Please go vote on Tuesday. Please vote “no” to the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College bonds. If you vote “yes” to these bonds, you are voting yourself a tax increase that will most likely never go away.

Remember the ¼ cent sales tax that was passed in 2010 that was supposed to sunset when the debt was paid? Those funds have been used for multiple purposes besides the original purposes and are now counted on by the county to continue those programs.

Consider the following: the county just gave the school system $27.5 million dollars in 2018 for school construction. They have promised them an additional $75 million dollars. With the projected $45 million dollars for RCCC and $15 million dollars to be spent at West End Plaza, this adds up to $162.5 million dollars in debt over a three year period. The county budget in 2014 was $129.1 million. The county budget in 2019 was $159.9 million. This is a $30.8 million increase in expenditures over six years.

It is time that some of this increased revenue be returned to the taxpayers, rather than considering a major tax increase for new debt. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is necessary to Rowan County. The Rowan-Salisbury School System is  important to Rowan County, but at what cost to the taxpayers? Do you want tax relief? Or, will you vote for tax and spend?

I say send a message: Vote “no” to the RCCC bonds on Tuesday.

Have you considered why this bond issue is on the primary ballot rather than the general election ballot in November? It is because very few people vote in the primary and this makes it easier to get initiatives like this passed. Show up on Tuesday and make a difference.

— Jim Sides

Salisbury