Sales Tax Hike Will Likely Go Before Voters

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – New Hanover County Commissioners are looking at putting a quarter of one percent sales tax before voters on the May primary ballot.

In a recent poll of 400 residents, a majority said they would not support the sales tax hike: not if it meant keeping the library open, not if it meant improving roads and not if it meant keeping property taxes from rising.

Chairman of the New Hanover County Commissioners Jason Thompson says the county is going to have to find money somewhere.

"The property tax burden is too much, so sales tax that's the fairest way to do it in my opinion. It's either that or cut services."

The county calculated that raising the sales tax by one-quarter of one percent would generate $7 million in additional revenue. Thompson says the county will need to fill a budget gap between $11million and $14 million.

Poll Results

Q: This May, New Hanover County voters will be asked to approve a new one-quarter of one percent sales tax, which is about $7 million in additional sales tax revenue. The County Commissioners have stated that the new sales tax is needed in order to minimize higher property taxes in the future: if the May sales tax referendum election was held today, would you vote for or against the new sales tax?

For: 37.5%

Against: 51.8%

Undecided: 10.8%

Q: Would you still be opposed to the sales tax if you knew that the sales tax was needed to keep public libraries open in New Hanover County?

Would Now Favor: 30%

Still Opposed: 60.9%

Don't Know: 9.3%

Q: Would you still be opposed to the sales tax if you knew it would lessen the property tax burden of New Hanover residents because the sales tax provides a way to collect tax revenue from tourists who visit New Hanover County?

Would Now Favor: 31.4%

Still Opposed: 62.3%

Don't Know: 6.3%

Q: Would you still be opposed to the sales tax if you knew that the new sales tax could be used to improve roads and ease traffic congestion?

Would Now Favor: 26.6%

Still Opposed: 66.2%

Don't Know: 7.2%

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