Sorry Friends--but that is what you were last night
Instead of making a motion immediately to accept the special assessment, we had to listen to nearly 3 hours of Government Services Group, the City Commission and the City Manager listening to themselves talk to convince us about how the special assessment was fair and equitable.
It all came down exactly as we knew it would-- a 4 to 1 vote to raise $1.8 million for Fire pension costs. What will it be next year? And the next? What other special assessments can we look forward to as we just signed a three year contract with Government Services Group to explore that very thing? Will we all be able to afford Lake Worth going forward? Will this affect the millage or will they raise that as well?
Any special assessment is a 100% tax increase for that designated purpose. We are all "losers" here. There are no winners other than the City coffers and who knows if the City won't continue to abuse those Reserves as they have done in the past. Who is accountable?
While I agree with you in principle Lynn, I get there a little differently.
ReplyDeleteCommissioner Maxwell said last night that since the top priorities of the City are Police & Fire protection, it is not appropriate to classify this as a revenue stream for the Fire Pension Fund costs as the top priority has sufficient money in the General Fund to cover that cost.
The logical next question should have been a cost analysis of the priorities vs. the money in the General Fund.
I am guessing that the new costs of the Conservation personnel would be well after spending all the General Fund Revenues.
This additional tax is just to pay for spending increases.
I think that the top priority should be a financially sound city. We are not there. And because of all of us taking some sort of hit in home values, the City is raising taxes on all of us for basic city services.
ReplyDeleteTo become financially sound, we must stop spending. Basic stuff. I resent the City telling me that we have to pick up Union pension costs because we are obligated to these wonderful people because of a Contract. McVoy kept telling us that we must pay this contract for these wonderful fire fighters. This is political mumbo jumbo. The Unions have to get realistic or before long, we won't have a City to worry about and they won't have jobs and won't be able to stiff the residents any longer.