Known as a referendum. The proposed increase, if approved by a majority of voters, would take the current rate from 6.75 percent to an even 7 percent – possibly boosting county revenues by an estimated $400,000 per year.
Back in April, the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved putting the measure on every ballot. Their rationale is that a modest sales tax increase is easier for taxpayers to swallow than jacking up the ad valorem tax, which is imposed annually on those who own land, buildings and vehicles.
So, you might ask, why have we not heard much about this referendum?
Well, shortly after the 7-0 vote in April, County Manager Tim Buck counseled elected officials against some type of warm fuzzy ad campaign, ostensibly to extol the merits of a sales tax increase. They should steer clear, he explained, because “In other jurisdictions where they have done ads, it (the referendum) has always been defeated.”
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