The Apex High School State Champion Academic Decathlon Team, coached by Mr. Randall Moncelle, recently traveled to the 2008 Nationals Competition in Garden Grove, Calif., April 30-May 3. The team consists of Kendra Bell, Janie Biggs, Samantha Curlee, Adrienne Franz, Kaitlyn Mayerchak, Anna Nieman, Kristin Seibert, Jennifer Tunstall and Alexander Wiseman. Each student took tests in several subject areas, underwent interviews, gave prepared and impromptu speeches and wrote an essay. We wish to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of our trip: Progress Energy, ORG Solutions, Wake County Public Schools, the Apex Festival Commission and The Apex Herald.

Apex High School, Academic Decathlon Team

Morrisville: Proposed tax rate too high

Cary and Morrisville share borders and commuter routes, water and sewer services and access to fleet vehicle fuel. What they don’t share: a conservative approach to government spending.

On April 22, Morrisville’s Board of Commissioners voted to approve a Long Range Financial Plan tied to a tax rate 19 percent above revenue neutral. Cary leaders, on the other hand, are considering a tax rate of .33 per $100 of valuation, or about 2 percent above revenue neutral.

At the proposed rate, Cary residents will pay $990 in local property taxes on a $300,000 home. In Morrisville, the tax bill for that same $300,000 home will be $1,318.80. With no positive difference in service provision, that’s 33 percent more in real estate and automobile taxes, just for the benefit of calling Morrisville home. The math is the same for small businesses in zip code 27560. Open up or maintain a shop in Cary and pay 33 cents per $100 of valuation on real estate and vehicles. Locate in Morrisville and pay 43.96 cents per $100 of valuation. That difference may be but a drop in the bucket for Regional Activity Centers like the recently approved Park West. Morrisville small businesses, on the other hand, will be at a competitive disadvantage if paying 33 percent more in property taxes than their counterparts in Cary.

Elected officials in Morrisville must revisit their decision to raise property taxes out of scale with neighboring jurisdictions. By limiting budget increases to a responsible 8 percent for both general government and public safety, and with a reasonable 15 percent increase for Public Works, our town can remain competitive with a tax rate of 37 cents. To do otherwise unnecessarily burdens residents and small-business owners alike.

Jackie Holcombe, Morrisville