Statement regarding sales tax review committee

The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners recently created an ad hoc committee to review how the county distributes sales tax receipts to municipalities.  I read the following statement at the beginning of the committee’s initial meeting today:

“As this committee begins its work, it is important to emphasize the fact that the Board of Commissioners is not advocating any specific outcome.  If anyone says that we are pushing a specific change to the sales tax distribution formula, that is simply not true.  We were asked to review the formula, and that is all that we have committed to do.  This committee is tasked with reviewing the situation and then making its case to the Board of Commissioners.  We will have to be convinced of two things before we make any changes:  first, that a change needs to be made; and, second, that any proposed change is the right one.  As Chairman Phil Norris has said, we will have to see a compelling reason to make a change.

“As this committee moves forward, I challenge the members to approach this with an open mind, attempt to see things from the point of view of other municipalities, and realize that any viable solution likely lies somewhere in the middle.  If everyone has their mind made up from the outset, this will be an exercise in futility.  With that said, our board does not plan to commit to making any change until this committee finishes its work and presents its findings to us.”