Editorials A $14,000 rip-off During 1982, Racford city taxpayers got taken to the cleaners. In return for the bucks they forked over to enforce the municipal leash law, Racford taxpayers got less than two animah packed up a week. In addition to shelling out $14,000 in municipal funds for animal control, city taxpayers also paid Hoke County for the same service. No animals were captured by county officers within Raeford boundaries during the year. For $14,000, city enforcement efforts netted 1 IS dogs last year. That was a cost to taxpayers of approximately $120 per *nim?i snared. Although Raeford residents paid for the service through county taxes, county enforcement officers maintained a ter ritorial respect for the municipal limits and did not pick up any animals in the city during 1982. County funds were not clearly earmarked for animal con trol, however, officials probably provided the service for about the same cost as the city and should be praised for their efficiency. For the same money, the county picked up 1,200 animals, maintained the pound to house them and paid for the exter mination of over 1 ,300. That's about $1 1 per animal or $109 less than was spent by the city. County officials were also more efficient in efforts to register pets. Only 41 pet owners in the city bothered to register and pay municipal dog license fees. In the county 1,500 owners paid the tax. City Manager Ron Matthews admits that registration fees collected did not pay for the city's cost of the tags. As members of the Raeford City Council begin to consider the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, they might be wise to take a look at the animal control program. Out of a $1.6 million municipal budget, $14,000 paid for animal control might seem insignificant, but in light of the service rendered, the cost is a high one. Perhaps the entire business could be turned over to the county, and residents living in the city could begin to reap some of the benefits from their tax dollars. A question of service Despite the poor value provided by the city to enforce its leash law, it is a better deal than county taxpayers living in the Raeford limits are getting on some other services. In addition to animal control, Raeford residents also pay city and county taxes for garbage pickup, the sanitary landfill, police protection, fire protection, building inspection and the general government, but only receive the municipal services. During the last fiscal year Raeford residents paid over $584,000 in city taxes for the services which are duplicated, but not provided, by the county. County funds, which went for the same services, topped the $808,000 mark during the period. As both Raeford and Hoke County grow, the problem of paying twice for single services will compound. County officials are now working on a plan for a coun tywide water system, and much of the bill for that service will be paid by city residents. In addition, one of the plums used by city officials to at tract industry to locate within the municipal limits is water and sewer service. Thus far industry has not objected to paying municipal taxes in addition to county taxes in exchange for the services provided. Once a countywide water system is in place, there will be one less reason for industry to locate within the city limits. Paying for services not received may idso make the city limits less attractive, and without additional expansion Raeford officials will find it difficult to provide adequate in expensive services. Short of merging municipal and county governments, one solution to the dual tax question might be for county officials to issue tax credits to city residents for services not provided. Dual tax inequities are not unique to Hoke County and Raeford. They plague cities all over North Carolina and in other states. However, the inequities have been solved in some southern states, and it would be prudent for North Carolina and Hoke County to address the question before it becomes too late. eu?<> - journal PRESS NATIONAL NEWSPAPER association ASSOCIATION Ewn TMqr m Bacfertf. NX. am mw. Q> nl Anaat tm Cmmtj Far Year ? SM.M 1 1 OM ?f CMlr Ftr Year? S1LM ? I ft ue?Moo?> me*o HAMClflU mestpws. IF "Me . :.i': '? ttOTT rfT U> W/ Itt QM/ w ntv woouo W lERST POZM?T DSIb" tRK? OP collect Letters T o The Editor Apology offered Editor's Sore: Hoke C "unty Board of Education Chairman BUI Cameron delivered the following statement to fellow school board members last Tuesday night during a regular monthly meeting. Cameron has shared the message with us and asked that we run it as a Letter to the Editor. Before we get to the agenda. I have a few remarks: I. On behalf of the BOARD, and in view of the fact that tonight is our present superintendent's last meeting with us. let me express to him ALL of our best wishes in his upcoming retirement. We want to commend him for the numerous contributions he has help make for our school system. We are among many who have appreciated his leadership on many occasions during his service as our superintendent. II. As for me personally . in view of recent circumstances. I ?ant to say I regret the obvious misinter pretations of the recent article which appeared in the Fayetteville Times. While I respect the media and the job they have to do. as in any profession, from time to time, the facts are sometimes misinter preted. This was