We agree with the Salisbury Post that House leaders are taking a more moderate and fair approach to tax reform (“Editorial: Different takes on tax reform,” 5/23).
As the presidents of Livingstone College and Catawba College, respectively, we are concerned that the Senate’s proposed “Tax Fairness Act” (S677) will have a very negative impact on all nonprofit organizations in our state. As part of the proposed bill Catawba and Livingstone, along with North Carolina’s other 35 independent, nonprofit higher education institutions and thousands of other nonprofits, would be required to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in state sales tax. If enacted into law, the Senate plan can be expected to raise the cost of education for the 90,000 students we enroll across the state. Also, increased costs from new taxes will make our North Carolina colleges less competitive with colleges in the surrounding states that are tax-exempt.
We urge the North Carolina Senate to follow the House’s lead and do the right thing by voting “no” on any new taxes on charitable nonprofit organizations. Preserving our tax exempt status is critical to our ability to fulfill our academic mission.
— Dr. Jimmy Jenkins Sr.

President, Livingstone College
— Brien Lewis

President, Catawba College

“Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you decide to accept it …”
That’s how an old TV show called “Mission: Impossible” began each episode. An agent, Mr. Phelps, gets a potential assignment by way of a tape recorder. Near the end of the tape, it says if he gets caught, the government will disavow any knowledge of his actions. Five seconds later, the tape self-destructs.
Currently, Washington, D.C., is embroiled in three different scandals. They involve the IRS targeting conservative groups, the Department of Justice seizing phone records and e-mails and the State Department regarding Benghazi.
A few “Mr. Phelps” have surfaced, but basically there is just a whole lot of disavowing going on. Several IRS officials claim they don’t know anything. The same goes for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and even President Obama.
Given the gravity of all these issues, I find that hard to believe. Hopefully the truth will emerge. In the meantime, we are left with that familiar feeling of deception, distrust and impropriety.
I realize this kind of stuff has been going on in politics forever. Yet you would think in these exceedingly dangerous times, politicians would grow up, put aside their selfish ambitions and do what is best for the country.
Don’t count on it. For them, that’s “Mission: Impossible.”
— Allan Gilmour

Salisbury

I think our local state legislators may just outdo their already remarkable voting records!
I’ve spoken with folks who are knowledgeable on both airport de-Annexation and school vouchers.
One person responded to my questions by saying, “No, see, you just don’t get it. The airport ‘thing’ is simply this — a group of about 35 people are mad at the city about the general notion of annexation, and they are determined to cause havoc, and they have the ear of those elected to represent all the people, and those representatives are scared about being re-elected and they will do their bidding.”
I spoke to another person about the school voucher notion and why it would be in the public’s interest to pass a bill that decimates funding for an already underfunded public school system and permits people to obtain public vouchers who make 133 percent of the poverty level.
The person smiled and said. “First, it’s because they can, and second, it is ideological and they want their children going to church schools and for the government to pay for it.”
Folks, watch what how your state representatives vote. It makes a difference.
Geez, this is Rowan County, and it’s 2013.
— John T. Blair

Salisbury

My son is about to graduate from high school, and as a parent about to have a newly designated “adult” in her house, I’ve been thinking about what I’ve done right and what I’ve done wrong in the rearing of said adult.
Four years ago, we had the opportunity to decide what kind of high school education he should pursue. I lost sleep; should we invest his college fund on private high school? Should we make the drive to a charter school? In the end, we listened to our son. He wanted to go to his hometown school, where he could cheer on the football team with friends and neighbors, and feel a part of the tradition. We found out that Salisbury High is more than just sports and tradition. It’s a high quality learning institution where kids (sorry, young adults) are challenged intellectually and learn to work with others from all walks of life.
My son has taken a rigorous course of study I would put up against any high school curriculum out there, including a huge variety of honors and AP courses taught by top-notch educators. His APs alone will give him a full year’s worth of college credit. Salisbury High strives to meet the needs of all of its students. US News and World Report has named SHS in the top 1,100 of more than 21,000 public high schools in the country because it provides a superb academic program for all of its students, and SHS was further identified as one of the top ten public high schools in North Carolina.
If you are struggling, as did I, with the decision of where to send your rising freshman, give Salisbury High School another look. Sometimes the best things are grown here at home.
— Amy Wimmer

Salisbury