 
          It’s also a smart way to keep pace with the ever quickening needs for new schools, improvements to existing schools and the already overburdened infrastructure, since everywhere that it has been implemented swears it to be a revenue source with a consistent growth rate.  Nothing else even begins to keep the county in the race as we try to keep up with the needs resulting from rampant residential growth.
 
          To this already good news, add the PLUS that the LTT has never led to negative impacts (losses in revenue) to real estate and home building industries, and you have the best of all possible worlds, that rare Win-Win situation that makes for happy days for all (and not for just a privileged few).

So, if the LTT is all that it’s cracked up to be (and folks who have it say it IS), then it should be an easy sell to the “Genies” in Raleigh who can grant us our wish, RIGHT?  WRONG!  That’s where the barking dog and squeaky wheel syndrome comes into play.  The “Big Dogs” and the “Big Wheels” of the Big Real Estate and Big Builder and Big Developer lobbies have an impeccable track record of getting the ear of the Genie, and, thus, getting their wishes granted time and time again.  They do more than bark and squeak; they growl and howl and huff and puff.  It works every time.  No granting of LTT’s to any county on their watch.
 
          Therefore, if Chatham (and other progressive counties) wants the favor of the Genie in Raliegh (state legislature), then the citizens had better come together like a pack of hound dogs on a mission and begin to serenade the Genie in concert.  Letters, emails, phone calls, personal visits… (anything short of actually buying their favor, thank you) is fair game in the arena of barking and squeaking. 
 
          CCEC strongly urges all citizens to support the proposed 1% Land Transfer Tax by contacting Senator Bob Atwater and Representative Joe Hackney and asking them to get behind our efforts to grant us the resource to dig ourselves out of the hole (pit, chasm) that gets bigger and bigger day by day.  The LTT is fair and equitable, a proven success in every county that has it, and is a Win-Win for ALL stakeholders (rich and poor and everyone in between).  Shout it to the rooftops.  It’s a GOOD thing!

  Contact information for Senator Atwater:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members
/viewMember.pl?sChamber=S&nUserID=143
 
          Contact information for Representative Hackney:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/
viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUserID=45
 

It’s time to howl!