There is one (and only one) justification for raising taxes in the current economy: The city is unable to fund essential services and has nowhere left from which to cut funding.
When the last tax raise took effect or where we rank in regard to other cities means nothing.
As long as you have people like Saffo and Padgett justifying tax increases because of arts funding and landscaping, you can believe that they simply don't get it. They don't care one iota about their duties as elected officials, and don't particularly care about the impact on the citizens. They simply believe that they should take your money because THEY CAN.
The city's facts and yours.....
...are inconsequential to the argument.
There is one (and only one) justification for raising taxes in the current economy: The city is unable to fund essential services and has nowhere left from which to cut funding.
When the last tax raise took effect or where we rank in regard to other cities means nothing.
As long as you have people like Saffo and Padgett justifying tax increases because of arts funding and landscaping, you can believe that they simply don't get it. They don't care one iota about their duties as elected officials, and don't particularly care about the impact on the citizens. They simply believe that they should take your money because THEY CAN.