Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/616164
DECEMBER 16-22, 2015 UCW 9 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville/Cumberland County gov- ernment relationships may get worse before they get better, according to Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson, who has said improving relationships has been a major goal of his since taking office in 2013, although his stance on the future distribution of local sales tax proceeds could further strain relation- ships. Robertson wants to change the method by which local governments have been dividing millions of dollars in revenue over the last 12 years. "County commissioners are propos- ing that the current arrangement be extended for another 10 years," says Chairman Marshall Faircloth. Commis- sioners and governing boards of the nine local municipalities have agreed to continuing the existing distribution formula — except the City of Fayetteville. Some city council members want to stop sharing sales tax money in areas annexed by the city over the last 20 years. The city and county agreed in 2003 to split sales tax revenue taken in annexed areas 50/50, if the county continued to use a territorial population calculation method. They've done that ever since, but the agreement expires next year and the county has given the city until January 31 to sign off on an extension. Thus far, Robertson has resisted. He wants the county to agree to a five-year plan un- der which the city would phase out the agreement so Fayetteville would retain all sales tax revenues. "It's the city's money under the law," he says. The eight smaller towns would also be affected by whatever deci- sion commissioners make. And legally, the ball's in their court. The old saying that "with ev- ery loss there's a gain" and vice versa, comes into play. If the current agreement is not extended, County Manager Amy Cannon estimates the county would lose nearly $8 million in the coming fiscal year. The City of Fayetteville would gain just under $6 million. Commissioners have an ace up their sleeve, Faircloth noted. State law gives county government the upper hand. The county govern- ment have the sole authority to change the method by which sales tax receipts are divided. They could decide to impose what's known as an ad valorem or tax district formula. The various tax- ing authorities would receive sales tax proceeds in accordance with their districts. Commissioners tax the entire county, including Fayetteville. Using that method, the county would gain $6 million while Fayetteville would lose nearly $5 million. "We will start discussing what we'll do," Faircloth said, if the city hasn't reached an agreement by January 31. The county has until April 30 to decide which way to go. Turf aside "This is a community issue," Cannon says. "This agreement directly impacts all residents regardless of where they reside within the county." City and County at Odds Over Sales Tax Revenue by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS A Hilarious New Comedy for Mature Audiences! TICKETS: $75.00 Per Person $70.00 Per Person for Seniors 65+, Active Duty Military & Cumberland County School Educators *Complimentary 1/2 dozen roses with each pair of tickets purchased at Owen's Florist. February 12 & 13 Doors Open - 6:00 p.m. Show Begins - 8:00 p.m. February 14, Sunday Matinee Doors Open - 12:00 p.m. Show Begins - 2:00 p.m. For more information call (910) 391-3859 Tickets Available At Owen's Florist* Up & Coming Weekly Crown Coliseum Tickets Online: CapeFearTix.com February 12-14, 2016 Holiday Inn I-95 Presents