The REASON for Kinstons high utility bills: Kinston has high utility rates because the AMOUNT and value of taxable property has declined. Many of the older buildings and houses are simply GONE. (View Google Earth) They were replaced with government housing that pays NO taxes to the city. Yet, those people that reside in them require an INORDINATE amount of city services like Police protection. The money has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is utility fees. No NEW homes and businesses are being built within the city because of the negative demographics including crime and poverty rates. More than 80 percent of Kinston residents receive a government check - either welfare or Social Security. The average check is $1200 a month. Not much opportunity for growth or business there. Higher electric bills dont help. Its the Catch 22 I warned about as KDFP Editor in the early 80s during the surge in Federal subsidized housing grants under Jimmy Carter. Kinstons Democrat leadership grabbed every dollar of it they could get. All THEY could see was MORE potential voters for their party. :-
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:13:56 +0000
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