What’s in it for me…Why Incorporate…
We are often asked, and there are many answers. From the very beginning of this effort the drivers have been Self-Determination, or ‘having a say’ in the issues that affect our community. We believe that people in our community should determine its future, not one person or a single issue group. Protection of the Uniqueness, our unique community should not be left to those that do not understand our history or rural character. When the economy recovers we believe that growth in the county will move northward, and that there should be an overseeing body in place to Plan for and Direct Growth, that is made up of residents of our community. A downside to our unique rural character is that we are a part of a county that is not rural, thereby being classified as urban in the larger processes of government. As a rural community that is incorporated we can Apply for Infrastructure Grants that are not available to us now. There are many people in the community that desperately need water and some that need sewer. Without a municipal governing body, our community will never be provided this infrastructure. We would qualify for many Additional Revenue Sources presently not benefiting our community that is rightfully ours but would not cost our residents anything. These taxes are collected by the State and then re-distributed to the other municipalities in the county. As an example, Sales Taxes, Excise Tax on Telephones, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Beer & Wine, along with the potential for revenue from the State Gasoline Tax. We estimate that 50-60% of our town’s net income will come from sources other than property and personal property taxes. Our Reduced Tax Rate, as compared to any alternative that could occur, has been created to have the least impact on our property owners. At 10 cents per 100 dollar evaluation, which includes the current 6 cent Fire District Tax, our town’s net tax rate will be 4 cents. Protection from a Consolidated City/County Government. Many in the community believe that annexation by the city would never happen, and they are mostly correct for now, since the city really doesn’t want us since our community has a low property evaluation compared to the rest of the county with a high expense ratio, however, consolidation is a real concern and is actually happening throughout all levels of local government presently. Either way, annexation or consolidation would bring much higher tax rates for our property owners. Additionally, we believe that this is the Last Possible Opportunity for our community to seek incorporation. State annexation laws mandated that our town limit borders could not be any further south than Parmele Road, and as the city grows our opportunity shrinks.
With this incorporation effort we are seeking the opportunity to create a new model town, starting from scratch and taking baby steps we believe that our community can develop a new style of governing by the people for the people. Our group has no set agenda, other than the Castle Hayne Plan that provided the vision, or desires to take our new town in any one direction other than to improve and protect the community we all live in.
Please vote YES on the November 8th referendum.
For the Castle Hayne Incorporation Committee
Steven F. Gause
