Durham Citizens Against the Food Tax has received $26,570.45 worth of
in-kind contributions while the Durham Prepared Meal Tax Committee has
taken in $87,550 in kind and cash from Durham and Raleigh sources.
Figures are according to campaign-finance reports filed with the Durham County Board of Elections (see www.co.durham.nc.us/departments/elec).
The tax, subject of a referendum on Nov. 4, is earmarked to build and expand amenities such as museums, the civic center, parks and greenways. The legislature approved a vote on the tax this summer, with provisions that 80 percent of the revenue be used for civic amenities, 10 percent for marketing and 5 percent each for "community cleanup" and worker training.
The national low-tax, limited-government lobbying group Americans for Prosperity has provided Citizens Against with
- $20,000 worth of radio advertising
- $3,290.04 worth of yard signs and wires
- $1,449.01 worth of printing
- $944.40 worth of robo calls
- $850 for sign placement
- $37 in rental fee for a Durham mailbox
In its organizational report, Citizens Against the Food Tax states that it is accepting only in-kind contributions.
Dallas Woodhouse of Raleigh, Americans for Prosperity's state director, is listed as treasurer for Durham Citizens Against; Steve Mullins, that group's chief financial officer, is listed as assistant treasurer at AfP's Washington, D.C. address.
On the other side, the Durham Prepared Meal Tax Committee has received in kind:
- $28,650 worth of poster and billboard displays from Fairway Outdoor Advertising of Raleigh
- $840 worth of radio ads from WDNC of Durham
- $600 worth of poll workers' expenses from Tell Melvin Consulting of Durham
Capital Broadcasting of Raleigh and Teer Associates of Durham are the largest cash donors supporting the tax, chipping in $5,000 each, while Duke University has given $3,000 and the Quintiles/Innovex drug company at RTP has done $2,500.
Measurement Inc. CEO Hank Scherich of Durham has given $2,000; contributing $1,000 each for the tax are the Freelon Group, architects; C.T. Wilson Construction; O'Brien Atkins, architects; RBC Bank; and the law firm R & L Gates, all of which have offices or headquarters in Durham County.
Robert D. Teer Jr. is treasurer of the Meal Tax Committee.
Political donations of $1,000 or more must be reported to the Board of Elections within 48 hours. The reporting period continues through election day.
