Think About Why Your Tax Dollars Are So High

Now that the economy has improved, there are several big developments before Chapel Hill and Carrboro governments.  And there are the usual protesters saying don’t build it.  Or at least don’t build it so all those lovely vistas that I enjoyed, but belong to other people, will be replaced by developments that I don’t want to live next door to.

I spoke to a neighbor to see what her taxes were like.  “Oh, they are way too high.  I can barely afford them anymore.”

When I pointed out that it is because there is little commercial base to relieve the burden on individual homeowners, she hadn’t thought of that.

I am asking everyone to think of that.

What is amazing to me is the number of people who don’t live anywhere near proposed developments.  I was pleased that the Villages, Obey Creek, and Edge developments because there are few homes close by and they are on major thoroughfares.  But, no the usual protests were raised even though they live nowhere near them.

I used to buy my underwear and lots of other things at Belk and Dillard’s in Chapel Hill.  So, I shopped at Belk in Southpoint.  There were traffic jams and no parking spaces and guess who else was there shopping?

Lots of people from Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

And guess whose library, police, and parks got the taxes from all of those Orange County shoppers?

Durham.

So, the next time you go before the council and ask for extra funds for our libraries, swimming pools, and all those other amenities you enjoy, remember where you left your tax dollars that would have paid for all of that.

— Ellie Kinnaird

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