The notion that the Tryon Township will be better off without Tryon is perhaps the most noxious of the anti-annexation gases released in the past couple years.

We certainly understand friends and neighbors not wanting to pay more or to see sewer lines constructed. To explain the need, the council perhaps said too little because it faced insensible hotheads who said way too much.

The truth is we all care about convenience to our places of work, worship and play, to customers, public utilities, public safety, land use protection, and quality of life. If not, we would happily locate our homes and businesses in the deep woods.

The homes and businesses surrounding Tryon are part of and benefit from Tryon in every respect except one: an invisible, 125-year-old line that determines where tax bills are sent. Nice gig if you can get it. But alas, as Tryon goes, so go outside appraisals and quality of life too.

It has been encouraging to hear from the un-CAFA residents in the annexation area who recognize Tryons value to their lives. These are the very same folks who have long worked for the future of the town, actually giving for its causes and improvements. In contrast, it has been discouraging unbelievably so to see others behavior.

The financial facts are unassailable. The councils new members face long term cost creep yet offer no solution. The police department will have to be cut eventually. The county will raise taxes to hire deputies and in the bargain well all feel less safe. Given a larger tax base, Tryon would lower taxes. Annexees might pay little difference.

What kind of town serves all our needs? A shell? A crumbling waste? A place of ever-increasing costs to its residents? Was the past five years work to make Tryon a better place for naught? Are we to recede once again? And is it fair for the present residents to pay and pay again and again, year after year, for those who use the town as much as residents do? You can still seek answers. JBEditor’s note: Apparently, since the council voted 3-1 to rescind annexation Tuesday night, the citizens of Tryon will not get a chance to seek answers.