To become aware and
and involved or be unaware and silent. Your choice.
A special city
council meeting will convene on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 PM, on
the second floor of the city building. for the purpose of deciding
the following:
a. Do our streets
need repair action in the near term?
b. How much will the
required maintenance and repair cost?
c. How much
continuous new revenue will be required to catch up on street repair
and institute a long term prevention program?
d. If it is decided
that new revenue will be required, what form and what amount of
taxation will the voters be asked to decide on next November? A
property or an earnings tax increase.
It has been
suggested to council that a dedicated two mill property tax increase
would meet the revenue needs and also spread the costs to all users
of our streets and bridges. This levy, if passed by the voters, would
generate an estimated $450,000 per year. That annual revenue could be
used to finance a short term bond to bring the streets to good repair
and then maintain them over the long term. This levy, that could not
be used for purposes other than streets, would cost the average home
owner less than $6 per month. A senior born prior to 1949 would pay
$4.50 per month. As the economy continues to recover and total city
property values increase, the millage would automatically decrease.
Some in the city
administration prefer to ask the voters for a, non dedicated, quarter
percent earnings tax increase. This increase would produce an
estimated $1 million per year. This tax would transfer the
responsibility for streets that everybody uses on to wage earners and
we retired seniors, that already receive a property tax exemption
would get away free. Caution, by being non dedicated, this revenue
could be diverted to other non related uses by future city
administrations and councils.
Note: City property
tax rates declined by two mills this year.
If you are unable to
attend the meeting let city council members know your opinion.
Paul Hunter
No comments:
Post a Comment