Ken Robertson

Running for: County Commissioner
Hometown: Mooresville
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Education: BS Chemical Engineering, Clemson University

What are the biggest issues facing your constituency?
1. The biggest single issue facing the taxpayers of Iredell County is our difficulty avoiding the problems associated with the very rapid rate of residential growth. We do not want to simply become known as a bedroom community of Charlotte. The rate of residential growth has parts of our county choked in traffic with no relief in sight. The heavy student load is causing higher school related expenses and a huge amount of money spent to pay off the associated school bond debt. That debt will be with us for 20 years. The school construction financial drain on the county treasury prohibits the commissioners’ flexibility to pay for an improved level of emergency services, parks, or even tax relief.

2. Additionally we are seeing an influx of new residents into the county who have a very different expectation of services from their city and county governments. My impression is their expectation is for a higher level of services and facilities that, quite frankly, are unavailable at our current tax rate.

3. The current manning and funding, of the volunteer fire service, will become a greater challenge in the years ahead. There are fewer volunteers with the flexible work hours required for an entirely volunteer fire department. We expect the LNVFD to ask to be a stand alone fire district as soon as they are eligible in 2015. When that happens, the county fire tax base will be significantly reduced and the current fire tax rate will not be sufficient to fund the remaining volunteer fire departments in the county system.

4. Our current policy, of providing economic incentives for businesses, keeps us relatively competitive with surrounding counties. Unfortunately that incentive is for the county to give a tax break to those companies, leaving the average existing homeowner to pick up a greater share of the tax burden. As companies exit the county in search of cheap labor and fewer regulations, we will continue to watch our taxable industrial base erode. We must be looking for ways to attract industry without being forced to “out bid” other counties. Having a top 10 school system, a strong community college, a low tax rate, and a high quality of life for residents will eventually pay dividends as the baby boom population begins to retire and the labor pool starts to contract. This is why it is imperative for us to maintain high expectations of our school systems and to protect the quality of life for our residents.

Of those issues, which is the most important?
While the current credit crunch is having a dampening effect on speculative housing, this too shall pass. Within about two years I expect the migration of child rearing families, moving into the county, to resume at previous budget busting levels. This will keep most all additional tax revenues directed solely upon paying new school construction debt.

What, if any, prior experience do you have that will help you if you’re elected?
I have been a county commissioner for almost four years. There was a lot to learn, and to be honest, there is a lot more for me to learn. I am also a chemical engineer. This has allowed me to take the lead whenever we have needed to explore some very technical issues.

What is one thing you think the current board (official) is doing right?
We have not created a multitude of new spending programs.

What is one thing you think the current board (official) is doing wrong?
I do not think we have been as proactive as we should to dampen the purely residential growth in some parts of the county.

What specifically would you do if elected in response to the county’s growth?
I would continue my efforts to explore reasonable options to address growth as were recommended by the planning board.

Posted on 02/11/08 at 07:55 AM
candidates •Iredell County •County Commission • (0) Comments

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