In the upcoming election, citizens of Stanly County will have an opportunity to do something for our schools that is both inexpensive and effective.

I am referring to the proposed one-fourth cent sales tax referendum that will be on the ballot this year.

It is inexpensive in that it will not raise your property taxes, will not apply to groceries, gasoline, medicines and more. And honestly, who among us would miss 25 cents on a $100 purchase?

It will be effective because the Stanly County Board of Commissioners have passed a resolution that the money from this tax, (approximately $1.5 million) will only be spent on public education needs.

The Stanly County School Board, along with Dr. James, has budgeted these funds to be spent solely on school safety. This would mean adding cameras, card readers, separate vestibules and other means to insure the safety of our children in Stanly County.

Each school’s safety concerns and needs have been specifically addressed and you can access that information at www.stanlycountyschools.com.

Look under the Resources tab to see what your particular school of interest will receive. Also, visit our Facebook page “Citizens for Safer Schools Stanly County” to learn more.

Passing the sales tax will also put us on level footing with most counties surrounding Stanly County that have already implemented this tax.

Persons from out of our county will pay this tax on certain purchases they make in Stanly County. A sales tax is a fair tax as only users and consumers pay it.

I urge each of you to vote for the one-fourth cent sales tax referendum and let’s make our schools safer for our children.

Reggie Medlin
Citizens for
Safer Schools