The tax money give-away, a.k.a "pork," is not just a farm tractor | Eastern North Carolina Now

By:  Hood Richardson

The purchase of a $64,000 farm tractor to plant seed plots for seed companies is not the only misuse of tax money by the rulers on the Beaufort County Commission.  If it were known, it would be headlined across the State of North Carolina.  We have become numbed by the thousands of misappropriations by counties, states and the federal government. 

Should we allow government to continue to waste, misappropriate and spend our hard-earned money as they please.   The answer is “no!”  We have difficulty in objecting to what state and federal governments does with our money.  They are so far away, barricaded themselves with bureaucrats, laws and regulations in a maze, that is takes a lot of time and effort to navigate. 

That is not the case with county government.  Decision makers are close.  We can see, talk to and communicate with county commissioners.  We can let them know how we feel about using our money for their favorite charities and people.  We can bump into commissioners on the street or see them at the grocery store.

Within about one month we can vote for or against some of them.  If we vote for commissioners who are abusing us we invite them to continue abusing us.  If we vote for someone else we may elect another abuser but we have a chance of electing someone who will look after our interests.  Changing out abusing commissioners sends a strong message to the new commissioner.

The Beaufort County budget work book has a “pork barrel“ page.  It is called “Outside Agencies”.  That page gives away $447,000 in the 2022-23 fiscal year.  The Fake Frankie Waters” gang of four” does not require that there be any audits or certifications or that the money given is accounted for in any way.  Truth be known, we have no idea how this money is spent.

Some of those receiving money are the Aurora Recreation Department $4,500, Bath Recreation Department $6,000, Belhaven Recreation Department $10,000, Chocowinity Recreation Department $7,200,  Pantego Recreation $4,950, Washington Recreation $20,000 and Washington Park Recreation $1,620.  All of the property owners in these towns pay Beaufort County taxes.  Does it make sense to tax people and then give the money back to them.  What do the rest of the citizens of Beaufort County get---a tax bill, with no rebate.  Each of these towns has the ability to levy taxes and to my knowledge, all  use their taxing authority. 

Who benefits from the tax rebate process?  The politicians who promise to give them the money.  These city governments smile favorably on them during elections.  In this case the Fake Frankie Waters “gang of four” benefits on election day.  I, for one, refuse to take money from people across the County and give it to town governments who have the ability to raise this money using their own tax authority.

Other charities receiving donations to are the Aurora Fossil  Museum $2,000, the Belhaven Memorial Museum $1,000, Washington Senior Center $20,000, Literacy Volunteers $2,500, Beaufort County Arts Council $20,000, Highway 17 Transportation Association $20,000, Citizens On Southside Together $2,000, Eagles Wings $2,000, Ruth’s House $2,000, NC Estuarium $15,000, Cornerstone $5,000, Tourism Promotion $15,000, Pantego Academy $1,500, Zion Shelter $10,000, Inter Banks Stem Center $5,000, Agape $25,000, Second Judicial District  Recovery Court $10,000, and  Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children $10,000.

We donate to youth services.  Beaufort County donates $2,000 to Pamlico Pals and $40,000 to the Boys and Girls Club.

I do not contend that these are unworthy causes  or that they do no good.  I do contend that the average tax payer, working for a living, should not have his tax money misused   Government has no obligation to contribute to charities.

In order to get on the government dole many of the organizations will place a County Commissioner on the their board and then pressure him into advocating for them.  I have observed that it works every time.  There is a strong tendency not to remove charities once on the handout list.  The “unwritten rule” is “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch your’s” or “if you vote for my wish list I will vote for your’s.” 

There are many other handouts for the “social good of humanity” squirreled away in other places in the budget.  The Health Department and Social Services Department are full of them.  Things like clean needles for drug users and prophylactics for teenagers. Some of that is paid or by grants but the taxpayer has expenses in it too. It is not just the farm tractor over at the ASCS office, there are plows, cultivator, spraying equipment, seeders, and fertilizer spreaders.

Most charities do good work.  It is dishonest for elected officials to use the police power of the state to demand tax money and then use it to support charities and as liberal politicians say “to do good with it.”  In most cases the doing good is for politicians to make themselves look good at the expense of the citizens. 

Fake Frankie Waters with his “gang of four” are simply buying votes.  Those of us who are opposed to these unethical practices usually lose votes.

The next time you are talking to one of the Gang of Four ask them:  “what is your definition of ‘The General Welfare’ as contained in the Preamble of the U. S. Constitution.  Our Founders believed that government taxation should be used for the “general welfare.”   That is, everyone has equal access to the money being spent.  They opposed taxation for the benefit of special interests.  That is sound government policy.  Ask one of the so-called Republicans whether they support this founding principle.  They can’t have it both ways:  Believe in the Founding Principles and using taxes to benefit only a select group. 

But the voters have another chance to put an end to this racket.  Vote for Stan Deatherage or Tandy Dunn in November.  They understand smaller government, limited government, and the use of your money to provide only what individuals cannot provide for themselves.

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