Taxes Again
Here we go again. Every time the council wants more taxes they use our tax dollars to feed us propaganda and to scare us into voting for a tax increase. An increase that probably would not be necessary if there was not such a liberal growth policy that approves new development without regard to the impact on existing infrastructure. Here are some remarks from Wednesday's article entitled 'Tax for roads to face voters.' City Manager Jane Brautigam started by saying "It's not so much to sway public opinion It's to get the information out." A few paragraphs later Councilman Gene Pielin seems to have contradicted her statement by saying "We have not been able to convince our citizens yet." Finance Director Mike Hart followed by saying "We've somehow got to get across to voters that there's no other place else this money can come from." The article ended with Mayor Kathy Gilliland using the democratic party scare tactic by saying "If they really don't want another tax we're going to see more congestion." The true purpose of a city sponsored ballot issue promotion is poignantly clear. It is obvious that there is going to be a lot of 'swaying of public opinion' in the months ahead. Hang on to your wallets! Maybe it is time the council members attend a conference on civics with emphasis on how a constitutional republic is supposed to work. Elected officials should be representing the people that elected them. What we have is some elected officials who think it is their job to represent the government as an institution rather than the people. Mr. Pielin, the loyal subjects of government do not need to be convinced. I would contend that it is the elected officials that need convincing. The voter's message is 'No New Taxes'. Mr. Hart, maybe there is another place we can find money. Maybe we should sell some of our unnecessary assets to ensure the city can provide the basics. Some things that come to mind are golf courses, the Rialto Theater, and the Chilson Center. Maybe we can find enough there along with the exemption from the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights to fund the city's $54 million share. Instead of playing with our future perhaps we should be practicing sound financial principles and stop approving every project that comes along knowing that more congestion will occur and the required money for infrastructure may not materialize. Here's a policy that may get the necessary funding. No new development approval until the funding for transportation improvements is secured. If developers buy this, growth may actually pay for itself. At least the congestion will not get worse.
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© 2002 Tom Buchanan.
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