Why does Frankie Waters refuse to lower your taxes? | Eastern North Carolina Now

By:  Observer Editorial Team

Every year we go thru the budget, pointing out increases and abuses in spending.  Every year important “Projects” are put into Budget ordinances, so they do not show up on the official budget.  Every year spending increases under the leadership of the RINO’s and Democrats. Every year little effort is made by the Board of Commissioners to reduce spending.  The “Demopublicans” take it as given that spending will increase.  They simply do not want to eliminate any programs regardless of how useless they are.  Their idea of prosperity is for Government to spend more money. Lately that is not working very well, So, they increase spending even more.

The budget is a complicated thing.  The Big Spenders work hard to try to keep us confused or befuddled so we will not ask too many questions.  That way they remain in control.

Do not get confused by the difference between the tax rate and spending.  They are entirely two different things.  The proposed budget proudly announces that the tax rate will not go up.  The boys doing the budget and some of the commissioners are very proud of this.  They use this to make you believe they are fiscally conservative and are doing a good job of managing your money. They are not.  This budget increases 6.8 percent more than last year’s budget.  The County justifies this increase by stating that the inflation rate is 8.8 percent so they imply they are “saving you money.”  The 6.8 percent increase does not include, yet to be decided up to an 8 percent salary increase for all employees and the expansion budget.  This looks like a ten percent increase in spending.  Did your income go up ten percent last year?

There is no way increased spending does not ultimately show up in increased tax rate.  Increased taxes usually show up within two or three years of the spending increase. This is after those who increased spending are not holding public office.

The proof they are not doing a good job is that spending continues to go up. Where is that additional 4.3 million coming from?   We have increased sales tax collections, some grant and funding for Federal and State programs, increased fees and increased property taxes.  One million six hundred thousand comes from our savings. The tax rate did not change but the value of property went up.  This allows irresponsible politicians to keep spending without raising the rate now.  But mark my words.  The increase spending comes out of your pocket! 

Taxpayers should not look at the tax rate they should focus on spending.

With about 40 million dollars pumped into the school system by the Federal Government because of the “Covid epidemic,” there is still a proposed increase in school spending of $560,000.   This in a school system that is losing students year over year.  They spend more and more but student performance is static and woefully unacceptable.

The commissioners gave away another million dollars in scholarships to the Community College. This makes Community College free to Beaufort County Citizens and illegals.  Socialism has now overtaken the Community College system and Beaufort County Government. 

There will be an increase in the solid waste fee of $5.00.  They will chip away at you every year.

There is a fascination with shinny things at the Sheriff’s department.  With 10 cars parked at the Old Fair Ground off North Market Street and another 5 or 6 on the lot at the court house, with 4 new cars delivered within the last 6 months the guys are proposing to purchase another ten cars.  We consider this to be gross inefficiency.

There are 12 expansions proposed outside the budget.  These are in the so-called enterprise funds (water is one) and the so called contracts the county has with outside agencies (such as Literacy Volunteers, Ruth’s House, Chamber of Commerce).  The significant thing about this money is that there is NO accountability for it.  Ask Spending Frankie when the last time was that he saw an audit of these agencies.  He has no clue what they do with the money, except what somebody says is done.  There is no verification.

It is the same with Frankie’s radio ad in which he tries to take credit for “expansion of the EMS system.”  Listen carefully to the ad.  What it extols is that they spent MORE on EMS.  But not a word about what resulted from this money.  No accountability.  I doubt he can tell you how many calls the EMS system handled and how many of those qualified under Medicare for EMT service.  Maybe you ought to ask him:  “with all this new spending  why does the taxpayer get a bill whenever they call EMS for an emergency?"

I’d be happy to vote for a tax increase if the County Manager had solid data to support an increase in service, say over the last three years.  But there is nothing to support this increased spending, other than “inflation.”

Just as amazing as anything, is the $60,000 for the farm tractor so the county can continue to plant test plots for seed companies, not just in Beaufort County but in several other counties.  This with contractors present in the county who do this for a living. 

Isn’t government wonderful.  They have plenty of your money.   Frankie Waters is a true financial wizard.  He can increase spending and not raise taxes…until later. 

Motions were made on two occasions to lower taxes.  The County has a minimum of 25 million dollars in savings.  Fake Frankie Waters voted twice not to save you one penny on your taxes.