[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: A Modest Counter-Proposal

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
A Modest Counter-Proposal
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1243791012.shtml


   Dear Governor Pawlenty:
   Raising taxes, living within our means, confronting the Gorgon of
   socialized medicine, you're spot on and welcome back to the fight. I
   hope and expect you'll soon see the light on your "green" initiatives,
   particularly when you get the bills. So for now, all I'd like you to
   do re-consider is your cap on local property taxes.
   As a Republican, I'm sure you prefer that decisions be made at the
   lowest level feasible. While you're right in assuming that ballot
   boxes don't frighten some city administrations, even there, the
   residents still have taxation with representation. They don't need or
   deserve your well-intentioned protection.
   As I'm sure you're aware, there are a number of workarounds old and
   new for getting around your property tax caps, and the actual
   increases so indicate. And at the end of the day, no cap ever forces a
   city to spend its money more wisely. Police and fire is under 20
   percent of the Minneapolis budget, yet these the first laid off if LGA
   is cut.
   The truth is, cities vary quite a bit in terms of their fiscal
   responsibility. To broad brush them all as needing caps on their taxes
   is unwarranted, a one size fits all that does not fit all at all.
   We don't need limits; we need information. Repeal the caps and in
   their place, publish some data, ranking cities in their fiscal
   performance. In particular, separate essential services like police
   from non-essential like economic development. Require that this be
   presented at the Truth in Taxation meetings.
   Leave the rest to us.