4/27/2009
Merger of NCCo with city would solve budget woes - News Journal

News Journal Letter to the Editor

Merger of NCCo with city would solve budget woes
APRIL 27, 2009

Friday’s editorial said “NCCo, Wilmington must cut costs somehow.” The summary sentence said “no one has a solution – other than imposing sacrifices on taxpayers, government workers and citizens in general.” I respectfully disagree.

The answer is right in front of you – merge the City of Wilmington into New Castle County, completely eliminating a level of bureaucracy. Combined police and safety, licensing and inspections, public works, etc. will result in huge cost savings, solving current budget problems and resulting in much lower costs.

This idea has a proven track record. See Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, N.C., for a great example. Taxes went down, services went up, and there was a mass exodus back downtown by the people who work in the city.

Imagine how many higher-income people would move back downtown if the extra city real-estate, transfer and wage taxes were eliminated as they were no longer needed to support an unnecessary level of government?

Too bad the electorate and the politicians don’t have the willpower to pursue this.

Tom Hudson
Wilmington

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