How hard is it for the city to run? For most of us we really dont care. We care about ourselves and if something doesnt affect us personally or too much we just dont pay attention. So an increase of taxes may only mean 20 or 30 bucks a month more for someone. But then there are the people who that 20 or 30 dollars means them missing a meal or two. Just depends on your situation.
So how does the city run? Simple, it has too. A real business like a restaurant would fail miserably. However, a restaurant doesnt have the luxury to raise taxes like the government does. They can spend and spend all day with really minimal consequences.
The proposed tax increase of 3.94 or whatever it is says something. Why not round it just to 4? Because psychologically it seems a whole lot better to say taxes are going up 3 something percent than 4. Its a mind fuck. Then I believe the weird number also suggests this is the minimum Tuerk can raise taxes before their is big financial trouble for the city.
Now my third idea which I feel is accurate is that Tuerk has made the bat call already to the 4 horseman to get their votes. But Dr.Pepper is always against a tax increase and for the people. So maybe the votes aren't there.
In the past most mayors started with a higher number like Tuerk did last year. I believe he proposed like 7% and eventually it went to 0 somehow. I think Tuerk messed up their and should have started at say 4.5 and really convinced council to approve atleast 2%.
Where does he go from here tho? Back to 2%? Eventually the tax payers are going to be hit with a double digit increase.
The fat needs to be trimmed in the city.
Tuerk should hire an outside consultant to study the true needs of the city and positions. Let that person decide what positions can be cut and where spending isnt needed. This way he isnt firing anyone or cutting funds directly. All the Duane Morris money was a waste just to prove a point that they "claim" they found limited discrimination in the city workforce. We know its there, move on. However that 400k could have been used to lower the proposed taxes about 1%. Then add the 300k that was given to two random guys with no plan on how to make downtown thrive, and hey there's 700k saved. A 4% tax increase is about 1.5million in revenue. See where Im going? I could easily come up with 1.5 million in the city's budget that is being wasted. But I think 4% is merely the beginning folks.
This city is all about money, control and punishment if you aren't in the clique... just like high school was... How else can you explain the two faced way things run??? Just an old man's observation.
ReplyDeleteSpending is out of control in a already bankrupted city going deeper in debt trying to crawl from the sewage deal squandered.
ReplyDeleteA tax increase should be unnecessary. With additional property tax revenues coming from each new NIZ property that comes online, as well as additional EIT monies from the workers in those buildings, have provided City Hall with increasing revenues each year.
ReplyDeleteCompetent leaders in City Hall would be sending REFUNDS to taxpayers. That’s how out-of-control city spending is.
Where to start cutting? Ask every department head to eliminate 5% of their budget. If they balk, make a cut of 10% for them. Eliminate vacant positions. Eliminate funding for outside groups like Promise Neighborhoods. It’s not rocket science.
Do you mean the ones that give grants to purchase rental properties that are owned by the very same grant writter? One in the same writes the grant to said recipient to pay mortgage on the grantors property and makes local economy look as if? Like stealing the equity from your property and than changing your last name to maiden name.
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