Β So the headline reads: “City Passes New Budget with No Property Tax Increase!” Β Sounds great, right? Β But you gotta dig a little deeper, people. Β They’re still getting more money from you somehow. Β It’s just that nobody likes people who increase taxes. Β So let’s change the name.
The budget passed during last night’s City Council meeting, which everybody knew it would. Β And what sounds great is that it did not include a property tax increase for homeowners. Β But what it does increase is a water and sewer fee for homeowners. Β
Of course, not every property owner in Charlotte has water and sewer service on every piece of land. Β But a lot do. Β When you do the math, the flat fee winds up being more than the average property tax increase, which is usually just a few hundredths of a percent from year to year: a couple of bucks difference, on average. Β
And so, since most property owners will still have to pay more, our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, asks if there’s really any difference between taxes and user fees…
