May 30, 2008
The Mount Airy (NC) News on Occupancy Taxes
Surry occupancy tax derailed in Raleigh
By Tom Joyce
Sen. Don East said Thursday that he doesn't think the lack of an occupancy tax in Surry, targeted by county officials to promote tourism but derailed by East in the state Legislature, represents a big loss.
Referring to the approximately $60,000 that the tax was expected to generate each year and pointing out that it is relatively small compared to other governmental expenditures, East said, "I can't think that's going to drastically benefit tourism in Surry County. I just don't think that's going to happen.
"Sixty thousand dollars wouldn't even pay the director's salary," the Pilot Mountain Republican said of a county official whose job title includes handling economic development and tourism. "This is not a tremendous issue."
But the main reason East said he declined to support the introduction of proposed legislation to make the occupancy tax a reality was that it is just another in a long line of measures that take money out of people's pockets. Calling them "incremental" taxes, East said each often doesn't amount to much on its own, but when these taxes are added together, they simply increase the financial burden on citizens.
"I have tried to never support these little incremental taxes," the local senator said.
An organization called the Tax Foundation reported earlier this year that Americans will spend more on taxes during 2008 than they will on food, clothing and housing combined.
