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By: Erin Smith

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met on Monday and faced off with a series of questions from Charlotte Smith regarding the proposed quarter-cent sales tax referendum.

Smith introduced herself to the board and began by pointing out that three members of the board hold membership in the Bladen Improvement PAC. She told the board how there are many needs in the county especially where Bladen County EMS and education is concerned.

Smith said she was both concerned and disappointed when she went to the polls and saw those three commissioners encouraging voters to vote against the proposed sales tax referendum.

Smith commented to Commissioner Arthur Bullock, “My mouth dropped open when you said you did not have confidence in the board. Horace Munn told me he did not have confidence in the school board to spend the money.”

She said she was very concerned about the fact the commissioners do not support one another. Smith asked the board members if they supported the sales tax referendum.

Commissioner Delilah Blanks said, “I supported putting it on the ballot because I believe in social justice.”

She added that she felt the people should be able to decide for themselves if they want the sales tax or not. Blanks added that until the board specifies what the sales tax is to be used for she will not support it.

Blanks said she did not support it when it was first proposed; she did not support it when it was proposed the second time and she does not support it now.

Blanks reminded those present that she was involved in a traffic accident and lay in the wreckage for 45 minutes waiting for an ambulance to respond to the scene. Blanks said that some of the commissioners had said that the property tax could be reduced if the sales tax was implemented.

She added that she is a strong supporter of education but she disagrees with the sales tax referendum.

Commissioner Michael Cogdell said that the night it was voted on to add the referendum to the March 15 ballot, that he wanted the board to adopt a resolution stating precisely how the money raised would be spent. He stated that he asked specifically for the money to be earmarked for EMS, schools and economic development.

Cogdell said that he had done some research and the sales tax has only been passed 39 times in the state of North Carolina. He added that each time it was adopted, the board had adopted a resolution that gave specific information regarding how the funds are to be used.

Cogdell said he does not support the referendum.

Commissioner Arthur Bullock said he wanted a resolution to earmark the money for schools and EMS.

“To me, EMS and the school system are the most important,” said Bullock. He added that EMS needs more equipment.

Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson said, “I don’t know how much clearer you can be. We are elected to serve the citizens not the board of education.”

Peterson added that Blanks, Bullock and Cogdell were “blowing smoke” to which Cogdell replied that Peterson was the one that argued with the rest of the board about increasing the property taxes by .08 cents per $100 valuation.

Peterson reminded the group that they have had two opportunities to pass the sales tax for education and couldn’t do it.

Smith told the board that her concern is that the Bladen Improvement PAC has a lot power and they can work together but the Commissioners cannot seem to work together.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/2v65Ke5qDp4