Comments by BCCitizen | Eastern NC Now
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Commented on Let's Get It Right!John, the reason private schools and/or charter schools can provide an education at a lower cost per student is because they do not have the same regulations. They do not have to provide free lunch like Beaufort County Public schools do. Their teachers also do not need to be certified, which is scary. I know many students who came out of PCA to go into college having to take college prep courses because they were not prepared by the private school to enter into college. Is that all, no. But I know many. Also, I would argue that private schools are at a higher cost per student. They pay 10,000+ in tuition, have to pay for books, pay for lunch, pay for transportation, and then the school has fundraisers that you have to raise a certain amount or pay out of pocket more. Also, you have to commit to volunteer your time to work for them for events or pay your way out of volunteering. It is all a money racket.
Commented: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 @ 4:05 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyJohn, their sales and services (pay as you use) accounts for 1.8 million. property taxes account for 7.5 million. Think about how much more taxes would have to be raised to increase the ad valorem tax revenue by 1.8 million. That's not minor. I agree with everyone up here that the taxes are outrageous, the admin charge from enterprise funds is insane, and storm water fees, trash pickup fees, and other charges can be a way to "tax" the property owner more. But not all governmental revenues are taxes.
Commented: Friday, June 27th, 2025 @ 8:47 am
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of Bureaucracy
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 1:22 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyNeutral and the City is above the County tax rate. The county stayed flat in a reval year while the city imposed an 11.5 cent increase while stating in articles they decreased the rate.
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 1:22 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyNeutral and the City is above the County tax rate. The county stayed flat in a reval year while the city imposed an 11.5 cent increase while stating in articles they decreased the rate.
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 1:27 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyJohn, I was addressing more of the fees for notary, parks and rec, mowing and lot cleaning, boat slip rentals, etc. Those are fees. They are a pay as you use fee. I agree that the admin charge to the general fund for utilities is absurd! The previous administration there got that charge way down, to what it reasonably should be. Then, Russell came in and spent down fund balance and increased taxes and fees. They increased taxes by .02 years ago for the new police station. However, when that was built and paid for, they kept the .02 and did not give it back to the citizens. They are dishonest. I already know people who have put their house up for sale and bought land to build outside of the city limits because of the crazy increases the City has imposed. An increase in tax may be warranted if you are getting more services provided but they are not doing that. They took the revaluation and used it as an excuse to blame the county on the tax increase. However, the county is at revenue....
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 1:08 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyNeutral and the City is above the County tax rate. The county stayed flat in a reval year while the city imposed an 11.5 cent increase while stating in articles they decreased the rate.
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 1:10 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyNick: Their General Fund budget is 25,000,000. Of that, their ad valorem (property) taxes are 7.5 million. They are not collecting 57 million in taxes from residents. This can all be found in their budget. Also, the taxes are not spread equally across the city. Waterfront areas pay more, obviously. So, NO, every citizen is NOT paying $12,127 or even $10,000+. A lot of revenue is fees. While I agree, their tax increase is insane and their board needs an overhaul. I like transparency from both sides of a debate and saying that they are collecting 57 million in taxes and every citizen is paying $12,127 is highly inaccurate.
Commented: Thursday, June 26th, 2025 @ 8:54 am
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of BureaucracyConcerned taxpayer, that would require citizens to know what is going on. No one showed up to speak at the public hearing on the budget. What were the elected officials supposed to do when staff recommended a budget that no citizen opposed in public session? Someone must get the information out to the public. Their recommended budget online does not state a tax rate. Unless citizens show up to the meetings where the tax rate was discussed, there was no way for them to know what rate was being used, whether it be at or above revenue neutral. I agree, vote them all out. An increase of 11.5 cent in one budget year is asinine. It is an increase of over 30%. The city manager is saying it is for 4 paramedics but the math doesn't add up!
Commented: Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 @ 2:20 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Civics 101: Beware of Bureaucracy"Each citizen pays over $10,000 in taxes to the City of Washington in addition to all taxes paid to the county, state, and federal government." - That is a stretch.
Commented: Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 @ 1:02 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Washington DreamingMaybe with the 11.5 cent tax increase the City of Washington passed in their budget will allow for some of this growth.
Commented: Thursday, June 19th, 2025 @ 4:19 pm
By: BCCitizen
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Commented on Why Ethics, We Have the Law?Van Zant and Will, the board voted to PASS the request to get the attorney to render an opinion.
Commented: Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 @ 1:28 pm
By: BCCitizen
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