What’s so wrong with open government?

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I did this toon in response to an Amendment that councilor Staggers proposed on changing the language in a budget appropriation. He wanted it to state that raising property taxes is a ‘tax increase’ (which technically it is). The council was split, which surprised me, and Munson voted against the proposed (transparent) language. Very dissapointing.

Here it is from the minutes;

A motion to amend was made by Council Member Staggers and seconded by Council Member Anderson Jr. to amend the title of the ordinance to comply with City Ordinance 2-22 (d), to read “An Ordinance of the City of Sioux Falls, SD providing appropriations and the means of financing them which includes a property tax increase of 2.9% or $1,101,930 of tax levies for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2009″.

 
Vote to amend:  Roll Call:  Yeses, Litz, Staggers, Anderson, Jr., Beninga, 4.  Noes, Brown, Costello, Jamison, Knudson, 4.  Mayor Munson broke the tie with a no vote.  Motion Failed.

Why I opposed the Sales Tax increase

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Matt from the Argus Leader wrote a great column about the sales tax increase. Though he makes some good points he missed why some of us opposed the tax. I opposed the tax because I feel the city has made very poor choices in the past 6 years when it comes to road funding. Our tax revenue has doubled in the past decade, yet our retail tax rate has not decreased and we are behind on road construction. What does this mean? It means our city is not spending our money wisely. With that kind of revenue increase we should be driving on well maintained and new roads or our taxes should be low – neither is true. Now that the National economy is tanking it has become more evident that a sales tax increase will be an extra burden on SF residents.

I have often thought that if politicians use common sense when they make decisions, they will make good decisions, when do not use common sense they make dumb decisions. The sales tax increase was not a common sense decision.

Get it dummies?

Tax and Fee increases only hurt growth

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Monday night’s (Sept 15) tax and fee increases were a disappointment to say the least. But there were many things that happened Monday night that have citizens asking even more questions than before the vote.

 

• Councilor Costello’s amendment asking the city to cut $5 million from the budget so we would not have had to increase the sales tax was not only the right thing to do, it was good clean common sense government. Four of the councilors supported the amendment, the rest and the mayor did not. I also want to note that Costello is an accountant and business owner and has an intelligent grasp on economics. Also it is prudent to point out that the four councilors and mayor who voted against the cuts have had their election campaigns funded by special interests who will benefit greatly by the sales tax increase and new roads.

 

• The legal question behind whether the developer platting fees were a tax was a valid one considering the person asking the question, Dr. Kermit Staggers holds a PHD in political science. During the council meeting Councilor Staggers read from SD Codified Law, which clearly stated this was a tax and not a fee (with the exception of one word, in which the city attorney used as his argument against Staggers). And if it was a tax, it needed to be voted on and approved by the people. The city attorney disagreed. Though the city attorney has mountains of law experience, being a former judge and all, he can certainly manipulate his opinion to fit a political agenda. Let’s remember who appointed him to judgeship – Bill Janklow, enough said.

 

• But last but not least, the use of the taxpayer money to lobby for a tax increase using city employees and funds to design and maintain a website is unconscionable. I believe that the citizens deserve a refund. May I suggest the mayor and the four councilors who voted for the increase refund us out of their paychecks?

 

I have heard that some citizens may be weighing their options to stop these increases from being implemented. They won’t take effect until January 1, 2009 so there is some time. What can be done? I’m not sure, but here are some ideas that have been floating around;

 

• Propose a citizen’s Initiative that says the city cannot raise sales tax without citizen’s vote and approval. Also, start buying as many products and services online from other states and countries that don’t charge a sales tax, essentially boycotting the sales tax.

 

• Challenge the fee/tax question and ask the attorney general to render an opinion on it.

 

• Sue the City of Sioux Falls for using taxpayer’s money to lobby for a tax increase.

 

Some may wonder why citizens would want to fight so hard to stop these increases. It’s simple really, now is not the time to raise taxes and fees. I think councilor Staggers said it best during Monday night’s meeting, we need to be a competitive government, that’s what will inspire growth. That means keeping fees and taxes low. It seems some bureaucrats in City Hall think the trickle down economics of Ronald Reagan and both Bushes is the way to go – yeah, that really worked out well for the middle class, didn’t it?