City Taxes
I'm torn on this issue. No, I don't want to pay higher taxes -- even if it's only $2 a month. But I do understand sometimes taxes do have to be raised. In this case, the director of accounts and finances explained that, among other things, higher insurance costs necessitated the minimal increase. As the mayor said, she's putting more than that into her gas tank right now.
On the other hand, the mayor-elect says he believes "fat" could have been trimmed from the budget and ordinances could be enforced more fairly to generate more revenue. One example he gave was the refuse ordinance. He says while a homeowner pays $18 a month, an apartment building with about 100 units pays only $60-$70 a month. I must agree, that's hardly fair.
What's really disturbing about the entire issue, though, is the number of people who are complaining about the tax increase. Where were they during the public budget hearings? Were they at city hall to offer input? And where were they last night during the first reading of the budget? I would have rather been home watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special, too, but I was at city hall, then back at the station so people who couldn't be bothered with the meeting would be able to complain about it as soon as I got it on the Web site. (That comment is not meant for people who could not make it to the meeting because of a legitimate reason.)
I guess complaining about taxes is like complaining about elected officials -- If you don't vote, don't complain. So, if you didn't attend the budget hearings, don't complain.
On the other hand, the mayor-elect says he believes "fat" could have been trimmed from the budget and ordinances could be enforced more fairly to generate more revenue. One example he gave was the refuse ordinance. He says while a homeowner pays $18 a month, an apartment building with about 100 units pays only $60-$70 a month. I must agree, that's hardly fair.
What's really disturbing about the entire issue, though, is the number of people who are complaining about the tax increase. Where were they during the public budget hearings? Were they at city hall to offer input? And where were they last night during the first reading of the budget? I would have rather been home watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special, too, but I was at city hall, then back at the station so people who couldn't be bothered with the meeting would be able to complain about it as soon as I got it on the Web site. (That comment is not meant for people who could not make it to the meeting because of a legitimate reason.)
I guess complaining about taxes is like complaining about elected officials -- If you don't vote, don't complain. So, if you didn't attend the budget hearings, don't complain.
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