[Regarding “Commissioners Approve $4.9M for Pre-K Expansion, Affordable Housing,” May 11, Xpress:] This state’s ruling to use the tax monies for tourism advertising does not make sense from a fiscal standpoint.
The funds should be used to benefit the communities and to pay for city and county services such as infrastructure. Having sidewalks, road improvements and replacement of inadequate sewer pipes will benefit both tourists and residents.
— Anne Barker
Asheville
We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we’ve never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.
We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.
2 thoughts on “Letter: Occupancy taxes should pay for services”
Agreed. We don’t need to waste money on advertising where Asheville is, people already know. Asheville is full of broken streets, twisted signs, and too few sidewalks. People are free to park on either side of already too narrow roads, creating traffic bottlenecks and increasing danger to pedestrians.
If our politicians do not come to their senses and allow us to use these funds for much-needed improvements to our city and area, I believe we should all refuse to work, refuse to serve tourists, and refuse to do anything that anyone in power says we must do…we the people should all quit our crappy service industry jobs, go on welfare, and force government to support us. It’s idiotic that there’s all that money being pissed down the drain. Therefore, we the people should do something equally idiotic (but brilliant and brave!) to prove the point. Rise up, Friends and Neighbors! Unite For Community And Quit! Get on the government dole and tell those in Raleigh What Is The What!!!
Tourist Season is upon us…Let’s All Get Lazy, Y’all!