I sit here watching UNC and Miami play for last place in the ACC. I graduated from Rice, a no-contender school, and came to Duke while Vic Bubas was presenting his best teams, so I have seen the good and bad for UNC. I think it is possibly Clemson’s worst year not to be able to play on UNC’s court with a real chance to win after all these years of defeat. Such is the fate of ACC basketball.
PHIL LAWLESS
Durham
‘Free’ costs too much
There have been numerous articles in The Herald-Sun about taxes and the budget. It appears that property taxes will increase nearly 11 percent due to rising debt-service and health-insurance costs.
There is also an article “Officials: City can’t fund new projects.” It appears there are $400 million in projects dependent on the city’s property-tax-fueled general fund.
So what do our city council leaders want to do? Make riding the bus free. According to the City Council this would cost (taxpayers) $2.8 million the first year. How to pay for it? Increase vehicle registration fees (taxes) from $5 to $15. This would raise about $711,386 in fiscal 2010-11. Do the math: This leaves an estimated $2.1 million unfunded. But wait, there’s more. Let’s add a new route at a cost of $950,000 in the first year. Now we are up to $3 million in unfunded costs.
There is a statement, “The council held the line last year on pay for workers other than sworn police and firefighters. Doing so again this year while asking employees to absorb higher insurance bills could be a morale-killer.” What do you think I have had to do for the past two years? My income has been static. My health insurance costs — up. My car insurance costs — up. My water bill costs — up. Every bill I have — UP. They seem to want me to pass that “morale-killer” to the taxpayer.
I do not have the luxury of voting on an increase in income. Consider the source of funding and the limitations the taxpayers are working with. Every dollar you take comes off my family’s plate.
J.C. GILL
Durham