the case regarding the article. I did MM make aay statement referring to letting "him chew off his mouth". The statement regard ing replacing Mr. Autry appeared totally out of context. Raz and I have had disagreements in the past but ?e have always been able to work them out and I have never had to use the press before as a forum for my personal opinions. This time was no exception. Raz. I also wish you a happy and pleasant retirement whether it be raising peaches or raising grand children. As a matter of fact. I'm glad now. you'll even get to go to a lot more car races than 1 will. BEST WISHES TO YOU. Bill Cameron. Jr. Rate hike questioned Dear Editor, I write this letter looking for response from Jones Intercable and/or the Raeford City Counsel which approves rate increases for Jones Intercable. Raeford's cablevision has undergone several changes since they began several years ago. The most recent being a 1 5*? rate in crease in bask service to take effect next month. But, what do we get for this increase? First lets look at the networks we get. ABC, CBS, and sometimes NBC. We get ABC on 5 and 8 (15X we get CBS on 11 and 13, and wmrtima we get NBC oa 6. We used to get NBC on 28 but Jones dropped that. We used to get NBC oa 36 but Jones dropped that too. Now we get NBC only on 6 when they hf portrait network program ming. Take a look at the irhtihih for Ftidfty, March II, im At 7 p.m. the ACC Tournament ^If"* awl wil broadcast on chan nel 6 among others. 11m mm that people who would rather because JoJeTtoo^the other NBC ftatinaa Boa us. Sorry afcout that bright Rider, scad my ngmti to R could be yours. Or you might win any of the lesser games during the 30 games played. In order for our dub to support Hoke County charities and pro jects in a meaningful way . we atusj have your support. Please come out this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Have fun. enjoy the games Bran* a friend. You boer. other information wfl be kept confidential. We reserve the tight to edit letters for good taste and brevity, letters should be received by The Aews-Jonmaf by noon on the Moathy of the publication week CUFF BLUE... People & Issues ENCOURAGEMENT... Robert S. Qndtastr of The WmK Street Corp.*s 1 atwoi >00 of 1.400 workers laid off last jar. h> little Rock. Ait.. Teletype Corp.. a Uteiai tk* cqppvM las u Lfinthd to the 533 ?oilya> dianed earlier. Aad m laiKaa^inii, BDP CO.. a UaM Tockaolopcs subsidiary tbat aakcs kaiai aad aar coodi tioaiag eqaipacat, recently back 300 of 360 laid off da abo?e is across the i Cafiforau, we hope it is for better times across md tbat it be soon rtb Carobna. BIG INCOME TAX REDUC TION ? Nortb Garofcma legislators approved for themselves a big state tax redattioa Moaday mght. l>bruaay 2S. up to S50 a day. seven days a ?eek during die ses Tbe tal inaM also free records mam required to receive Tbe bd ineM alow lawmakers to daa daily deductions of $50. tbe drily aioatd federal employees. $23. or S35 the daily Dedacboas could be made for each day. mrbarbng Saturday and Sanday, aatil tbe Ceaeral Assembly adjourns. Tbe deduc tions apply only to lawmakers wfeose bomes are SO auks from House members voted 97-9 for tbe bid and tbe only person to speak agaiast it was Rep. Howard Coble. R-Gudford. BOB SCOTT. ..With Bob ( Scon's appointment as President of the Community Colleges in North Carolina, it brines to mind the name of other statesmen who have followed similar appoint ments after serving well in other pasuxw of leadership. General Robert E. Lee, after the dose of the War between the states in 1965, ?ts then chosen as head of the Washington College, later ( named the Washington and Lee CoAege. General Eisenhower, after the dose of World War II, was named President of Columbia University before being elected President of the United States. William Friday was elected President of the North Carolina University. Friday was picked from the hne of outstanding men rather than from that of an ' educator. Terry Sanford was picked as governor who led for better schools and for the community college establishment during his administration. After returning to his law practice, he was then pick ed for the President of Duke University. GREEN STANDS TALI Lt. Governor Jimmy Green appears to 1 be standing tail in the aftermath of his opponents who have been try ing to keep him from running for governor. Green's rebuttal in the Chorion e Observer to those who were against him appears to have given him the stature of a statesman rather than that of a "peanut VEHICLE THEFTS DECLINE ... The cost of buying a new car any be going up. but the chance of having it stolen may be coming down. The ?tin of motor vehicles stolen in N.C. Ml 9% from 10.651 in 1SS1 to 9,627 according to the N.C. laiuranrf Service. Only Cam inn County did not have a mgk vehicle theft reported in 19t2. One of the best anti-theft tech niques is caching your Social Security or other significant number onto the vehicle, a practice which has caught on wefl in Ken tucky. says Lloyd Letterman. ad Dept. of Traaoportutiou. STATUE OF LIBERTY. One of America's most fanoat ?mi in the "Statue of Liber ty EnSgftaeaaag the World," has uood as a symbol of freedom in New York Harbor uane IS86. A gift to the U.S. from the people of Ftancc^riie 22S-aou oatue arrived, from Rouen, Fi am i . m June, 1??S- h ?olt 16 moths to assem CV if land Mated h on October