Attracting Big Business

Attracting Big Business

By Vice Chairman Gary A. House

If I were an executive of a multi-million dollar corporation, what would I look for in Harnett County in order to locate here?

There could be many answers to that question.  It would depend on the person(s) making the decision.  If it were me, I would give great weight to the educational system, the police protection and the tax rate.

Not only would the educational system be important for the employees of my corporation, but a productive, quality educational system would be vital to the success of the corporation.  Having access to a well-trained and trainable workforce would also be vital.  Not only should our school system be strong enough to provide the labor for the jobs that my corporation would create, but our community college system,which is strong in our county and region, would also be a crucial component in educational process.  Campbell University would also help provide an educated workforce.

Reliable and responsive police protection would be essential to provide a safe environment for employees and their families.  Harnett County has five municipal police forces and a sheriff's department.  Although the sheer size of Harnett County can present a challenge to the rural but fast growing  areas of our county,  the sheriff's office does an extraordinary job with the resources provided to it.

If I were to have a multi-million dollar taxable investment in Harnett County, the tax rate would certainly have an impact on the decision of  my corporation locating here.  Taxes would have to be at a level that would make the investment economically feasible.

These three items that I have identified are all interconnected, which can leave the county in a dilemma.  Taxes must be low enough to attract the corporation but yet high enough to provide a quality educational system and police protection that the corporation requires.

Being a responsible corporate citizen, my corporation would realize that it is the people of the county, many of who would be corporate employees, that should decide at what levels the educational system and police protection should be funded in order for them to be happy, safe residents, who would make better employees.

The dilemma for the county is we need the tax base of big business in Harnett County to supplement the property taxes that the homeowners pay.  But will big business locate here if our schools are not adequately funded and maintained?  Will big business locate here if the police protection does not provide adequate coverage for the county?

Speaking for my fictitious corporation, I would give an astounding NO.

We have have critical decisions to make in Harnett County.  Being a democracy, we all have the right to be heard.  The time to speak is now......