INC NEWS - Act Now For NC's Future -- support the transfer fee or impact
Chris Sevick
csevick at verizon.net
Tue Jul 17 18:38:57 EDT 2007
Bill,
I think that you have mischaracterized my opinions about government. I distrust both our state and local elected officials. The fact that the NC Association of Realtors is the single largest donor to the political campaigns of our state legislators leads me to seriously question whether they are acting in the best interest of their electorate with regard to this real estate transfer tax.
The NC Association of Realtors has stated that the sales tax should be increased as an alternative to the transfer tax. So, they think that it's OK to raise the general sales tax rate above the current 6.75%, but don't even want a real estate sale to be taxed at .10%. I think it's reasonable to suggest that the average citizen, who isn't a state legislator getting paid by realtors, might find a minimal tax on a real estate sale to be acceptable.
Let me just add that I'm not sure I would even vote for the transfer tax. Raising the general property tax rate for everybody might be a more equitable way of raising money. In the end, though, all of our personal opinions don't really matter. The real issue is whether we are willing to allow citizens to participate more directly in our democracy.
Ironically, if you empower the community to make important decisions, like local tax policies, you will see much greater participation in community groups like INC. Think about it . . .
- Chris Sevick
=====================
From: TheOcean1 at aol.com
Date: 2007/07/17 Tue PM 02:39:27 CDT
To: csevick at alumni.unc.edu, inc-list at durhaminc.org
Subject: Re: INC NEWS - Act Now For NC's Future -- support the transfer fee or impact
Chris I don't distrust the community, I don't even distrust our county government. I think in general, we can count on both to do the right thing..... very generally speaking. But all government is somewhat like a life form, always looking for new sources of food (funding).This bill is so poorly conceived there is no reason to place the temptation before the counties of North Carolina. If the tax is unfair, there's no reason make it available to the counties. If your trust is well placed, the counties would see that this tax is unfair, and wouldn't employ it anyway. So what logic is there in giving them this option? On the menu of your favorite restaurant is the statement about adding the gratuity to the meal bill for parties over six. We all think that's fair.Now imagine if it added that it also reserved the right to charge the taxi cab driver who delivered the customers, if deemed appropriate. We all know that it would never be appropriate and we trust the restaurant to do the right thing, don't we? This tax bill is a little less cut and dry, as is evidenced by this dialogue. We all know the taxi cab driver doesn't owe any part of that meal tab, that's simple. But this tax issue blankets all sellers of property to include those who owe, but it also covers those who don't. It's good that you trust our government to do the right thing, but would you want them to have the right to send a tax bill to your out of state relatives? We trust them to see that it wouldn't be fair, don't we? It would just be on the books and never employed, right? If we know it isn't fair, why even have it as an option? If it obviously places even part of the burden where it doesn't belong, why not kill it at the state level?
There's no reason to ask each county to come to the same correct conclusion, even if we trust they would do so. Bill In a message dated 7/17/2007 2:15:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, csevick at verizon.net writes:Bill,
I'm a bit confused by your opposition to the real estate transfer tax bill. As I understand it, if the bill passes, it won't mean that the transfer tax will be imposed. It just means that each NC county will have the authority to let it's residents vote on whether or not to institute the tax.
Even if you oppose the tax, you should support this bill. If the majority of the people in this county don't want the tax, they can just vote against it. I can't think of a much more democratic way to address the issue. If we really care about our local community, we should entrust our local community with these decisions.
- Chris Sevick
=====================
From: TheOcean1 at aol.com
Date: 2007/07/16 Mon PM 08:34:46 CDT
To: mmr121570 at yahoo.com, inc-list at durhaminc.org
Subject: Re: INC NEWS - Act Now For NC's Future -- support the transfer fee or impact ...
