The countywide tax rate only
increased by the amount needed to fund the debt service on school bonds.
The Statesville City Council held its tax rate at the prior year’s
level, even though the City Manager had recommended an increase.
By contrast, Mooresville property
owners will be hit with 12 percent increase in municipal taxes. The town
Board of Commissioners voted to raise the tax rate from 50 cents to 56
cents per hundred dollars valuation.
Commissioners Chris Carney and Danny
Beaver voted against the increase. “You don’t take more than you have
to,” said Carney.
Supporters claim the tax hike is
needed to expand services to accommodate the town’s rapid growth. To the
extent that is true, it is evidence that residential growth does not pay
for itself.
Mooresville spends money for
purposes other than traditional municipal services. The town has long
owned a golf course that loses money, and is considering entering the
cable TV business.
The previous town board made a
controversial decision to employ engineering firm CH2M Hill to conduct a
study of Mooresville’s wastewater treatment plant expansion. Town staff
members said other firms were better qualified for the job. CH2M Hill now
estimates the sewage plant expansion will cost $74 million. Just last year
the firm put a price tag of $23 to $30 million on the project.
