[Winona Online Democracy]
I guess I'm one of those people who believes I can make better choices on
how to spend my money than the government. I work 60+ hours every week
plus take time to volunteer for church and community service. I like
having the choice to focus on what I feel is important and to commit money,
time and talent to help that cause. I like being able to enhance the
quality of life for my family and those groups I have determined have a
cause that I feel is important. It is not progress, to me, when the
desire to commit time to my business rather than cut my grass, play golf or
work on a hobby the latter of which don't increase my tax bill.
In a growing economy their is no reason for property taxes to increase.
Individual property taxes should not rise since the enlargement of the tax
base spreads the cost to a greater number. If governments budget in real
dollars, control spending and program expansion in line with the growth of
new construction then tax bills will stay the same. When my tax bill goes
up it means they are not doing a good job of managing my money and as such
why would I want to give them more?
I do agree that when any government body mandates anything they should fund
it at 100 %. If their idea is good and it will stand the broad acceptance
of people then let them take the credit or conversely the heat.
I like the idea of local elected officials having to raise taxes on
programs they want and feel we want. Only when we feel the impact and cost
by having to write the check do we understand and place value on the
service we receive. Deducting it from a paycheck defuses the impact and
lessens the value.
Paul Double
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>From: "Craig Brooks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Winona] Re: [Winona Online Democracy] Anti-Tax Mentality
>Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000 22:32:46 -0500
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>
>[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".
>
>
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