Dr. Roland Stephen
Speaks to Rotary
By Matt Joyner
        
Club member Carlos Sanchez introduced Dr. Roland Stephen to Charlotte Rotary on Tuesday, welcoming "another speaker with an accent." Dr. Stephen, a British-born U.S. citizen, is an Associate Professor of political science at North Carolina State University and an Assistant Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at NCSU. The IEI is a "think and do tank" affiliated with NCSU, championed by former NC Governor Jim Hunt and addressing public policy issues facing the state. Sanchez serves on the IEI's board of directors.
 
Dr. Stephen presented "Financing the Future," a two year program of work by IEI addressing the upcoming challenges to North Carolina's system of taxation in the face of the state's projected population growth and increased urbanization in the next 20 years. Specifically, North Carolina is projected to have a population of approximately 30 million by 2030, increasingly concentrated in its urban counties. Along with that population growth is the demand for increased spending on education, healthcare and infrastructure (roads, sewers, etc.) which in turn will drive a need for reform of the state's tax system to pay for it all.
 
North Carolina's General Fund had availability of $1.3 billion this year, but the majority of it was from non-recurring sources. Future revenues under the current tax system will be slow growing and volatile. North Carolina's current sales tax "rests on a thin base" and is regressive according to Stephen, since it puts a disproportionate burden on young families who tend to buy goods as opposed to the growing ranks of older citizens who tend to buy services. Consequently extending the sales tax to the sale of services is a cornerstone of IEI's vision. Likewise, North Carolina heavy reliance on its state income tax needs reform in IEI's view. North Carolina relies on its individual income tax for 45% of its revenue (as opposed to the federal government's 33%), and on its corporate income tax for 7% of its revenue (as opposed to the federal government's 6%). The result is relatively high individual and corporate tax rates that hamper North Carolina's competitiveness versus other states.
 
Looking to legislative proposals towards comprehensive change of the state's tax system in April, 2008, Dr. Stephen summarized IEI's policy proposals as seeking balance among sources of revenues by shifting from emphasis on the income tax to increased emphasis on the sales tax, broadening the base of the revenue system by including sales taxes on services in addition to goods, and lowering rates overall to achieve "greater horizontal equity" among North Carolina taxpayers.
 
"North Carolina has a brilliant future," said Dr. Stephen, but financing that future will require more "thinking and doing" and more change in the way we collect revenues.
   
Head Table: Bill Griswold, Greg Etheridge, David Zimmerman, Carlos Sanchez, Bill Anderson, Dean Jones;
Invocation: Charlie Williams
Visitors & Guests: Herb Harriss; Song: Gregg Walker; Piano: Thomas Moore

• Kazami Yamazaki bid farewell to Charlotte Rotary on Tuesday. Kazami, who attended UNC Charlotte as an Ambassadorial Scholar, will be returning to Osaka, Japan in the upcoming weeks. Both happy and sad, Kazami thanked David Dunn for his guidance and friendship over the past year and said she looks forward to returning to NC.
        
• Don Millen recognized youth exchange participate Sam Sasser, who has just returned from an exchange to Japan. Sam said she was honored to represent the United States.
          
• Alan Adler's daughter, Sloan, is the defending champion and winner of the 2007 Peninsula Yacht Club Cardboard Boat Regatta.
     
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES
 
• PERU: Those wishing to travel to Peru in February are invited to attend a general information session at David Anderson's home at 4:00 on Sunday, August 26. This session will be repeated on September 9. A $100 non-refundable deposit is due by October 8. Checks are payable to Charlotte Rotary and mailed to the Rotary office.
  
• SCHOOL TOOLS: In conjunction with Classroom Central, Communities in Schools, and WSOC-TV, club members are asked to bring in schools supplies over the next two weeks. Items specifically needed: lined notebook paper, glue sticks, and pencils.

• PERU CONTAINER PROJECT: A container of goods is being collected for shipment to Father Alex in Alto Cayma. Collections will be made on August 28, September 4, and September 11. Office furniture and construction tools are especially needed. Heavy objects can be picked up from your site. For further information, or to arrange for pickup, contact Will Barnhardt or Ed Wadsworth. A complete wish list will be posted on the club's website.

• MEMBERSHIP: Tom Bartholomy and committee have rolled out the "Who's Missing" campaign, which is an effort to boost the club's membership. A club this size will need to bring in at least 40 new members and all members are challenged to help make this happen. Think along the lines of Classifications that were once represented; think about your business associates, neighbors, etc. Membership applications are available in the Rotary office.

The Classification and Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration for all members, the following NEW MEMBERS. Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by August 27th. You will be contacted by a member of the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will proceed according to our bylaws.