Local Governments and Their Strange Budget Priorities

Jim Harbison

Did you ever wonder why your taxes never go down even when old bonds are retired and the debt paid? Ever wonder why there is that constant thirst by County and City governments for more taxes? A political expression says to “follow the money.” Perhaps we need to question some of the things that our County Commissioners and our City Council spends our money on. While the projects may be worthwhile are they appropriate in the current financial and economic reality? Are they the best use of our limited resources at the current time or do they just satisfy the ego of the elected official and the special interest groups who demanded them?

We seem to have money to create seldom used bicycle lanes and walking paths that service a minority of our population while entire neighborhoods continue to exist without curbs and sidewalks. We cannot find adequate money to fill the potholes in our roads, install curbs and sidewalks, or resurface worn out streets but they can find creative ways to find matching funds for State and Federal grants for projects that were not on our funded projects priority list. How many pot holes could be filled or feet of curbs and sidewalks could be created with these funds? Those underserved and ignored neighborhoods pay property taxes have a right to expect that their taxes be used for their benefit instead of special interest groups in the City. How do our elected officials justify these priorities?

It is apparent that the special interest groups are receiving the benefits. For example, a special interest group with membership less than 4% of the population dictates through the City Council that we have bicycle lanes on older major streets that seldom see a bicyclist. This causes significant traffic implications for the majority of the public that relies on the automobile to get to and from work, or the doctor, or do their shopping, etc. Many of those no longer able to drive an automobile now have to rely on our inadequate public transportation system or the good graces of family and friends to get to their appointed rounds. My real issue this week is not about the priority for bicycle lanes but the City and County jointly owned and operated Animal Shelter. They fund an animal shelter but cannot provide housing for the homeless. Our 911 call center continues to be inadequate because the County and City cannot find the funds to fix it even though they could find the financial resources to create a $36 million City Hall, a $20+ million Convention Center, and a multi-million dollar Aquatic Center (without a proper swimming pool).

A "Loon"

I find it absolutely appalling that the tax payers are paying over $200,000 to retrofit and repair the air conditioning, heating, and air filtration system on the Animal Shelter at a time when we were forced to release incarcerated juvenile delinquents because they could not find the funding to make the necessary repairs to the roof and other parts of the building that cost approximately half of the amount allocated to the Animal Shelter. How do intelligent people create unintelligent priorities? What is the thought process they use? Who do they value more, the people, the environment, or the animals and wildlife? I would submit that the direct support of the people should be the first priority for all expenditures of public money. Are your Councilors or Commissioners looking out for the welfare of the totality of its citizens, just the people in their respective district, or some special interest group? Perhaps you should ask.

Local Governments and Their Strange Budget Priorities