Most of us get what we deserve and Lenoir County is no different.
Higher taxes and less influence in the state Legislature are what we voted for, and what we'll get.
Anyone who believes they'll escape with paying an extra $50 or so in property taxes every year for the next 20 years is deep into denial. This is just the beginning - just Phase 1. The hogs have only begun tasting the trough.
Don't be surprised to see city taxes go up this year and don't recoil in shock if the county wants more money too. Both said they cut to the bone last year. With higher prices on gas, building materials, health insurance and nearly every petroleum product, it would be surprising if the increase is only a penny or two per $100.
The Board of Education deserves a big congratulatory salute. They planned this referendum perfectly. It was scheduled for an election in which few people normally vote and when they decided to inform people, they targeted only parents and voting-eligible students. One school board member even admitted to the strategy Tuesday. Perfect.
The campaign was admirable. They told us what we wanted to hear: Better schools equal better educated students. Like the suckers we are, we bought into it. One, after all, cannot deny the children!
As one wag Tuesday night asked, when was the last time you saw a referendum to hire better teachers? No. All we need are buildings.
Did the board ever tell us what they plan to do with the schools they'll abandon? Did they tell us how they intend to prevent a $75 repair bill from becoming a $10,000 eyesore by maintaining the new construction? And isn't it interesting that Pink Hill voters, who had a lot to gain, voted AGAINST the bond?
Ah, well - it's water over the dam at this point. We're a wealthy community, brimming with jobs and opportunity, fighting off the people who are bidding up the prices of houses on the market. We can afford this.
As for the legislative race, forget attracting much attention to Lenoir County. Whether you're a Democrat who switched to Independent so you could vote for Willie Ray Starling, or a Republican who was too lazy to go to the polls, we can kiss goodbye to any influence we might have had in the state House this fall.
Stephen LaRoque had accumulated a small degree of seniority - maybe the most important currency in politics - but that's gone now. He'll probably be able to accomplish little if anything in the short session beginning next week. Lame ducks are not particularly powerful. And whether we send Starling or his Democrat opponent Van Braxton to Raleigh in November, we'll be starting from scratch with a freshman representative.
Mark it on your calendar. We'll be getting exactly what we deserve.
Lee Raynor is editor of KinstonPress.com. She can be reached at
leeraynor@kinstonpress.com, or at (252) 361-7530.
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