FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
101 WEST NASH STREET
P.O. BOX 909
LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA 27549
(919) 496-1469
www.FranklinNCGOP.com

June 28, 2007

Republicans Foy, Lancaster and Winters Vote NO on Tax Increase

Democrats Pass 3-1/4 Cent Tax Increase
A $200,00 Home Will Cost Over $60 More Per Year + $45 Trash Tax = $105



Left to right at June 28 budget meeting: Democrats  Robert Lee Swanson, commission Chairman Lynwood Buffaloe, Republican Harry Foy, Democrat Penny McGhee-Young, Republicans Don Lancaster, Bob Winters and Democrat Sidney Dunston.

New: Edwards Blasts 'Free Ride' Dems

First the Democrats dumped a $45 trash tax on us, now they increased our property taxes by another 3-1/4 cents on the hundred dollars. A $200,000 home will have at least another $60 added plus the $45 trash tax = $105.

After several failed motions at the June 28 meeting, Democrats Lynwood Buffaloe, Robert Lee Swanson, Rev. Sidney Dunston and Penny McGhee-Young voted for the tax increase. Republicans Harry Foy, Don Lancaster and Bob Winters voted no.

At the beginning of the 6:00 meeting, Swanson made a motion to increase taxes by .05 or more than $100 for a $200,000 home. That failed with Young voting no with the Republicans.

Commissioner Winters said that the $45 trash tax amounts to about a two percent increase on his house, and he supported a ZERO percent tax increase.

However, when Winters introduced the zero percent tax increase, which was seconded by Foy, it failed with Lancaster voting for it while the Democrats voted against it.

Commissioner Young introduced a motion for a 2-1/2 cent tax increase. After what seemed to be an eternity of dead silence her motion failed due to no commissioner seconding the motion.

Commissioner Buffaloe said the county does not need an interim budget and urged another vote.

Again, Winters introduced a motion for a zero percent tax increase with lottery, ADM funds and the fund balance making up the difference. Foy seconded the motion but again it was defeated along party lines.

After some more attempts to pass a budget a break was taken and the following was observed:


That's Robert Lee Swanson getting pointers from none other than the Boss Kingpin of the Democratic Party: Ralph Knott. He sat on the front row listening intently to the meeting but is probably still disappointed that the taxpayers haven't forked over hundreds of thousands of dollars for his museum. Oh well.

Anyway (yes, we're just so thrilled to be reporting about tax increases), Young made another motion for a 2-1/2 cent tax increase but it was finally amended by Swanson to a 3-1/4 cent tax hike.

And all the Democrats voted for the tax hike and raided our wallets again. Republicans Foy, Lancaster and Winters stood firm and voted NO for the tax hike.

But there's next year and there are three Republicans on the board. With just one more elected in November 2008 a conservative Republican majority can finally stop higher taxes and wasteful spending. Last time we had a Republican majority was in the late 1890s (that's 1890s, not 1990s).

Let's see. A school bond tax was defeated in May 2006, a Democratic commissioner was defeated for voting for tax increases, so will more Democratic commissioners be defeated in 2008?

Hmmm, the taxpayers will be reminded of who voted for the trash tax and tonight's tax increase. The taxpayers spoke last year and they may make their voices heard in November 2008.

Those who voted for the 2006 $45 trash tax: Raymond Stone (defeated), Lynwood Buffaloe (up in '08), Robert Lee Swanson (up in '08) and Sid Dunston (up in '08).

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Flashback:
May 29, 2007: Commissioners hash out 2008 budget which could increase by $3,558,121 from last year's $60,893,121. CLICK HERE

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