Originally Posted By DAR <<I already explained in a previous post why they choose to do things like this. Which government services would you like to see Milwaukee cut? Police? Fire? Sanitation? Schools? Health Department? Social Services? Just because there's a recession, doesn't mean that the population decreases and a city can just cut back on the number of people it serves. The demand for government services is pretty stable regardless of economic conditions.>> So keep taxes level for at least a few years. I must apologize I never knew not wanting taxes raised was such a bad thing.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << So keep taxes level for at least a few years. >> So, you propose borrowing the money to make up the shortfall? Are you aware of how bad the municipal bond market is these days?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Again, what services do you propose cutting? When you call 911, do you expect a police or emergency service to show up at your door? Maybe 911 can go to a M-F schedule and take off on the weekends?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Not to mention that government investment and respourcing actually helps to develop the economy.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But what's the pointing of potentially taxing people out of their property?<< On the other hand, it can be argued that a lack of some govt. services due to low taxes will lead to lousy, pot-holed streets, lack of enforcement of laws like prohibiting junkers parked on front lawns, etc. So what's the point of keeping taxes so low that it makes the property value plummet over time?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ If you can't pay your bills, you have to either a) borrow money or b) raise taxes. And keeping "taxes level" is a bit of an attempt on your part to deny the result of this problem -- citizens have stopped paying their property taxes on foreclosed properties or properties that are going delinquent. Sales tax revenues are on the decline with the recession and revenues from businesses are reduced as well. It's not an issue of keeping taxes "level." You still haven't proposed any services you are willing to go without from your city government. How about they cut the number of days that they collect trash? You can just let you garbage gather on the curb for a few weeks at a time?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Or maybe reduce staffing, adding to unemployment figures, and poorer quality services. I am a big believer in these times we need to tax high earners. In January our sales tax goes up from 15% to the pre recession 17.5% rate. And my national insurance contributions are going to rise next year too, costing about $16,000 a year for me. But if it means services are retained (and I would pay more for improvements), then I am in favour. And I am a huge fan of the new Tax on banker bonuses - 50% for bonuses over $30,000 per annum.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would rather have lower crime rates and safer streets, good schools, quality medical for all, and good roads to drive down. We all win when we pull together as a community. And the environment needs protecting and preserving, and the arts have investment. Free museums and libraries. These all make for a richer lifestyle and adds to preserving the greatest gifts to future generations. You cannot take money to your grave, but you can make a legacy and ensure you make a difference. Taxes do that.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Here's one example of a seemingly easy cut in services: animal control. Used to be, if you found a stray animal, you'd call animal control. They would come and pick up the animal (usually a lost dog that was someone's pet). Now, I think around here they operate Tuesday-Friday. Which means that if you find an animal out roaming about, you have to ignore it or else take it in yourself until animal control opens back up. If your own pet is lost, you have to hope and pray that someone will do just that, or that luck will be on your pet's side. Of course, this also means a boom in the feral cat population like you wouldn't believe. So for the couple of bucks per resident not spent on animal control each year, you wind up with a potentially dangerous, unhealthy situation.
Originally Posted By DAR <<How about they cut the number of days that they collect trash?>> You get daily trash service? I only get it once a week.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << You get daily trash service? I only get it once a week. >> My city government doesn't even provide trash service. You have to pay a private contractor. They have some of the highest property tax rates in the country with the fewest amount of services. You should be blessed to be living in Milwaukee. In New England, the Mafia takes a good chunk off the top of every city's revenues before they ever get spent on government services.
Originally Posted By DAR <<I am a big believer in these times we need to tax high earners>> Yeah high earners that can afford to be taxed not a family where the dad might be laid off and the mother is working two jobs.
Originally Posted By DAR <<They have some of the highest property tax rates in the country with the fewest amount of services.>> So what good is having high property tax rates then?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I was a fairly high earner and got laid off, I still think we have to do right by society on this one. It could be easier for the US if everyone played ball. In the UK, our taxes are high because we are the size of California, with double the population, but we have a full military, and have to run diplomatic services across the globe as well as the domestic issues, the BBC, etc. Personally, I think that good public services are better value for all. Problem is, too many in the US are squemish and do not have enough faith, so some of the services are mediocre, others are superb.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***<<All I know is that I just got off a Disney Resort monorail that was able that was *packed* with people, standing room only at hundreds of people per car, yet still managed to run on a set schedule and depart each station on time without waiting for traffic clearance, nor breaking down with passengers on board.>> That's because it's run by Disney not the government.*** Actually, your statement is completely ass backwards. The Tokyo Disney monorail is forced to perform up to government regulations and standards, just like virtually all other rail in Japan. Now, that's no longer completely government operated (used to be though), but it is strictly controlled and overseen by the government. And it runs, well, like clock work. The completely DISNEY maintained monorail in Florida, the one with no government interference other than I suppose the amusement park board of safety, is the one that totally sucks. You are simply a broken record with your "the government is inept" meme, and at times like this it makes no sense whatsoever (not the first time).
