news-record.com

When a politician promises a “temporary” tax increase, it’s hard to take seriously anything else she says.

Gov. Bev Perdue created that problem for herself this week when she called for a temporary sales-tax increase to raise money for schools.

The last time that happened, in 2009, the governor went back on her word and tried to extend the tax hike when it was due to expire two years later. The legislature refused.

There’s no reason for anyone to believe she’s more sincere now, so she should drop the pretense of a time limit and lay out a straightforward case for her tax increase.

School funding has been cut, and a strong argument can be made for coming up with more money. Education is an area where the state can’t afford to regress. It already ranks low in per-student spending and has the poor test scores to show as a consequence.

In addition, the legislature has refused to address an order by Superior Court Judge Howard Manning to provide more space for at-risk 4-year-olds in preschool programs. Citing the N.C. Supreme Court’s Leandro rulings, Manning said denying qualified children seats in these classes violates their constitutional right to a sound, basic education.

The governor deserves credit for speaking up for these children and for others in grades K-12 who have to deal with larger class sizes and other limitations because of budget cuts. She’s taking her stand, and a political risk, by pushing for a boost in the state sales tax rate.

To succeed, however, she must establish trust. If North Carolinians dig deeper into their pockets, will the extra nickels and dimes make a difference? Will the state put the additional resources into classrooms, or will it pay for administrators, buses and repairs at athletic facilities? Can they believe the governor when she says all the money will help the children?

Taxpayers don’t have much money to spare. They’re paying higher state gasoline taxes. In many counties, like Guilford, they’re paying higher property taxes — in large part to support local schools. And let’s not forget the state’s very high unemployment rate. Yet, even people who don’t have jobs have to pay sales taxes.

Perdue followed her sales-tax statement with an announcement that she’ll offer an “amnesty,” waiving some fees and penalties for people who could not pay their state income taxes on time last year. “This is exactly the type of program we need to help our fellow North Carolinians down the path to economic recovery,” she said.

That’s a curious position when she’s asking the same people to pay more in sales taxes.

When Perdue presents her budget, she must detail the funding she thinks schools need to provide a quality education for children. She must identify the source of funding — from tax revenues or money shifted from other functions of state government. A public debate should follow, and then action by the legislature, which must enact the final budget.

If the argument for any tax increase is compelling, it should happen. But no one should pretend it will be temporary.