In this year’s general election, along with the U.S. presidential race and the North Carolina governor’s race, Burke County voters will also weigh in on an increase in sales tax.
On the ballot for Burke is a quarter-percent local sales and use tax.
In July, the Burke County Board of Commissioners approved putting the question before voters this year.
If approved, the county’s sales tax would increase from 6.75% to 7%. It would not be applied when buying food or gas.
In 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly approved this increase in sales and use tax as an option for counties. The last time Burke County held a referendum on the sales tax was Nov. 4, 2008. That’s when voters said no to the measure, with 25,385 people (72.85%) voting against it and 9,459 people (27.15%) voting for it, according to county and election officials.
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Currently, 47 counties in the state have approved the quarter-percent sales tax, according to information from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Voters in Alexander, Catawba, Lincoln and Rutherford counties have approved the tax.
Burke County Commissioner Randy Burns proposed the quarter-percent sales tax referendum to the board of commissioners earlier this year. He and Commission Chairman Jeff Brittain have made the case that Burke residents who shop in Catawba, Lincoln, Rutherford or Alexander counties are already paying the additional sales tax.
Burns called the sales tax the fairest tax there is and has said if the quarter-percent sales tax is approved in Burke, that money could be used to help alleviate county costs related to inflation and help keep property taxes from increasing.
Burns said he has spoken at local precinct meetings and a chamber of commerce meeting, as well as other groups. He is accepting and seeking any invitation he can to talk about it to voters, he said.