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<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>I hate to disagree so strongly with one of my favorite community activists,
but I must.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In fact, after reading your Melissa's letter, I'd suggest using the email
addresses below for exactly the opposite purpose, to ask our representatives to
oppose this bill.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here's my reasoning:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>While the county's impact fee was recently over ruled, I think it was well
aimed at new construction.</DIV>
<DIV>It is after all, the new families moving in that create the new burdens on
our school systems and infrastructure. This tax has a much greater effect on
the SELLER of property, than the newcomer moving in, as it is passed to the
seller in the selling price of real estate.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Even Melissa recognized this, with the exception she tried to include of
historic properties. But it's an "all or nothing at all" bill, and that
exception can not be incorporated. Sorry Melissa, but would you still support
this bill if you knew that your friendly amendment can't be incorporated?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For that reason, far too much of this new burden would be borne by senior
citizens selling their almost historic home they built years ago, as
they try to raise the needed funds to move to a retirement community, while
they pass their homes to up and coming families. Those new families will
renovate those older homes, while they add to the burden. Their entire
neighborhoods will experience great gains in property values as multiple
properties change hands in this way, and in each case it will be the exiting
senior citizen who's once again paid the toll. This time, it happens at the time
they can least afford it, at the tail end of them paying their "share" of the
burden, thirty years after their children stopped adding to it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>No, I do NOT support this bill, and I hope others will join me in
opposition. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If Melissa's amendment could be included, then I'd agree she's right on
target. Taxing new construction logically places the burden where it's being
created, but as it is crafted, this bill unfairly burdens our senior citizens,
and discourages renovation and revitalization of areas of North Carolina, such
as East Durham.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Let's not discourage the private sector from undertaking the expensive and
risky investment they've shown willingness to make, in the most historic
sections of Durham, while we unfairly whack our elders with the expenses of
folks who've noticed that our city tops a lot of lists as a smart place to live.
Let the incoming plants pay for the new top soil required.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Join me in opposition and let our representatives know how you feel. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bill Anderson</DIV>
<DIV>(apologies to Melissa)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 7/16/2007 8:36:49 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
mmr121570 at yahoo.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT <BR> style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Please
see the forwarded message below. And please
write your legislators
regarding the right of local
governments to impose transfer taxes and/or
impact
fees.
I have also attached the letter I sent to the
members
of the General Assembly who represent Durham County --
in case
you need some help to get started.
The email addresses for Durham
County Representatives
are:
Larryh at ncleg.net, Paull at ncleg.net,
Mickeym at ncleg.net,
Winkiew at ncleg.net, Boba at ncleg.net,
Floydm at ncleg.net
Thank you for caring :)
Melissa
Melissa
Rooney
mmr121570 at yahoo.com
Note: forwarded message
attached.
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1302662106<BR>Subject: Act Now For NC's Future
To: "Melissa and Mike <BR> Rooney" <mmr121570 at yahoo.com>
From: "Partnership For North Carolina's
Future" <ncfuturenow at capstrat.com><BR>Reply-To: "Partnership For North
Carolina's Future" <ncfuturenow at capstrat.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007
19:06:12 -0400 (EDT)
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Act Now for North Carolina's Future
title=http://capwiz.com/ncfuturenow/utr/1/ISJYHKVORV/KDDDHKVQPD/1302662106
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Take Action!
Legislators are in the final days of
negotiations on budget issues, and so far no concrete
solution has been found for dealing with our state’s
infrastructure needs. As a part of the ongoing
discussions, legislative leaders are considering
whether or not to give local communities an
opportunity to vote on a real estate transfer tax to
help address these growing needs. If
approved by the legislature, people in each county
would have an opportunity to vote on the issue, which
could provide additional funding to invest in local
infrastructure needs and hold down rising property
taxes.
The proposal has
currently stalled and members of the Senate need to
hear from you. Contact your senator today and
urge him or her to give approval to legislation that
would give local communities the right to vote on this
important issue.
Our schools are
overcrowded, roads are deteriorating, and many
communities lack adequate water and sewer
systems. Many citizens are living in substandard
housing and every day North Carolina is losing
forests, farms and natural areas. With our
population expected to increase by 50 percent by 2030,
legislators need to make important decisions now to
help meet existing needs and prepare for the
future.
The Partnership for North Carolina’s
Future has been urging the General Assembly to provide
funding solutions – through local funding options and
statewide bonds – to meet these growing needs. Right
now, the main debate revolves around the transfer tax
issue. The Partnership is asking legislators to
let the people vote.
color=#008000>Please email your senator today and ask
him or her to support giving local communities the
right to vote on a real estate transfer tax.
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