Cabarrus Cheap Seats

After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. - 2 Corinthians 12:14 

Update: Read the Latest Post on the “Anatomy of The Cabarrus Youth Tax” to find out just how much this tax is - CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

In 2003, I was named to the Cabarrus County Parks and Recreation Board. I had just moved back to the area, got married, and bought a house in Cabarrus County after spending a few years in exile in Kansas City, MO and Mecklenburg County. While I’d worked on a few campaigns and been acquainted with some of our leaders (past and present) - I really didn’t understand how county government worked. It only took a few months on the Parks & Recreation Board and a few long talks with some people who were wise to the local scene - I was appalled with how this County was run. I realized that it all went back to a broken promise of “Putting Kids First” and a disingenuous claim that never came to reality.

After reviewing the facts, I beg to differ that kids were put first; but they were asked to foot the bill.

A political reality was exploited. Kids can’t vote. Young adults rarely do. On top of those two facts, their parents are easily convinced that there really is something for nothing. With this, the county’s fund balance was raided, residential growth continued unchecked, massive amounts of debt was incurred with no plan for recovery - without once going to the voters, and financial discipline received only lip service. Expenses and interest were deferred. We have only begun to pay the price. The real cost will be borne by those who are currently under 35 (like me) and our kids. I only hope that we will be able to employ more wisdom and employ more restraint than past Commissions have.

All is not lost. The situation isn’t totally irreversible. The coming primary will allow the current recovery to continue or we can go back to the days of irresponsibility and empty promises.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be presenting evidence from audited financial statements, campaign literature, and Board of Commissioner meeting minutes to demonstrate how the “low taxes” were not achieved by fiscal restraint; but only by deferring the cost, at a price, to later generations.

I call it the “Cabarrus Youth Tax”; because it’s the young which will bear the brunt of the wanton ignorance and benighted decisions of past Boards of Commission; and how current rhetoric can be a harbinger of a very dark future of our community. Good government goes unnoticed - bad government makes for easy headlines. There are those who truly want to make a difference for our community and there are those who will grandstand using mendacity and half-truths. I can’t claim that my writing will change one mind; but I hope that this is informative.

Here’s some suggested reading from the past on the actions of some of those currently on the ballot:

• Politics in an Odd-Numbered Year(the first post on this here blog)
• Point/Counter-Point: The Resolution Solution
• Politics in an Odd-Numbered Year V: Anatomy of a Tax Hike
• Politics in an Odd-Numbered Year VI: Blessed are the Young, for they shall inherit the Debt.
• Proposal for a New Caucus System: Cabarrus Idol
• Bob Carruth’s June 2005 Editorial in the Independent Tribune
• Politics in an Odd-Numbered Year IX: A Swarm of Fees
• Point/Counter-Point: Hegemony Disguised as Parsimony
• The Truth v. Harold Smith V: Underexposed
• Retread: Letter to Editor on Schools
• NEW! Anatomy of the Cabarrus Youth Tax