John, John calm down. This has been going on for at least the last 6 years. We cut the state budget by reducing community aid or unfunding state or federal mandates. This means the local community needs to raise taxes. But they can't do that because folks like the Taxpayers League will say they are raising taxes. So what is possible? Well we can't raise taxes but fees seem to be acceptable. So we create a fee for service function. Now we can charge the city property owners this fee without raising taxes. Nope the property taxes don't go down. We just have a new fee. I don't remember if it was Randy or Norm that even proposed a fee to plow our streets. Come on now! While I disagree with the whole concept of fees, they should be for a service I can choose to use or not. If they want to charge me a fee, I am sure I can get my neighbors to arrange to plow our own street. It may not be clean curb to curb like the city does now. But then maybe we won't have so much traffic flying through the neighborhood. As for the street lights Get rid of them. I would just as soon not have that light shining into my bedroom every night. In fact, maybe it would make people a bit more cautious when they drive in the neighborhood. Mike Fratto Payne Phalen
>>> John Birrenbach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 08/19/2004 3:29:08 PM >>> I have to wonder where the minds are who thought up the idea of making residents pay again for street lights. I thought the property taxes we pay were supposed to cover the expenses of the city and county, ALL OF THEM. But apparently cause of budget shortfalls (I wonder what it cost us for the police that covered the Pres when he was in town yesterday) we are now expected to pick up additional "Fees" for services. What a CROCK of BS.... Where do these fee's end? Will they end with streetlights? How about with snow removal? Maybe police protection, maybe fire departments? I can think of lots of things that we can ITEMIZE out of the budget and place the burden directly on property owners, I am sure the Council and Mayor can come up with even more than I. We already pay property taxes to run government and services, call it a service fee if you like it's still a tax... anytime the government takes money from you it's a tax plain and simple. We need to stop this train before it arrives in the station, and more climb on board. -- Sincerely, John Birrenbach W 7th Neighborhood, St Paul MN === Political & Business Consulting === http://www.birrenbach.com/ ====================================== "Six years on the council has trained me to feign interest for long periods of time" Chris Coleman Jan 21, 2004 +++++++++++++++ Unless it is something you think I will find funny don't reply personally, if it's relevant to a post I made then post it to the list for everyone to see. I have no problem being challenged in public. Challenge me in private and you take your chances. +++++++++++++++ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
