Two areas of concern: DA staffing, gasoline tax
Due to the recession, North Carolina is facing a revenue shortfall, as is the case in most states. Drastic cuts have been proposed to balance the state’s operating budget as required by the N.C. Constitution. Many of the proposed cuts were necessary to balance the budget, though state government must understand you never make cuts to public safety or the judicial system.
It’s imperative that citizens feel safe at all times. The district attorney’s office has always been overwhelmed with cases, even before the budget cuts. Cutting the district attorney’s staff will result in cases going to court with the defense more prepared than prosecutors due to an unmanageable case load, resulting in more criminals avoiding prison, making our streets much more dangerous. Prosecutors will be forced to offer more plea deals due to the shortage of assistant prosecutors qualified to try cases.
Another failure in the budget is the legislature’s decision not to intervene on the gas tax hike that is recalculated automatically twice a year. We hear many reasons why the legislature could not agree on an alternative to raising the gas tax. But given that we are now paying 35 cents in taxes on every gallon, any excuse is hogwash, especially since state-generated transportation funds will total $2.7 billion this year, 60 percent from the gas tax alone.
Our gas tax is among the highest in the Southeast and 13th highest in the nation. This puts us at a great disadvantage with bordering states in an effort to lure much needed revenues.
I personally know many of our state representatives and hold them in high regard. I also know mistakes in judgment will happen at times. That is understandable, but not fixing a problem of this magnitude immediately is unacceptable. Perhaps our legislators will re-visit this issue before the next budget session. Citizens are counting on you.
— Jeff Gerber
Unionville
Just a cotton-pickin’ minute…
This is in response to Donald Schumacher’s July 13 letter “A conspiracy theory sprouts.”
Did you ever see the movie “Conspiracy Theory” with Mel Gibson? I wonder if that movie influenced your quasi-situational story about pea-pickers.
I don’t have a problem with immigrant and occupational pea-pickers. What I have a problem with is pickers of a different sort in Salisbury.
My problem is that certain people in Salisbury have “cotton-pickin’ ” minds. Where does that term come from? As a former New Jersey resident who has been here for more than 15 years, I have read about Southern history. I know too many people, both black and white, who have nothing important on their minds. At least President Obama (our first “black and white” president) is intelligent and is trying to straighten out our bogus economic system.
In conclusion, why don’t all you rich and/or unemployed people get together and plant some crops, pray for rain, harvest your crops, not eat so much, sweat a lot, stop complaining and be happy you’re alive?
— Michael Kondek
Salisbury