I asked the Mayor to inform the Fallston Town Council of my concerns and recommended voting AGAINST the Fallston Fire Department to be annexed into the county fire district until the details could be worked out and everybody knew exactly what they were getting into. Since the Commissioner’s Meeting started at 6 PM and the Fallston Town Meeting started at 7 PM I could not attend both meetings, so I decided the Commissioner meeting would probably be more important to find out just how bad Fallston and Belwood were going to be screwed over.
But, in the end it comes to this. If Fallston, Belwood and the entire Upper Cleveland County wants to be screwed over, asks to be screwed over and likes to be screwed over so much that we enjoy screwing over ourselves, why should Shelby and Kings mountain spoil our fun by not screwing us over.
Anyway, let’s do some math:
Fallston has a 5 cent property tax that goes to the Town of Fallston and a 5 cent property “fire tax” that partly goes to the Fallston Volunteer Fire Department.
The 5 cent fire tax raises $186,000 per year for the Fallston Fire Department.
A 75% increase in Fallston’s fire tax should bring in $186,000 times 1.75 or $325,500 per year
According to the Commissioners meeting discussion Fallston would get $230,000 per year plus an additional $120,000 to pay salaries. $230,000 plus $120,000 adds up to $350,000 per year.
Since Fallston would allegedly get an additional $25,000 per year by being annexed into the Cleveland County Fire District, it would be in Fallston’s best interest to join the County Fire District. However, plans, boundaries and such have not been finalized. Final plans could make all this increase just go away. It might be just an illusion in the first place as nothing is in writing-except Fallston Fire Taxes are going up 75%.
But two questions remain:
1. Where will this extra $25,000 come from? Is it real money just an illusion like I stated above?
2. What happens when property is reevaluated and the value goes up? An 8.75 cent tax would generate more money than before. Who would get that money then? Nobody knows, nobody has thought about that.
Why shouldn’t Fallston and Belwood get some answers before they commit to surrender their Fire Department? An insider says they were blackmailed. Previously Fallston always paid cash for all they needed, but the Commissioners made them stop paying like that and borrow money. Then the county reduced the amount of money Fallston was getting from their own taxes. Yet nobody said anything.
Now, let’s add more thing.
Why did Jason Falls vote No, saying there were other ways? Why did Jason Falls NOT present his other ways for discussion. Jason Falls is up for re-election next year and Jason Falls has promised never to vote for a tax increase and to only serve two terms as a Commissioner. Has Jason Falls changed his mind about not running for another term? Was it the Commissioner’s majority plan to vote for the tax increase so Jason Falls could vote against the tax increase, yet know that the tax increase would pass anyway? There is just too much stupidity going on here to suit me.
I say while there are three seats (a majority) in the Commissioners race in 2018, just get rid of the three incumbents and put in a whole new majority. A majority that includes members that will look after the best interests of the Upper Cleveland County folks too. Just my opinion folks. 2018 is next year. This can be done and all the scandals going on in Cleveland County could be stopped immediately. Thinks about it.
But Remember, We have 2017 elections to take care of too. Run for office and all us disappointed people get out and vote. And, Don’t forget the School Board Elections. Those characters need cleaning out too. I recommend voting for Danny Blanton, Kevin Whisnant, Rodney Fitch and Robert Queen (if he runs) for the school board.
On top of all that, I recommend attending the Town Hall meeting to be held Sunday night at 6:30 PM at the Fallston Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Danny Blanton and Kevin Whisnant are putting this on regarding selecting a new principal for Burns High School. Come out. That is this Sunday, May 7, 2017. Be sure to bring some money to donate to Blanton’s and Whisnant’s campaign. That is my idea, not theirs.
