Quick answer to lifetime question? If the state of North Carolina can find a way to stick one in you, then look out because they will dang sure do it. Look at what happened with boat registration fees last year. The prices more than doubled! Of course, when I contacted my represenative, I was told how much they have lowered my taxes. Calling it a registration fee doesn't change the fact that it's a tax! The sports people of this state are being ripped off, and no one seems to care.
User fees. Sometimes hard to swallow but in reality I think it's best. A good example would be a sports arena. Why should the tax payers have to pay for that. The people that use it should pay for it. I don't give a flying flip about going to a hockey game, a basketball game, or a football game. I shouldn't have to pay for those venues. If I do get dragged to one, I'll pay a user fee then.
Pretty much what is happening now is taxes are being cut. Some of that is being made back up through user fees or "user taxes".
My electrical license more than doubled in one year some years ago. To the point, that it costs a lot of money just to hold a license without using it which a lot of people do, especially if you work for someone else. To put somewhat of a number on it, in Wake county alone there is over 800 issued electrical license that more than doubled in cost. Twice the generated revenue in a stroke of the pen.
Where all this becomes a problem to me is if I'm paying for it through my income taxes or property taxes and then you double dip me with a user tax.
