“Raleigh’s at a moment in time when the potential is unlimited,” said Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane to a local Rotary Club this week. Apparently, that unlimited potential is referring to how high Raleigh resident’s taxes will climb.
From the N&O:
Mayor Nancy McFarlane on Monday said officials may need to raise property taxes or stretch resources thin in the coming budget year to keep up with the needs of a growing city.
…..
City leaders already have considered the possibility of lower service levels or higher property taxes in council discussions. The mayor’s
comment is the highest-profile acknowledgment of a budget gap estimated in early February to be between $4 million and $6 million.
This news should be especially frustrating for Raleigh taxpayers. Last fall, less than 24 hours after being elected, new Wake County commissioners warned of their desire to raise taxes. Also last fall, Raleigh voters approved $92 million in additional city debt, a move that will raise the property tax on residents. Now Mayor McFarlane and other city officials may seek still higher property taxes to quench their insatiable spending appetite.
And just wait until Wake County’s transit plan is finalized, with its $1 billion-plus price tag.
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