County commissioners
allowing Hoke to slide
After last week's hatchet job on the recommended budget by the
county commissioners, one has to wonder where Hoke County is
heading and who is leading us there.
There is a movement afoot to make this county a better place to
live. The Hoke County Commissioners need to get on board.
? The narrow minded views expressed by the commissioners are
clear indications of an unwillingness to move this county toward a
fiscally sound future that could ultimately lower ad valorem taxes,
create jobs and improve the quality of life.
If allowed to rim its full course, the program supported by the
commissioners can only lead Hoke County into the mire of finan
cial chaos and eventual oblivion.
As long as this county continues to progress by improving its
educational facilities, providing solid services and business oppor
tunities for residents, then the ad valorem taxes should decrease as
the tax base grows.
However, if the commissioners continue to maintain the status
quo, then Hoke County residents can look forward to exorbitant ad^
valorem taxes, fewer jobs for unskilled residents, poorer services
and welfare rolls which lead to bankruptcy. Hoke County will no
longer exist and will be absorbed into those surrounding counties
that will agree to take us. >
To paraphrase Lewis Carroll from Alice in Wonderland the more
we stay the same, the farther behind we will get.
Here are some facts:
?Neighboring Moore County is ranked seventh in the state in
tourism. Last year travelers spent $171 .6 million there. Cumberland
County is ranked ninth with $131 million. The commissioners need
to do more to coax some of the nearby dollars 20 miles further into
Hoke County. The North Carolina Turkey Festival is a first step,
which needs the enthusiastic support of the elected leaders. Attrac
ting tourism needs to be a priority.
?This year Hoke County experienced over a $4 million drop in the
tax base, primarily because of industry inventory re-evaluations.
Taxes have to be raised just to match last year's budget, not to meet
inflation or to support needed programs, which would help attract
new increases in the tax base.
?Moore County's $17.5 million budget increased by 6.2<7o, but
the tax rate stayed more than 20 cents below that of Hoke County,
where the budget is $6.47 million. Property taxes on a $50,000
house in Moore County are about $280 per year, while in Hoke
County the charges on the same value of property would run over
$400. In addition to lower taxes Moore County has better school
facilities, better services and a higher quality of life. Last year
Moore County's tax base increased by $106 million. In the game to
get new residents, Hoke County is getting beat badly by Moore
County in the late innings.
?Cumberland County passed an $83 million budget this year,
which included a \3?7o increase in funds for the newly merged school
system, without raising taxes. Property tax rates in Cumberland at
85 cents are slightly higher than Hoke's, but that county has a
reputation for better schools and better services.
?The population of Cumberland is predicted to double in the next
10 years. More demand from more people means higher land prices
in Cumberland, higher rents and a higher cost of living. If Hoke
County stays the same, we could become a magnet for those unable
to pay their own way in Cumberland.
?Land prices are dramatically less in Hoke County than they are
in Cumberland or Moore counties. With improved school facilities,
a widened US Highway 401, direct telephone service with Fayet
teville and a community college to train a labor force, Hoke County
could attract new residents, businesses and industries. The tax base
could increase. Taxes would not need to be raised to meet the de
mand for services.
?Because of our proximity to Cumberland and Moore counties,
we are attractive to those who want to live in a comfortable and safe
rural setting and who do not mind a short drive to work. The
growth of this county is now occurring in the Rockflsh area.
However, judging from the bars covering doors and windows on
new homes in that area, it is easy to see that we are gaining a reputa
tion for our increasing daily rate of break-ins. County police protec
tion is stretched to the limit. More effort and money needs to be put
into the sheriff's department to increase protection so that new and
old residents feel safe from the threat of a break-in.
Hoke County residents are paying higher taxes and getting less
for their money than those living in the surrounding area. We are in
a downhill slide, and the commissioners still have their feet on the
accelerator.
Hoke County is raising taxes to only pay bills. The county com
missioners are not thinking about investing the tax dollars in the
future, and we are falling dangerously behind.
The commissioners need to think about the future or to get out of
officc and make room for leaders who will.
On Thursday the commissioners may give final approval to the
budget for the next fiscal year. We urge them to reconsider and to
pass a financial plan that will move Hoke County forward. We urge
the passage of the recommended seven-cent tax rate increase.
Hoke County is in a struggle for existence, whether the commis
sioners want to believe it or not.
The News-Journal
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CUTTING- THE BUDGET
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i
Tiny 'tike' becomes special person
Once upon a time there was a
small tike named Maxine. She later
became a Colston. A master
teacher, quality Christian, loving
mother and my tormentor.
I first became acquainted with
this small energized bombshell
when I took my first principalship
in the town of Gaston in North
ampton County.
