By Jay King
Staff Writer

District Six county council candidate Roger Nutt said that in the worst economic crisis in modern memory, the county must ease the tax burden on its citizens if it wants to contribute to an economic turnaround and help its citizens.
Nutt said that the recent state and national economic meltdown and the government’s response have created a level of disgust among voters with how government operates. He said people don’t want any more taxes and that they believe the county is not spending its money in the right areas.
He said that the passage of the Hospitality Tax was the single largest tax increase on the public and that it’s avowed purpose of improving the county’s parks, while laudable, does not fit into the county’s core area of responsibility of providing services for county residents.
Nutt said he would like to see the tax reduced to a level that will cover the debt obligation undertaken since its inception but leave more money in taxpayers’ pockets.
Nutt said that he has and continues to oppose revenue generating proposals like the proposed landfill that electrified the community and the $25 road fee that continues to rankle in many quarters. He said citizens pay taxes with the expectation that those funds will be used wisely. He said the road fee ought to be eliminated and the funding for roads put back under the general fund.
“You don’t charge people extra fees for roads – that’s what we pay taxes for,” Nutt said.
The Byrnes High graduate, husband and father of three is a professional engineer and small business owner who believes the county must make hard choices and prioritize spending on its core areas of responsibility like public safety, fire and emergency medical services and infrastructure like roads.
“In the economy we have, I don’t see parks as an essential service,” he said. “We have to start focusing on what government was established to take care of, things we can all agree are essential.”
He said in this respect it may well come to pass that the county council will have to make the tough choice to cut positions. He said that while he hopes this can be avoided, businesses have had to do it to stay solvent and the county is no different.
“I certainly don’t advocate anyone lose their job,” Foster said. “(But) it’s got to be on the table.”
Nutt said that conversely taxpayers have to decide what services they’re willing to pay for and what services they’re willing to sacrifice in order for the community as a whole to be able to weather the current financial crisis.
“The public needs to let council know that they’re willing to give up something,” Nutt said. “The people I’ve talked to overwhelmingly support giving up services.”
Nutt said this election has a clear choice between the candidates and that involvement at the local level is where voters can have the most impact.
“It’s basically about getting Spartanburg back to work and keeping taxes down,” Nutt said. “It’s real basic.”