Maybe not, but Charlotte is fast taxing herself into purgatory while doing some crazy happy dance as the working middle class flee the taxes and crime.
We have a 15.25% hotel tax, higher than Charleston, a true tourist city at 12.5% and Atlanta at 11.5%
We have the highest gas tax in the Southeast.
Charlotte City Council sees it as "just a penny more" but the truth is a dinner for two in Charlotte will set you back about $50 sure you can squeeze by for $35 if you spare the beer and wine.
Doubling the "prepared food" tax hits two groups really hard, first those of us without stay at home moms, families where both spouses work and diner is more often than not on the run.
Don't forget that "prepared food" includes that deli sandwich and pasta salad you picked up from Harris Teeter at lunch.
The second group are service staff who depend on customers generosity for their income. Will that extra $1 on date night come out of the wait staff's pocket? You betcha!
Remember most of us are now feeling the pain of the 2% hike in the social security tax, not to forget Charlotte property owners got zapped with a flawed revaluation last year and then thanks to Charlotte City Council there's the ever increasing CMUD water bills.
The most troubling aspect of the Panther's deal is the way it came down. A dirty back room deal, put together to benefit the Big Fat Cat himself Jerry Richardson, a Bruton Smith wanna be.
If the BFC had set aside funds for renovations over the last 16 years he would have a state of the art stadium. Had they built a franchise and a loyal fan base they could ask the fans to step up.
Had Charlotte City Council not been sold a "pig in a poke" again and again, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bobcats Arena, White Water Center, Eastland Mall and on and on, they might have some money to fund a project and give BFC a deal.
A deal council is so ashamed of that they ducked out the back door of the basement using a service tunnel to avoid the media.
Apparently there is a tunnel under the street that Charlotte City Council members used to evade the local media. The tunnel connects the Goverment Center to the Parking Deck.
According to WBT's Chris Miller a City Spokesperson stated that the police presence at closed-session Monday was "to facilitate the quick arrival and departure of our guests."
Photo of Charlotte City Council member entering the tunnel is below.
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| Note: Cedar Posts can't comfirm that the above person is in fact a Charlotte City Council Member. |
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