My Point

Talking taxes

By: By Teri Pace District 4 Supervisor | Orange County Review
Published: March 19, 2009

The board has been working on the 2010 budget. The budget process has been more arduous due to the recession. It is tempting to solve a given year's problems without much focus on future years. Sometimes it is difficult to predict what is coming, other times it is quite clear.
The bottom line is this budget has required a number of painful reductions. Next year we know that a major additional cost of debt service for the new middle school will be incurred. As a result, the Orange County taxpayer is going to be hit with a minimum 25 percent tax increase. Much of this increase will be to fund a middle school that as I have pointed out a number of times we don't need. This is an outrage at anytime but in the middle of a deep recession it is incomprehensible. This time next year the bills will have been incurred so no amount of protest will matter.
Government does not generate money. It takes money from the citizenry in the form of taxation and provides services in exchange. I don't think your money is being spent wisely. This year county government is using $2,295,764 from the general fund and $900,000 from the debt service fund which equates to buying down the real estate tax rate by almost seven cents. Similar action will not be possible next year as the funds will have been used this year. Furthermore, next year will require an additional $2,170,431 for debt payment on the middle school which equates to about four and a-half cents on the real estate tax rate and does not include any operational costs.
If you the taxpayer don't like the way your money is being allocated you need to contact your elected representatives and speak out at the public hearing on April 7. If you don't want at least a 25 percent tax increase next year you must speak out now, next year will be too late.

My Point

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Post a Comment (Please Sign In | Register)

Deal of the Day

Snap Photos

Weather