Fayetteville Business Leaders Ask State Lawmakers For Increase In Sales Tax

Posted 11:00 a.m. Mar 13, 2001 — Updated 11:00 a.m. Mar 13, 2001

FAYETTEVILLE — Even with its Wal-Marts, huge industries and sprawling military bases, the Cumberland County area is in desperate need of more tax revenue.

Business leaders drove to Raleigh Wednesday to make a personal plea with state lawmakers to support a 1-cent increase in the local sales tax. With property taxes already among the highest in the state, local leaders are concerned about businesses moving away.

"If we are able to have the 1-cent sales tax, it would keep us from raising the property tax," says Ed Warren, chairman of the Cumberland County commissioners. "I don't want to be an elected official in Cumberland County and lose Kelly-Springfield [Tires] on my watch."

State lawmakers are considering requests from Cumberland and other large counties to increase the local sales tax.

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