When I heard about the 120 or so taxpayers who showed up at the County Commissioners meeting on May 23 pleading to pay more in taxes to fully fund the schools budget, I recalled a scene from Crocodile Dundee wherein New York City street thugs brandish a switchblade in an attempt to rob the protagonist […]
All posts in category Taxes
Price vs. value
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 3, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/06/03/price-vs-value/
Putting the priority in budgeting
My husband has wanted a new couch for years. And I agree we could use one. But something always elbows ahead of it on our priority list. An immediate emergency – the washing machine breaks and the estimate for the repair equals the cost of a new one. A capital improvement – our very expensive […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 27, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/05/27/putting-the-priority-in-budgeting/
Feature presentation
We’ve gotten spoiled. With Town Council’s newfound determination to end council meetings before midnight, and breaking out council discussions in midweek work sessions at the library (which are not on TV nor videoed and accessible by computer), the regular Monday night meetings end two to three hours after they begin. Tonight may be an exception. […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 20, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/05/20/feature-presentation/
It’s only a slice
Don and I live simply. Because we are so focused on paying our high property taxes (purportedly the highest in the state), we rarely go out to dinner. But once in a while, we’ll pick up a pizza to go. Last night, Don called Tedesco’s, our favorite Italian joint, to place an order, but the […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 22, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/04/22/its-only-a-slice/
A representative view
Former Town Council member Julie McClintock, who also worked for the EPA, has participated in many planning efforts. She offers her reaction to the town’s priority-budgeting survey: In a recent email from the Town, I was invited to take a budget survey to show “what [I] value.” Since I’m an engaged citizen, I took the […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 18, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/18/a-representative-view/
Heated exchange over fire district
I got a hint of the complexity of the relationship between town and county governing bodies after watching Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt address the Orange County Board of Commissioners not long ago about the matter of Chapel Hill becoming the official first-responder to fires in the extra-territorial jurisdiction. At its Feb. 11 meeting, Town Council discussed […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 11, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/11/heated-exchange-over-fire-district/
Too big to donate?
Shortbread Lofts got off easy when it came to making a contribution toward affordable housing. Should that set precedent for downtown redevelopment projects going forward? Cousins Properties apparently thinks so. Cousins makes a return visit to council tonight for a zoning change and special use permit to tear down the existing University Square buildings at […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 11, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/02/11/too-big-to-donate/
Taking citizens hostage
Here’s what rural community advocate Bonnie Hauser has to say about Town Council’s proposal to annex some neighborhoods on the southern edge of town: After a year of deliberation, the County’s Emergency Services Workgroup recommended forming a new fire service district in the area just south of town off Mount Carmel Church Road. The workgroup […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 18, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/18/taking-citizens-hostage/
Penny-wise or Penny foolish?
I had mentally packed Penny Rich away in mothballs after she took the county commissioner job, figuring I’d have to find new material for drama. But she hasn’t been gone even a month when here she is turning up like a bad – No, she’s heard all those jokes since grade school. Let me take […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 7, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/07/penny-wise-of-penny-foolish/
Yesterday’s transit tomorrow
Smart Transit for Orange County writes: Smart Transit for Orange County is asking voters to vote “NO” (AGAINST) the transit tax so that a better plan can be developed. The diverse group of pro-transit leaders from the towns and the county who joined together to oppose the transit tax referendum said the tax increase would […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 29, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/10/29/yesterdays-transit-tomorrow/