Watching her grow into
womanhood over the years has
been one of the pleasures I en
joyed. Marrying Billy was a
foregone conclusion. He courted
her with a passion from the fifth
grade until their wedding. He
bought a new Ford when he work
ed with me in Montgomery Coun
ty
It lasted throughout his entire
courtship and one child. So well
trained was that Ford, it headed to
E.C.U. each weekend. Billy slept
half way and the Ford drove the
rest and never missed a turn. One
hundred and fifty miles later it
served as best vehicle at his wed
ding.
Maxine loved Billy through his
high school years when he. was
Struggling to play QBfMSfNNTVfr
the high school football team. T
often told him he was the most un
skilled quarterback I had ever
known. He answered, that I was
the poorest judge of talent that he
had encountered.
This couple has been a con
sistency of compliments to each
other's careers. She has mixed well
with the world of athletics, com
putors and math. He in turn has
stood behind her decision to stay
home with their children when they
were small, much to my dismay. I
naturally wanted her in the
classroom.
Their married life has been a
model for young or older couples
to emulate. She usually can get her
way with Billy by using her built
in sense of humor or just plain
goodness. This holds true today
Looking On
Raz Autry
nearing forty (even though she
want admit it) just as it did in their
earlier married years.
Her enthusiasm was inherited
from a gifted mother. Not many
school principals are lucky enough
to have two generations of master
teachers from the same family.
Age and time caught up with me,
therefore, I will miss the third
generation. Those who follow will
see the best of Maxine and her
mother in her two children. Billy
did have a small part in this bless
ing.
Maxine brings to teaching what
all administrators strive to instill in
those with whom they work.
Knowledge, skill, enthusiasm and
a burning desire for each child to
excel, Maxine has them all. I have
been a witness to this master *
teaching by observation and a *
guest speaker in her classroom.
The expression in her students'
eyes tell the story of one who
places their academic well being
and personal worth above all the
rhetoric in education.
She brings to a community the
qualities those who govern seek,
love, concern, involvement and a
belief in all people.
True Christianity shines through
her eyes in church and in everyday
life. Ministers delight in watching
her message of devotion, dedica
tion, commitment and a will
ingness to take on anything.
I have many adopted daughters I
truly love. None stand taller than
my eldest. To know her makes a
bad day become good, unpleasant
moments forgotten and the urge to
do better a must.
One-car status sparks ride in comfort
Someone pulled me aside by the collar the other day and clued me
in on acceptable car ownership behavior.
"It just is not done these days. If you don't do something about
it, people will talk. You know how small towns are," someone
whispered in my ear.
We had recently become a one-car family, and someone said the
word was getting out.
For months we had driven only one car. I had been walking to
work. I said it was for my health.
We told everyone our second car was being repaired in a far off
city. Everyone believed us, because the story was true.
Last week it happened. A buyer came along. We sold our second
car to him very quickly.
The word of the quick sale leaked out and came home to roost.
Someone said people were beginning to notice.
"I don't want to get into your business, but people are beginning
to say something about that roosting word near your house," some
one whispered. "You need another car."
I told my wife, and we were off in a frantic search for additional
transportation.
She found a "bargain" on financing at a dealership between
Durham and Chapel Hill. They had the car she wanted and would
finance it at 5.9^?, my wife said.
We got up early on Saturday, ate a big breakfast and drove to the
dealership.
During die hour-and-a-half trip we sang motoring songs, argued
about paying for the new car and about who would get to drive it
home from the dealership.
"We can sell rides around town to everyone we know for $3.
Well pay for the car in no time,'* my wife said, pointing out that in
the drctas we travel, few had ridden in a new car in sometime.
"We have just the car for you and cheap, too," the friendly
salesman said when we arrived at the dealership.
i
Warren Johnston
The Puppy Papers
"We haven't purchased a new car since 1969, and everyone in
town is beginning to talk," we told the salesman.
The salesman was very sympathetic and told us he was used to
dealing with families who had recently become one-carred.
"We see it everyday. It's nothing new to us," he said.
Before long we were driving all around Durham and Chapel Hill
in air conditioned luxury. It was pretty nice. Everything we drove, I
wanted to buy.
"Money is no object. We'll buy the top of the line," I said,
remembering that in 1969 the best only cost $5,000.
To my shock, the top of the line cost slightly more than our house
where the word of our one carness had been roosting.
When we asked about financing at 5.9ft, the dealer added several
more thousand dollars to the price.
"We could buy two houses and an extra lot back home for that
price/' I told the saleman, and we stomped out of the dealership in
a huff.
As we chugged along home in our 16-year-old non air condi
tioned car, we dedded the trip was not a total loss.
Unlike a lot of people, we had gotten to drive around through a
big city in a cool, comfortable car that cost more than our house.
"Well be the envy of somebody back home," I said.
My wife agreed, and we decided that the next time somebody said
something about our one-vehicle status, we would go looking for
cart again.
There is a Rolls Royce dealership in Raleigh we have been eyeing
for the next trip.