RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Beverly Perdue, business recruiters and education and tourism leaders are heading to Germany to urge companies there to visit and invest in North Carolina.
Perdue's office said she was leaving Sunday and will stay in Munich until Wednesday. She'll meet with executives of companies already with a presence in North Carolina or are considering setting up shop in the state.
Perdue will take a brief vacation in Europe after leaving Munich with husband, Bob Eaves, before coming home. Other delegation members will visit other German cities the rest of the week. Some will head later to Sweden.
Perdue's office said the governor and her husband are paying for their entire trip. The rest of the trade mission will cost the state $44,000.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Could this be the reason
why industry and business are not flocking to our state as they once did?
"...North Carolina has one of the 15 worst tax environments for small businesses in the country and the worst in the South, the Washington, D.C.-based Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council says in a report released Tuesday.
The Business Tax Index 2010 lumps North Carolina in with the likes of New York, California, New Jersey and Massachusetts due to the Tar Heel State’s relatively high tax rates on personal income and corporate profits. North Carolina also was penalized for having unemployment and gasoline taxes higher than most states. If not for the 12th lowest property tax rate as a percentage of household income in the United States, North Carolina would have ranked even lower..."
That's pretty bad to think our state, which once ranked as one of the most business friendly environments in the country; a state which could recruit business relocations from both abroad and other parts of the Country, has now fallen to the bottom of the barrel. We're in the same boat with the likes of California, New York, and New Jersey when it comes to how we are percieved by those who make the decisions to relocate businessss.
No wonder the tax incentives offered do not cut the mustard.
Rather than stick at home, she takes off on another jaunt.
Before expending state funds on further jaunts, which come from we the people who pay taxes, she might want to look at some of the internal issues which impact business decisions on expanding into North Carolina.
Has anyone seen any effort to work on lowering the gasoline sales tax?
Has anyone seen any effort to reduce the tax rate on corporate profit?
Has anyone seen any effort to amend the much discussed, ineffective movie production tax incentives which she said she knew nothing about now that the legislature is returning for a short session?
I'm in Raleigh quite a bit; I follow the media in the Charlotte and Raleigh newspapers as well as the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. I haven't seen any mention.
But off she can go on her frequently updated travel rather than stay in state and work on the issues facing all of us? Maybe she lives in a world of escapism?
So when she talks about the light at the end of the tunnel, remember she may have faulty vision. Remeber recent employment numbers released are inflated, for the short term, by the temporary census jobs which will evaporate later this year. Then where will we be?
If you voted for the Education Governor or voted the staright "D" because you were lazy or misguided, remember you got what you voted for.
Think about some of these items when you attend a candidate forum this Fall. Ask the hard questions and see which candidate is better informed and prepared.
I wonder
what she'll bring back?
Trip to China -- no results
Trip to Hollywood -- no results
Trip to DC -- no results
Maybe she and the First Gentleman are getting some lessons in yodeling.
Let's hope they don't talk her into investing NC funds in Greek debt bonds.
Cast selection on WWAY sucks
I hav always looked at WWAY every sinc I can remeber but now I think I wll watch WECT because of your decision on the the news choses you afre making. I was upset becuse your chose of Anchor Man was wrong hen you let John go. I went to another astation but I decied to give you anoghter chance. Now you have done. I started watchig the chanel gain with your new ma and y9u take him off. What is wrong with yur staff selection committee. Pkease forgive me of any misspell words, I a angey and I just don't care what You may think of me.