BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for October 31, 2008

Just last night on "Shooting the Bull," I gave elected officials a tweak over the likelihood of their supporting a sales tax on transit, and called on pols to enact a sales tax to support transit without subjecting it to the kind of referendum debacle (hello, pigs-on-wheels) we're seeing in this year's election.

So imagine my surprise (and pleasure) to read this in the H-S this morning:

Mayor Bill Bell surprised fellow Triangle leaders this week by suggesting that if they ask the state for permission to levy a sales tax to support transit, they also ask for the authority to impose it without a referendum....

Bell on Thursday said he spoke up because it's clear the Triangle's long-term transportation problems are so serious local governments have to find a way to avoid political gridlock.

"At some point, when issues are big enough and important enough, elected officials ought to be trusted to carry [them] out," he said.

Hey, it's Halloween season. Did somebody dress up as Mayor Bell and trudge off to this confab of elected officials in his place?

"I thought, 'Bill Bell, radical -- should listen,'" Chapel Hill Town Councilman Ed Harrison said after the meeting.

Yes. Radical indeed. We'll have the "Shooting the Bull" show from last night, including a fascinating interview with DATA head Steve Mancuso, here at BCR later today.

In other news:

• In no surprise, Durham's city manager has weighed in with his opposition to a proposal to turn over 5,000 miles of state roads to city responsibility barring any "considerable flexibility in establishing a new, dedicated revenue stream." The state maintains 300+ miles of roads in Durham; while it's not clear how many would be transferred, that compares to 660 miles of road currently under Durham control. Many other municipalities are vocally opposing the proposal. (H-S)
• The Durham County Board of Elections will decide in a meeting today whether to extend early voting until 5pm Saturday, an extension from the current 1pm time. Officials predict 90,000 Durhamites will take advantage of early voting -- double the 2004 tally. (H-S)

Comments

[Lee]

Wow, if Bell actually tries to get the ability to levy a transit tax without referendum, he will go up 10 notches in my opinion. It is about time that we have someone willing to stick their neck out and actually lead on something transit related.

[Ray Gronberg]

Kevin, I'd say the Indy in the headline department has topped both you and my folks regarding Bell's proposal. See http://www.indyweekblogs.com/triangulator/2008/10/31/bill-bell-is-so-over-this-referendum-bullshit/

[ward]

Ditto to Lee's comment!
More transit, NOW!
ward

[KeepDurhamDifferent!]

So much for democracy. He's sticking his neck out enough for it to be severed from his head, and while it may work for da mayor I don't think others will be so gutsy. The Republicans will have a field day with this one.

I'm all for transit, but we need to defund the roads and reclaim the gas tax for transportation. Taxes are not the answer.

[Rob]

I'm going to say the same thing I say every two weeks or so when I post a comment.

We need correct valuation on our property taxes. We're currently *way* under-assessed in most neighborhoods. My girlfriend and I don't mind splitting an extra $200/yr, as long as it buys us more police (we need more than 7 officers in d3 at a time), better parks, well-paid teachers, 15-minute headways on popular buses, and more public works employees cleaning up our roads. We bought a house for ~$130K, and it is assessed at $60K. This trend continues throughout our neighborhood, and throughout the city.

Why don't we fund city services the way they should be funded--property taxes. I'm sick and tired of this bond referendum bull. We're in a never-ending loop of referenda!

[ward]

Rob,
I agree property taxes are out of whack but not in the same direction.
In '98 we bought our house for $97.5 and it was valued at $70 by the county. Two years later is was revalued at $120 and then two years ago, 2006, it was revalued again at $160. Sure, that might be accurate but I don't think so. My next door neighbor just sold her house for $85.
I can not get $160 for my crib on the open market now or in the near future. That's seems screwy to me.
Peace.
ward

[Rob]

Ward,
That is weird. I had the idea that this was city-wide, but I don't know enough folks that own outside of my neighborhood to get a solid idea.

Hearing that makes me feel even more like I'm under-paying. Weird, eh?
Rob

[ward]

Rob,
It looks like I'm paying your taxes.
ward

[Erik]

@Rob:

Are you also against the sales tax for more regional purposes (regional rail, more express buses, increased frequency on current routes, etc.)?