The following editorial was written by a Watauga County citizen, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the High Country Mom Squad.
Why am I going to VOTE YES for the sales tax referendum?
Watauga County needs new and improved recreation facilities.
While our local community has a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities, it does not have an indoor facility that allows local residents to be active regardless of weather conditions. This is especially true for children and families who desperately need an indoor place to be active together when the weather is poor. The Watauga County Parks and Recreation Master Plan, generated through a survey administered by ASU and multiple community meetings, emphasizes that “the need for indoor recreation opportunities was expressed as a priority by virtually all input methods.” A new recreation center that would include a gymnasium and a pool would be an invaluable community asset. In addition, the sales tax increase would provide funds to build a new community center in eastern Watauga County and expand our parks and other recreation areas.
The sales tax increase is small and generates significant revenue from non-resident spending.
For all counties in North Carolina, the sales tax is 7.75 percent (5.25% state and 2.5% local). We would join seventeen other counties who have increased their local sales tax. The proposal would increase our sales tax by a quarter penny bringing it to 8 percent. This increase would NOT apply to groceries. The increase would result in an extra 25 cents in sales tax on every $100 spent on eligible items. For example, a purchase at the Boone Mall of $400 dollars would only cost on extra $1 under the proposed increase. The county estimates that this will generate about 1.3 million dollars per year, with a substantial portion of that revenue coming from visitors outside the community. Funding our local recreation opportunities with a significant contribution from outside Watauga County seems like a smart decision.
The commissioners have passed a resolution committing all new sales tax revenues to fully pay for these recreation opportunities.
All the revenue generated from the sales tax increase will go to recreation and will not go to pay for other services in the budget.
This initiative has broad based support.
The referendum is supported by Republicans, Democrats and independents. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce supports the building of a recreation center with a sales tax increase. Citizens of all ages have expressed the need for this new infrastructure.
The referendum is an INVESTMENT in the future of our county.
No one likes to pay extra taxes. But public money spent on expanding recreation options will improve the health of our residents, promote social connectedness and strengthen our local economy.
VOTE YES
Scott St. Clair, MD
Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Editors Note: If you would like to express a differing view please contact us!
As a candidate for the 2010 Watauga County Board of Education (which is also non-partisan) and a father of two girls, I support a new recreation center for our children. We must do all that we can to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity here in our county and giving our children more recreation and physical activity opportunities is a great first step. In addition, a new recreation center adjacent to the new high-school will directly increase opportunities for after-school programming for our at risk children.