On March 3, if you vote to approve the $45 million bond for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, you will guarantee yourself a 3-cent tax increase per $100 in property valuation, without the knowledge of what local governments plan to project for the next budget year and any other proposed tax or fee increases.

The March 3 primary voting date is approximately 90 days before the county commission and town councils finalize their budgets that will start on July 1.

More times than not, these budgets will bring us increases to our property and vehicles taxes along with water, sewer, trash, recycling and stormwater fees if you live within a municipality.

Revaluation of property values were done last year. While the county lowered the tax rate from 66.25 cents to 65.75 cents per $100 in valuation, our property values were higher, resulting in more taxes paid.

Salisbury raised the tax rate during the same time frame from 71.69 cents to 71.96 cents per $100 in valuation along with increases to all services except the residential stormwater fee and the $100 vehicle fee.

Vote “no” on the bond for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, unless the county and municipalities will publicly project their budgets, tax rates and fees that will cost us, the citizens, prior to March.

Stephen J. Thackery

Salisbury