INCREASED COSTS

·         You should contribute because - If you don’t and annexation happens as scheduled, you will pay city property taxes in addition to county taxes.  Example: @.4238/$100 valuation, the homeowner of a $300,000 home will pay an additional $1,270 each year. A home valued at $500,000 will pay an additional $2,119 each year. For your small contribution, you save thousands of $$$ in added property taxes for as long as the legal process takes to run its course.

·         You should contribute because - Other additional fees or tax $ would have to be paid, e.g., auto tax, dog license tax, recycling tax, storm sewer tax, etc.

·         You should contribute because –  With only part of Biltmore Lake annexed, which is the plan, you may find it harder to sell your home if it’s in competition with a like home in the county area.

·         You should contribute because - Your tax $ will be used to pay for contracted services e.g., fire protection, garbage pick-up, etc. that you already pay for today.

·         You should contribute because – The City must pay refuse companies for their lost business revenue.  Your tax $ would go toward paying the City’s cost of involuntary annexation…the refuse company, of instance, is entitled to 15 months of lost revenue from each customer the City takes in.

·        You should contribute because - The County’s loss of revenue from road taxes, sales taxes, utility right of way fees, etc., may result in an increase in their tax rate in addition to your “new” City taxes.

·         You should contribute because - When municipalities need more revenue, they often create new user fees (taxes) which would be an additional annoying cost to you.

·         You should contribute because - Your tax $ may be spent on city projects you don’t agree with or wish to support.

 REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE

·         You should contribute because – If annexed you may see a decrease in the level of police and fire protection experienced today…the standard level of service is lower in Asheville then what Biltmore Lake receives today.

·         You should contribute because - If annexed, you will be bound by City Ordinances – hundreds of them.

 DEFENDING YOUR RIGHTS

·         You should contribute because - You are standing up for your democratic right to have your voice heard in how you are treated by a government you had no vote in electing.

·         You should contribute because – The city hires lobbyists [The League of Municipalities] with your tax $ to continue forced, involuntary annexation enabling it to collect more taxes from citizens like you. 

·         You should contribute because - Your tax $ could be used to fight other annexation challenges…so, you would be helping to pay for fighting your neighbors who disagree with involuntary annexation the same as you.

·         You should contribute because – By fighting involuntary annexation you help send a message you are aware other states do not use this arcane method of forcing taxes upon their citizens [North Carolina is only one of four states who do -46 other states do not] and yet, other states have great cities that continue to prosper.

·         You should contribute because - You potentially will help many other less fortunate citizens both in the Asheville area and NC who may not have the ability to fight involuntary annexation.

·         You should contribute because - Even if you live outside the identified boundary, it is just a matter of time before the ugly hand of involuntary annexation will beat on your door.

·         You should contribute because - You will demonstrate your sense of community by helping support the anti forced annexation stance.

·        You should contribute because - If you don’t, there may not be adequate financial resources to mount and sustain a legal challenge, so everyone loses – the exception being, of course, the Asheville City Council; the very group that wants your tax $ to begin with...you LOSE-they WIN and you PAY! 

6/07/07