news-record.com

The candidates running for two seats on the Town Council said the town’s new property tax and clean water are among the top issues Whitsett faces.

Incumbent Ken Jacobs, one of the three candidates, said the initial tax rate of 5 cents per $100 set this year isn’t enough to balance the budget and maintain the town’s facilities long term, and the town shouldn’t put itself in the position of having to repeatedly raise taxes.

“I am opposed to tax rate increases every time you turn around,” Jacobs said.

Incumbent Cindy Wheeler said she wants to keep the tax rate low, “but we need to provide as many services as possible.”

Candidate Lee “Monk” Greeson is wary of the new tax. “I realize why the town needed to start taxing the citizens, but I don’t want overtaxation of the citizens,” Greeson said. “Right now, in this economy, is not the time to be raising taxes on anyone. We need to be lowering the taxes.”

All three candidates said the town needs to stay focused on providing municipal water to residents. The town is pursuing a state grant that would pay to connect properties with contaminated wells to the Burlington water system. Town leaders said this could be a starting point for eventually connecting all residents to the system.

Wheeler and Jacobs also said they believe the town needs a curbside recycling program. Residents rejected such a plan, which would have required a higher tax rate, in June.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 449-4610 or jamie. kennedy@news-record.com