Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on June 4, 2009 - 3:07pm.
Tags: Beverly Perdue | budget '10 | taxes | Under the Dome | Wake Tech

Gov. Beverly Perdue said today that some sort of tax increase might be needed to close a projected $4.5 billion budget shortfall.

The governor didn't say what tax hikes she might support. But she noted that her budget proposal called for an increase in the excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. She said she would not rule out other taxes, Rob Christensen reports.

"I think we cannot do what we have to do as a people on cuts alone," Perdue told reporters after addressing a stimulus recovery workshop at Wake Tech. "As to the mix of revenue, I am very seriously looking at all the options. I'm very serious about hard, tough cuts."

Perdue made the comment as House budget leaders prepare to unveil a budget that would cut the current $21.4 billion budget to $17.5 billion including sharp cuts in services, an increase in the size of public school classes, and thousands of layoffs.

She called the proposed House cuts "horrific for the people of North Carolina."

More after the jump.

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Perdue likened the budget debate to being in the third quarter of a football game. She said the House, Senate and governor would have to develop a consensus.

But Perdue said she would not discuss what sort of budget she would sign or veto.

She also declined to criticize her schools chief, William Harrison, who suggested the legislature consider a temporary sales tax hike. She said that Harrison was “a fabulous job.”

"I believe the discussions (of tax increases) I had in my own budget will only intensify," Perdue said. "Where I singled out alcohol and tobacco, the czar of education, Dr. Harrison, is singling out the sales tax.

"I think as far as I can see at this point in time we’ve got to make deep deep cuts," Perdue said. "Then we have to see what is left on the table and how far the people of North Carolina want to go."

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Re: Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by Crudeoil on June 5, 2009 - 7:34am.

CAN'T MAKE PAYROLL FOR STATE EMPLOYEE'S BEVERLY????

DON'T TAX THE REST OF US TO PAY FOR A QUARTER OF A MILLION STATE EMPLOYEE'S

WE ARE ALREADY THE 4TH MOST UNFAIRLY TAXED STATE IN THE UNION.

TRY IT BEV, JUST TRY IT. YOU START LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES. THE OLD MODEL OF MASS MICRO MANAGEMENT IS OVER IN THE "NEW WORLD ORDER" YOU SOCIALISTICRATES
STARTED. LIVE WITH IT. THE REST OF US HAVE TO,,,,,NOW.

CHANGE IS COMING.....LOL....

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Re: Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by domewatcher on June 5, 2009 - 7:33am.

Campaign promises are not considered real promises. It's like when you pray that you are going to do better but you know that you are not. I think that when a campaign is over all records should be destroyed. Like the judge in Law & Orders says, "The jury and the public will disregard all campaign promises as not being relevant. The clerk will strike all campaign promises from the public record and let them never be uttered again."

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Re: Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by BitterEXdemocrat on June 5, 2009 - 6:55am.

She's a NC democrackkk...they dont speak without LYING, and the clueless sheeple just eat it up, whatever it is...

READ OUR LIPs, BEV! NO MORE NEW TAXES on ANYTHING in NC, we are SOooo OVERTAXED NOW its CRIMINAL !!!

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Re: Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by domewatcher on June 5, 2009 - 6:24am.

The Governor was quoted as saying:

"Then we have to see what is left on the table and how far the people of North Carolina want to go."

Well, there sure ain't much left on our table. We've eaten most everything in the house and even the stuff past the expiration date. As to how far we'd like to go, a trip to visit grandma would be nice. But the car is broke and gas is high.

So put me down for the cuts and against the higher taxes. Of course I'm tryin' not to buy anything anyway but just the thought of higher taxes gives me indigestion. Or the indigestion may be from eating the food that's past the expiration date.

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Re: Perdue: try hard, tough cuts with own staff

Submitted by Gosh (not verified) on June 4, 2009 - 11:14pm.

I so wish McCrory had won too. What we so need now is an ideologue rejecting the Stimulus money to correct the Bush recession.

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Perdue: try hard, tough cuts with own staff

Submitted by concerned53 on June 4, 2009 - 10:21pm.

If Perdue is serious about "hard, tough cuts" why doesn't she start with her own staff. Instead, all she continues to do is to make political hires such as an education advisor that has 7 years of experience in the public schools. How about using that $52k to save the job of a classroom teacher or perhaps put Barringer back in a classroom himself, if in fact he is any good. Beverly, how about listening to "your own voice" in these difficult economic times since you apparently have a Ph.D in education.

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Re: Perdue might support tax hike

Submitted by barbie50 on June 4, 2009 - 7:26pm.

I don't have a problem with the Governor changing her mind on taxes. The playing field has changed pretty dramatically in the past few months. And, I honestly believe that some additional source of revenue is needed. At the same time, though, I have to ask -- why did we sell our collective souls for Apple...to get so little in return? When you are cutting, perhaps you should start with corporate welfare for companies coming to NC.

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Re: Perdue breaks campaign promise

Submitted by concerned53 on June 4, 2009 - 4:16pm.

She knew last year as Lt Governor that there would be a problem with a deficit this year. But she chose to promise that there would be no increase in taxes during her campaign and then again in March. She can't use as an excuse now that it is a whole new situation. She knew too much about the problems of the state but decided to keep them quiet so that she could get elected.

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