[Winona Online Democracy] This tax issue is a paradox. When the economy is bad, Congress and the Legislature want to spend more. When the economy is great, the State and Federal politicians want to give it back (and they always have). This is the time that money is available to invest in the infrastructure -- for example - roads, bridges, schools, sewers, etc., etc. But, NO - instead there are assumptions made that since the economy is good, the need for government services is reduced. Then the local governments get really short changed. Schools, Counties, Townships and Cities relay on the least equitable tax - the Property Tax. State and Federal government's coffers increase as the economy increases. The local property tax income does NOT go up accordingly. The Federal and State governments have not only been giving money back to all of us, they also have been cutting funding for mandated programs. This process puts the local elected officials in an unfair position. The mandates should be funded and many services, aids and education areas should be 100% funded by the fairer, progressive income tax. Forcing local government to raise property taxes to fund mandates is wrong. Forcing local government to choose that versus cutting funding in the few areas left to local discretion is not fair. I personally agree that my income tax could go up a little or I could do without the rebates in order to fund needed programs and services like those under scrutiny locally. However, I find it hard to accept that older people on fixed incomes who own a small house will have to pay more in property taxes - when the real reason is that the State has not funded mandates and the Federal government has cut funding for needed services. Craig Brooks <(���)> ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 8:15 PM Subject: Fwd: [Winona Online Democracy] Opening Discussion > [Winona Online Democracy] > > > How do we understand the anti tax mentality? One of the things I've > appreciated from the total quality management effort, is that we can use these > principles to judge the value we are getting from public agencies. Just > because it's government funded doesn't mean it has to be ineffective or not > const efficient. Perhaps we should be getting more of a process in place so > that we can see the value and buy we are getting for some of our services. It > seems crazy that we're always seduced by "if we'd just lower taxes". ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
