If growth pays for itself, why do my Wake County property taxes keep rising?

Wake tax increase

Proponents of growth argue that it benefits everybody. Then why are Wake County taxpayers facing yet another tax increase though it’s the third fastest growing county in the U.S.?

In 2019, property taxes were raised 10% to pay for building new schools and other investments needed as result of growth. Now, our leaders have passed another 1.9 cent per $100 valuation increase. They justify that increase to provide more money for schools, employees raises, and more than double their own salaries.

What am I missing here? If growth is such a good thing and was supposed to pay for increased services required by the influx of new people, why are we facing another tax increase just three years after a big one? The fact is, growth doesn’t pay for itself. These tax increases prove it.

Charles Heatherly, Apex

Lt. Gov. Robinson

I just read about Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s recent speech, where he regards social justice as folly. Social justice is what had made it possible for an African American man to become lieutenant governor in a southern state. I am not a Christian, but he doesn’t sound like one either. If his faith is important to him, more important than equality and social justice for all, perhaps he should change professions and become a full-time man of the cloth without imposing his ideas on everyone but the members of his flock.

Joyce Rothchild, Raleigh

UNCSA

The UNC School of the Arts is finally being exposed for the abuse that defined its teaching practices for almost 60 years.

In two lawsuits filed last year, 58 of UNCSA’s high school and college alumni detailed decades of horrific sexual misconduct by instructors, with many saying that the abuse was enabled by administrators who failed to act.

Under the current chancellor, Brian Cole, UNCSA’s expertly maintained facade of excellence is slowly crumbling. But this crisis can also be viewed as an opportunity. The school now has a chance to lead by example in changing the landscape of fine arts education. That work will be painful, complex and contradictory to the existing conservatory model. But it must begin.

It should begin with Cole’s removal. Then, the school’s non-complicit leaders, student body, influential alumni and the state must chart a course for the future that will prioritize student safety over production calendars. We can’t wait any longer.

Joseph McNamara Hefner, Winston-Salem

Tillis and guns

Sen. Thom Tillis is touting his involvement in negotiations to reduce the epidemic of gun violence. He’s willing to consider incentives for states to pass red-flag laws, stricter licensing for dealers, improved access to mental health and preventing juveniles who’ve already committed a serious offense from obtaining guns. I welcome these measures, but they’re only a drop in the bucket.

To effectively reduce gun violence we need background checks on all sales and bans on assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, a majority of Americans support these policies. We also must invest in research so we make policy decisions based on facts.

Tillis should listen to the American people.

Ann Louise Barrick, Durham

Action on guns

We blame the politicians for their inaction on guns, but they’re not at fault because they do what politicians do — follow the money and a vocal minority. The fault lies with us, the silent majority, for not doing our civic duty to speak to our representatives and demand a serious dialogue and resolution rather than a momentary solution. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, (R. WY), signaled a turnaround on her stand on gun control when constituents inundated her with phone calls demanding action. We can do the same with our senators. Call them today and demand change.

Casimir Matuszak, Clayton

Water clean-up

Regarding “Business groups rally against water cleanup bill,” (June 6):

The N.C. Chamber of Commerce, N.C. Manufacturers Alliance and the American Chemistry Council oppose House Bill 1095 requiring Chemours to pay for PFAS contamination of our public waters. They say the bill “is anti-business and could have a chilling effect on growth.” Ludicrous!

Chemical companies have the technology to safely produce their products, but choose not to because it lowers profits. Instead, they choose to expose people to dangerous chemicals and then hope to avoid having to pay to correct the situation. Anyone over age 5, can see this is not an ethical way to run a business. Legislators, please pass HB 1095.

Jack Unruh, Raleigh

Medicaid, the GOP

I greeted the news that the N.C. Senate passed legislation to expand Medicaid with a sigh of relief. It’s been a long time coming. I urge voters not to be fooled into thinking that Republican senators had an epiphany and decided to do right. This is a calculated move to take a talking point away from Democrats this election year. The Republicans will tout this as an accomplishment, yet they’ve given N.C. citizens something they denied them all these years. They’ll ignore the thousands who died because they couldn’t afford to access better health care and treatment. Remember this in November when it comes time to vote.

Ilene Freedman, Durham

This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 10:15 AM with the headline "If growth pays for itself, why do my Wake County property taxes keep rising?."