County commissioners chairwoman Ellen Reckhow wants help from the homefront to get Durham County's proposed prepared food tax through the state legislature.
Earlier this week, she sent a memo titled "Urgent Action Needed by Monday June 30" to "Concerned Durham County Citizens and Civic/Cultural Arts Groups," informing them the food-tax bill is in jeopardy and urging local interests to lobby the county's legislators in the bill's favor.
"We have hit some bumps in the road," Reckhow wrote in response to a reporter's emailed query. "So I thought we needed a little cheerleading."
State Sen. Floyd McKissick of Durham introduced the bill, S 1839 "Local Government Meals Tax," on May 21. Sen. Bob Atwater, who represents southern Durham County, was co-sponsor. The bill was referred to the senate finance committee, where it remains. Reckhow said the state House is "considering some language" that would block the county from paying debt service from food-tax revenue. Such language would hamper using the tax for some big projects like a local-history museum or a Durham-to-Roxboro trail along the abandoned railroad corridor, she said.
Comments
Taxes
Sat, 06/28/2008 - 07:56 — Anonymous (not verified)When is Durham going to stop running people out of Town? All they know is to keep own adding more tax to the people and the way thing are right now people have a hard time time paying just for the thing they have to have just to live.
Enough with the Taxes......
Fri, 06/27/2008 - 16:44 — WuptdoGeez, is there anything in NC that isn't taxed. Talk about "nicked & dimed" by the NCGL and taxes. Stop all the spending, and maybe there would be some money left over. It you need to tax something how about:
1) Real Estate Commissions
2) Impact Fees for Builders
3) Paper used by newspapers/junk mail/flyers/advertisers
4) Lawyer's Fees
5) Lower the minimum income rate for taxation in NC.