Commissioners to vote on raising sales tax

GASTONIA, N.C. – What you buy in Gaston County could cost you more.

Thursday night county commissioners will discuss whether to put a referendum on the ballot that would increase the sales tax for consumers by a quarter of a percent.

Last November, voters approved a $175 million bond referendum, which would build six new schools and renovate five others. At the time of the referendum, county leaders said property taxes could be increased to pay for the school bonds.

“We've been very concerned about our property tax here in Gaston County because it’s one of the highest in the area,” said Mickey Price, county chairman.

Now commissioners are considering cutting the property tax hike in half and instead hiking the sales tax.

“You might ask what's the difference if I'm going to pay it on a sales tax or pay it on a property tax? The reason is not everyone pays property tax,” said Gaston County Manger Jan Winters.

Less than 70 percent of people who live in Gaston County are homeowners, according to Winters. The sales tax would generate over $3 million a year to pay off the school bonds. Food and medicine would be excluded.

“If it will help the children of the future, we've got to think about the future,” said Dot Atkins, a Gaston County resident.

Others say enough is enough.

“The taxes are high enough,” said one resident. “We can't afford it now.”

“We would prefer not to do this, but we needed the schools and here’s an alternative way to fund it rather than placing the full burden on property taxpayers,” said Winters.

If commissioners decide to put the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot, the public will vote on it in May.