To the Editor:

“The British are Coming,” is a familiar cry to anyone familiar with American history. However, in this case it’s not the British who are coming, it’s your Beaufort County commissioners. While Republican politicians nationwide are going through the painful process of cutting spending, your local county commissioners are planning to increase your taxes as much as 20 percent on top of your new property assessment. It looks like you are going to need a lockable zipper for your wallet pocket.

We are facing a double whammy in the financial sense. The governor would have you believe she is cutting spending but all she is really doing is “passing the buck” to the counties. She has in essence decided to pass unfunded mandates to localities rather than “face the music” at the state level. The state wants control but doesn’t want to pay for it. Democrats have created a lot of structures that now require financial support but are now running away from the financial consequences. Can you say Wisconsin?

That free money (stimulus) we got a year ago enabled us to bloat the budget a little bit more. Now it’s gone and we didn’t give a thought as to what we would do this year. Nothing is free. When you take money from Peter to pay Paul you have merely delayed the inevitable. Can you say “in over our heads?”

The real crime here is not only the projected property tax increase but the additional rise in the cost of goods and services that are offered by local businesses. The businessman will not sustain these losses. Rather, he will pass his increased property taxes on to you. This is double taxation. It’s sort of like the double counting that the Obama regime engaged in the health care bill. Soon the residents of this county and country will be bereft of any disposable income. In your mind’s eye can you see the businesses closing? Can you see the jaundiced eye any potential businessman would cast on Beaufort County?

Tired of being taken for granted? All of you conservative Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party members “get off your couch” and attend the county budget hearings. Let your county commissioners know what you think.

JOHN W. LaCAVA

Bath