CCTA CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR TAXPAYERS!

Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association (CCTA) guided by Hal James, Chairman, Watchdog Committee along with other hardworking patriots have made great strides in looking into our local Craven County Govenment and particularly, property tax assesments.  Much more work is ahead!  We appreciat their hard work on our behalf!  See Hal's message to members below.

CCTA MEMBERS AND FRIENDSWell, we're off to another year of looking out for the citizens and taxpayers. Thanks to each of you who have given of your time, money and talents on behalf the taxpayers.

Please don't feel you have to wait for a monthly report to the CCTA to let me know what has gone on that you want us all to know about. Let's have running dialog.

Yesterday I attended the Craven County Board of Commissioners meeting. From our point of view it was much improved over the activities of the previous board, but still has a long way to go to really be informative and responsive to the citizens and taxpayers of Craven County.

First, much to his credit, Scott Dacey orchestrated input from "stake holders" on the issue of moving the magistrates to the Jail complex at Clarks. Many representatives of the law enforcement community were heard from. Sheriffs, police chiefs, the State Patrol, deputies, etc. all made their opinions known. All of these people wanted to move the magistrates to Clarks for the safety and convenience of their people. Sheriff Monette made a case for it saving about $1,000,000 per year of taxpayers' money.

The Clerk's office and magistrates were also heard from. The consensus among them seemed to be a concern for the paperwork and inconvience of the magistrates in handling their work if they move out to Clarks. the Bar Association was also heard from. Gary Clemmons, civil lawyer, made the point that Chief District Court Judge Jerry Waddell has the power to put the magistrates where he wants to and not the Board of Commissioners. The County Attorney agreed. But, to me, the most interesting points were made by Kyle Smith, criminal lawyer, that there would be great inconvience and cost to the citizens if the magistrates were moved to Clarks. He pointed out that law enforcement officers will not get a warrant for the arrest of a citizen for a misdemeanor. So in a domestic disturbance, the wife or aggrieved party would have to get to the magistrate out at Clarks and swear out a warrant. The same would be true of a small business person wanting to get a warrant for passing a bad check. Probably just would not go to the trouble. Commissioner Sampson agreed that a lot of people from his District have to walk to the courthouse and would be adversely affected.

Another interesting aspect of all this was the input of the Bondsman, Reginald Beaslely. It had to do with getting prisoners released promptly when they are eligible for parole. He said Craven County is the only county that requires a magistrate to sign the release. The rest of the counties allow the bondsmen to handle releases directly with the jail personnel. He said changing this to handle it as other counies do could solve the problem of releasing these people promptly and cut down on the prison population and save the taxpayers money and treat citizens more fairly and compassionately too.

A piece of good news came from Erin Burridge, director of Elections Department. She stated that more of her records would be placed on the county's website and available that way to the public. Halleluiah!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEGAL OPINION ON ASSESSING LAND USE VALUE FOR FARMERS?  In his report at he end of the meeting, Jeff Taylor thanked Tyker Gonzales for all her hard work on behalf of the farmers in his District and the whole county. He read an email from Michael Brown of the NC Dept of Revenue, stating that the statues on present value land use for farmers was very clear and that the county owes McCoy Farms a refund. After the meeting I asked Jeff why he had not told the "rest of the story." He did not know what I was talking about. Mr. Brown, Dept of Revenue, had sent another email telling Dan Jenkins of the assessors office that 28 farmers in Craven county had been overtaxed and were due a refund. I gave a copy of that email to Jeff and he said he would take it up with the other commissioners.

WHY AREN'T THEY DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? I guess time will tell. These assessors are unlawfully taking taxpayer money and now the North Carolina Dept of Revenue agrees. GREAT JOB, TYKER!

Jason Jones, President of the Craven County Farm Bureau and until last month, a member of the Craven County Board of Commissioners, has written a letter to the editor of the Sun Journal that he has titled "A Craven County Hero." In it he outlines what Tyker has achieved in helping farmers and landowners in Craven County receive fair and equitable treatment in the tax values assigned their property. Wow! That is great. I can't wait to see it in print.

The "dog and pony" shows the Commissioners put on to convence us of what a great job directors of the various departments of the county government are doing is a big waste of time and totally uninformative to the citizens and taxpayers. These directors are constantly referring to the "package" the commissioners have that no one else is privy to and the public can't follow the proceedings without them. They often don't seem to know the cost/benefit of their departments and can't answer simple questions when they are asked of them. Yet, they are let off the hook and sent on their way with a pat on the head and a smile and a compliment about what a good job they are doing.

And, oh yes, the commissioners still vote unanimously to spend our federal and state tax money (as long as there are no county contributions) as if money grows on trees or the treasury or Federal Reserve Bank can just print more indefinitely. This meeting saw $122,084 dollars of taxpayer money go to the Department of Social Rip Off for Crisis Intervention. Whatever the heck that is. (sorry, I'm just getting so disgusted). This goes on all over our nation. When will it ever be stopped?

After the meeting I talked to Sue Brook, reporter for the Sun Journal about the assessors rip off of the farmers. She said she would look into it.

One of our newest members, Tony Bonnici, sent me an email showing the result of his research about the Soliel Group. In New Bern they own The Hilton, formerly the Sheraton, the Marina and Sky Sail Condos. Tony's research shows that they owe the taxpayers of the City and County $966.807.89 (almost a million bucks). I have more details on this if anyone wants to see it.

Keep up the good work and please keep me informed.

Hal James
Chairman, CCTA Watchdog Committee

FOR MORE INFORMATION READ THE FOLLOWING:

County may have no authority to move magistrate to Clarks jail

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/county-94107-jail-clarks.html
Aldermen to consider sculpture plan
http://www.newbernsj.com/news/sculpture-90517-commissioners-county.html

Woman's research helps lower neighbors' tax bill.

http://www.newbernsj.com/sections/article/gallery/?pic=1&id=91227

Law vs. rules:  http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/reading-93831-rules-article.html


County to seek legal opinion on assessing farmland taxes

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/county-93723-seek-attorney.html