Editor: My comments are prompted by the recent headline "County proposes millage hike."
Is there something that happens to people once they are elected to public office? Do all those promises to reduce taxes and control spending suddenly disappear from view?
I don't know who voted for any elected official because he or she was going to increase taxes. On second thought, there may be some who did vote for increases if they themselves were not paying taxes but were benefiting from those of us who do. This is a problem at all levels of government.
Local officials, who propose a millage increase, best look over their shoulders. They are facing reduced revenues because of lower property values, so they plan to put that burden on us who own property here, who also face increased insurance costs, higher unemployment, and higher taxes because our elected officials don't like us very much. The recommended county budget for 2010, at $632 million, is less than for 2009 ($654 million) by $22 million, or 3.4 percent. If county officials can't figure out how to cut 3.4 percent out of the budget, then they shouldn't be in office, nor should the administrators they hire.
Give me five good people and two weeks. I'll show the county where the cuts can be made. The county should stop hiding behind the reduced services excuse. In a tough economy I must not eat out as often, not take a vacation and reduce my overall spending. If all of us can do it, so can the county.
I'll bet that we won't suffer much because of reduced services. If we do, the county can house us, as we become homeless, in the new county administration building. It is a Taj Mahal and virtually empty; a good use of our tax dollars.
Hugh Peter
St. Augustine
No comments:
Post a Comment