Here’s a really quick way to fund the county’s library system so that the ridiculous cuts announced yesterday don’t have to take place: Cut the amount of money the county spends on business investment grants by less than half, and move it to the library system (which, remember, is widely considered one of the best in America — or at least was until yesterday).
The conservative MeckDeck blog today points to a slew of county expenditures that could be cut to make up for the library shortfall. Most of the items are smaller potatoes, or traditional conservative whipping boys (programs that help the poor or non-white), but one item stands out like a big, fat infected thumb: $4.35 million dollars for business investment grants. The library shortfall is around $2 million. What in hell are these bean-counters thinking?
This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2010.
You can’t ‘grab’ those funds as they are voted legal contracts where the County Commission Democrats agreed to rebate property taxes. Company A pays $100 in taxes and gets a $90 check. The amount you cite represents the amount of the checks the County is legally obligated to pay.
It is a stupid system but there it is.
The whole concept of these ‘grants’ are really to hand out future property tax rebates to companies.
SO, you can’t take that money and ‘give it’ to the Library because there is a legal agreement to give it to them.
Though I didn’t vote for the stuff – it is an obligation.
Bill James
County Commission
thank you very much !!
You may “have an attitude”, but you don’t have a brain! This article is totally irresponsible. Is it too much to ask for you to do some research before writing htis stuff. These grants pay for themselves, as Commissioner James pointed out. The company first pays their taxes, and then the County gives them a portion of their taxes back. Notice the word “portion”…that means the County “makes” money on the deal. If it weren’t for the grant, the company wouldn’t have moved here and the County wouldn’t receive any of their taxes. Also, after the grant ends, the County receies the full amount of the taxes.
Your attempt to provoke the nattering nabobs of negativism is really pathetic.
Frank Griffin – please provide some valid data from a reliable source to back up your claim of “company growth in the surrounding states that have lower tax rates for proof.”
The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show SC with a state-wide unemployment rate of 12.6%, and NC at 11.1%
Current unemployment figures have nothing to do with attracting new companies. From the numbers you quote it looks like you are talking about the U3 unemployment numbers. The big problem with the U3 is that once people are no longer getting unemployment benefits they are no longer counted as part of this number. The size of the U3 labor force will then shrink once these people drop off and gives the impression of having less people unemployed as a percentage.
The U6 number is what really counts. It counts everyone that is not longer working and that is underemployed.
Here are all of the definitions.
U1: Percentage of labor force unemployed 15 weeks or longer.
U2: Percentage of labor force who lost jobs or completed temporary work.
U3: Official unemployment rate per ILO definition.
U4: U3 + “discouraged workers”, or those who have stopped looking for work because current economic conditions make them believe that no work is available for them.
U5: U4 + other “marginally attached workers”, or “loosely attached workers”, or those who “would like” and are able to work, but have not looked for work recently.
U6: U5 + Part time workers who want to work full time, but cannot due to economic reasons (underemployment).
Tara on the CL itself has provided the information you request. Just do a search of her past articles.
During the Bush years the Media loved to report on the U6 number.
Under Obama they are happy to settle for reporting on the U3 since it makes things look better.
Frank – First of all, you need to start reading something other than CL, and stop parroting everything they tell you to think. You do think, don’t you? And if you think there’s no correlation between the increase or decrease in the number of businesses and unemployment rates, then I guess that answers my question.
So, I’ll ask again…what data do you have that suggests NC’s “company growth” (whatever that is) is lower than surrounding states?
You might want to check out Site Selection magazine’s 2009 survey of new corporate facilities and expansions. It shows NC with 208, SC with 86, and VA with 193. If you need help figuring out which of those numbers is larger, I’m sure Tara can oblige you.
Since I exposed your silliness you now change the topic.
I stated that low tax rates will attract more new companies and that surrounding states have lower tax rates and attract more new companies.
You changed the topic to the moronic idea that I disagree with the concept of less companies mean less jobs. This is liberal tactic 101. If you can’t win the debate then change the topic.
I will tell you again that Tara spoke to this issue on the CL. If you are to lazy to look it up yourself then you do not deserve the answer.
Frank – You exposed nothing and I have most certainly not changed the topic. I have merely attempted to interject some facts and data into the discussion, something you continue to avoid doing.
You asked someone to “Look at company growth in the surrounding states that have lower tax rates…” Now you say that “low tax rates will attract more new companies.” I provided documented data that NC is attracting more more companies(and has a lower unemployment rate to boot, and after all, the point of attracting companies is to create jobs, thus lowering the unemployment rate) than lower tax states around us.
I have asked you repeatedly to provide data to back your assertion. All you have done is cut and paste a bunch of meaningless unemployment definitions and attack me personally. Very sad. You’re the classic example of someone who has made up their mind and doesn’t want to be confused with the facts.
Don’t argue with this Frank Griffin trash. He is a racist and hates women and gays.
We wouldn’t be in this mess now if it wasn’t for that sorry Bush. Hell will be burning hot for all of you. Enjoy the flames, republicans!
Why not sell the libraries? Sell them to Barnes n Nobles or some other outfit. Privatize and cut my property taxes….
All these bills are starting to come due from the bubble years. It’s funny watching the Republicrats try to point blame at each other.
Thanks Frank, I appreciate you establishing conclusively that you have no idea what you’re talking about and are only capable hurling insults and ad hominem attacks. (ask Tara to look it up for you)