County pushing its responsibility onto voters

Beaufort County voters will make a decision Tuesday on whether to increase our sales tax one cent, or 16 percent, to fund various capital improvement projects to the tune of $120 million. There are many reasons to oppose this increase, none more primary than government-by-referendum itself.

Our Founding Fathers, with wisdom and foresight, created a system of checks and balances to restrain and diffuse the power of the state. In doing so, they chose representative democracy, wherein elected officials represent groups of voters. This is different from direct democracy where voters decide policy initiatives directly. The differences are stark.

In a representative democracy, voters select a citizen-legislator at the ballot box. Their expectation is legislators will act in their best interests by studying issues and proposing and voting on legislation. If elected legislators perform accordingly, constituents can return them to office via reelection — or replace them at the ballot box.

Government that is legislated through the referendum process is most like direct democracy. Our Founding Fathers warned against this form of government as it could result in tyranny of the majority, which occurs when the majority acts in its own interest at the expense of the minority.

Asking Beaufort County taxpayers to decide capital improvement projects, bonding mechanisms and debt-service levels leads to negative outcomes, regardless of what passes or fails. Taxpayers are busy working, tending to family, attending community events; there is little time to develop the expertise required to make such decisions. They empower their elected legislators to do so on their behalf. The reward is reelection when legislators make sound decisions and replacement when they don’t. Pushing difficult decisions onto taxpayers is an abdication of responsibility by County Council. They, and only they, have been empowered by the people to increase or decrease taxes.

What would happen if we moved more government decisions to referendum? Elected legislators would have no voting record. So, on what basis would we replace a legislator in the future? It’s a recipe for disaster. Look no further than California, a state that has embraced this style of government. Voters there are faced with 17 referendum questions this November, including one on whether male porn stars should be forced to wear condoms while performing. Welcome to your future.

Frankly, increasing our sales tax to fund capital improvements is illegitimate on its face. Ironically, County Council has done a terrific job navigating us through the Great Recession and a recovery marked by only meager growth. They have made do with less and should be commended. They need to make do with less for a little longer, which will require them to brainstorm on creative solutions. Sometimes I think we have more confidence in their abilities than they do. Council members need to accept their responsibility when it comes to capital improvements, decide what is necessary now and come up with funding sources that do not raise taxes. Meanwhile, Beaufort County voters should vote NO on the county sales tax increase on November 8th.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 2:43 PM with the headline "County pushing its responsibility onto voters."