I have noticed several posts recently advocating the raising of property taxes to better address public safety issues (the fundamental purpose of government). In response, I have quoted from the Strib article below because I noticed that only 25% of the current increase is going to fund basics. Why should I believe that any further increase would go to public safety? For some unexplained reason, the other 75 percent is never on the table.
"The mayor noted that the majority of the increase levied goes toward previous debt. Of the new money, 75 percent goes toward debt service on the library bonds, debts owed among city agencies for services provided and pension fund obligations. The other 25 percent goes toward maintaining existing services at current levels." How much development is the city still subsidizing? How much real estate is the city holding and then selling for less than what it paid? When the glasss palace (the new library) opens, just how expensive are the operating expenses going to be ( It may have been cheaper to build but heating and cooling that building is going to be costly.)? Have we discovered the true cost of our new park board headquarters yet? As interest rates go up, so will the cost of debt service. There are so many unanswered questions. I think it is naive to ask for property tax increases until the big picture is a whole lot more clear than it is right now. As a reminder from a previous post, anyone who feels strongly that their taxes should be increased can send a check to the government entity of their choice and I encourage them to do so. (Maybe some of the legal types on the list can let them know if a donation to the city can be designated to a specific purpose like police or fire.) Catherine Leighton Live in Longfellow/Work North East ""There is an almost universal tendency, perhaps an inborn tendency, to suspect the good faith of a man who holds opinions that differ from our own opinions... It obviously endangers the freedom and the objectivity of our discussion if we attack a person instead of attacking an opinion or, more precisely, a theory." -- Sir Karl Popper, (1902-1993) REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
