Voting against a Budget is about MORE than just taxes!
My opponent bragged at a community watch meeting about the Cape Fear Regional Theatre project, but he didn’t tell them that he voted against funding it. He speaks about supporting our police department, but he voted against their pay raises.
My opponent says that he has never voted for a “budget” with a tax increase. I say that voting for bonds that include a tax increase and voting for more fees on my tax bill is a tax increase.
My blog today, though, is about the other things HE VOTED AGAINST in those budgets. He shouldn’t vote against it and then take credit for it. He can’t have it both ways.
For fairness, I am only discussing some of the items that he voted against while representing District 5, since this is a District 5 election. I am leaving out the things he voted against when he represented District 9. (He has voted against a lot of other things in those budgets too.) The items he voted against while representing District 5 include:
He voted NO to pay raises for the police officers TWICE. (6/21/2023, 6/11/2018)
He voted NO to $500,000 for the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. (6/21/23)
He voted NO to the outdoor aquatic center at Lake Rim Center. (6/11/18)
He voted NO to over $4 million for street resurfacing. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to over $4 million for storm water drainage improvement projects. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to $900,000 for sidewalk improvement projects. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to $910,000 in improvements for the airport. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to $7 million for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to almost $8 million for Cape Fear River Trail – Phase 2. (6/11/2018)
He voted NO to $350,000 for Glenville Lake Walking Trail design. (6/21/2023).
He voted NO to $600,000 for the Day Resource Center. (6/21/2023)
He voted NO to the “Office of Community Safety” Officer position. (6/21/2023)
I have experience running multiple successful businesses. I run two businesses now.
There are only two ways that I know of to balance a budget and get rid of a deficit… either increase revenue or decrease expenses.
Decreasing expenses is always the preferable route. But I cannot promise that I will never vote for any budget with a tax or “fee” increase.
Here’s why: I believe telling someone what I will never vote on a specific budget removes my ability to negotiate or request items for my district.
I am willing to say that I will not vote for one specific expense, however. I will NOT vote to give a monthly retirement annuity or “deferred compensation” to City Council members. (Click to read my previous blog.)
I am asking for your vote this Tuesday. I will work hard to bring business growth to our city. I will work hard to solve our problems with crime. I will use my financial experience to help our city reduce unnecessary expenses and find new ways to increase our tax base and obtain grants.
And I will always be straight with you.
Thank you for your support,
Lynne