To the editor

To the editor: You reported in your 8/8/06 edition that the Rutherfordton Town Council “passed a resolution asking the State to acquire Chimney Rock Park and add it to the planned Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. Councilman Bob Jones opposed the motion because he doesn’t believe the state should spend any money that would take a property off the tax books.” Councilman Jones might want to consider the fact that Chimney Rock drew 280,000 visitors last year. Each admission ticket to the park generates tax revenue for the county and would continue to do so if the state owned the property and charged an admission fee. The other monies spent by these visitors to the Gorge also generate tax revenues for the county. In addition, skyrocketing property values in the area are related to pristine mountain views. The higher these property values go, the more tax dollars received. In short, I fail to see how keeping the park as it is could do anything but generate more tax revenue.

Bill Coxe, Ellenboro NC

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