A move by the town council in Granville to become a Home Rule city and add a 1% municipal sales tax is of real concern. If passed, the town of 1,400 would see its municipal budget balloon from its current $9.5 million to about $13.3 million. Morgantown, by contrast, has 30,500 residents and a $45 million budget. How is it that Granville, at 1.31 square miles, needs a budget one-third the size of Morgantown? Someone on council should explain.
Yes, the University Town Centre is part of Granville, and the town handles some paving there. But according to Mayor Patty Lewis, the tax increase would serve in many ways as a just-in-case fund if the Business and Occupation tax is eliminated.
“We’re trying to be proactive,” Lewis said. “I just don’t want residents or anybody who shops at the (University) Town Centre thinking we’re doing that just to boost our budget and be wasteful. We’re doing it as a precaution. So we know that we’ll have the funds to provide the services we’re obligated to provide.”
Taxes should not be levied simply in such a manner that allow government to feel comfortable. They instead should be levied at a level that requires government to be as efficient as possible. That doesn’t appear to be the case here.
Town council meets again Nov. 12. Those elected to serve the people should offer some real answers.
Morgantown Area News
'Tuesday, November 5, 2024'
