To the Editor:
When discussing the town’s property tax rate, Troutman Councilman Paul Henkel recently said, “The town does not collect money for the fun of it.” I disagree! This hungry beast called government, especially the Troutman Town Council and Iredell County Board of Commissioners, doesn’t know anything but how to take, take, and take more from we the people, the taxpayers.
Further illustrating how ironic some of council’s comments are, Mr. Henkel stated: “The growing town has future infrastructure needs that the council and town are preparing for because we have a big rainy day coming.” Really? How could this be given the new tax assessments our leaders are salivating over? One way to stop this rainy day from coming is to stop your constant grow, grow, grow mentality and start listening to you constituents. There is no need for a rebuttal from the town manager, who constantly reprimands anyone who believes his all-growth-is-good-growth philosophy.
At the same council meeting, Town Finance Director Justin Mundy said town staff would look at the tax rate during upcoming budget discussions, but he stressed that the town has “many needs.” Many needs? What could those needs be? The town manager pointed out the town needs a new town hall so the growing town staff can serve the town’s citizens. Let’s be clear. We the people don’t want a new town hall. The town manager and the elected officials want new digs!
It’s beyond time to reshuffle the deck! Wake up, taxpayers. Let your voices be heard.
Dan Hester
Troutman
What do you think?
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Those tax and spend Republicans are at it again.
This is NOT a party issue. Stop trying to make it one.
The replies from the officials to Mr. Hester’s request make it clear that we current taxpayers are funding growth rather than it being funded by the new tax base. This is tax and spend at its worst. If we need infrastructure growth why not place a referendum on the ballot for a bond issue and see if the taxpayers approve it. Perhaps the majority do not need a new Town Hall or infrastructure for more new development. Perhaps we should be voting for anyone but an incumbent.
I agree with Mr. Hester in that the current residents are not happy with the continuous growth in process. How can it be that Troutman/Iredell County has added all these new taxpayers and that existing taxpayer assessments have to increase so drastically without any benefits being given.
Preach! These local politicians are as as out of touch as those in Washington. Kick ’em out of office.
Government has gotten too big and no one in government would vote for a reduction. Term limits and no golden parachutes, but here again who in government would vote for this?
Good to see the citizens of Troutman waking up and speaking up before the town is ruined with over development and under planning. It appears to be on a path of certain gridlock.
If you play, you must pay.
Absolutely on the money. As an owner of a neighborhood annexed by the town, we have the joy of paying the county taxes and an equal amount to the town. We are still trying to figure out what we get for that tax.
I don’t understand why the builders are making a killing on all this growth and they don’t have to pay for the road changes that are necessary or to pay for the new schools or at least half. People can barely pay for food — let alone this massive tax increase. Looks like my taxes are about to triple. That’s insanity.
Forget about a “New Town Hall.” Let the town collect taxes from more pharmacies and grocery stores. Let’s keep our shopping taxes in Troutman. We only have ONE grocery store and ONE pharmacy for the thousands of Troutman residents. Stop collecting so much taxes. We get taxed for working by the federal and state governments. Then for everything else we pay taxes. When do the citizens of the USA and of Troutman get a break?