From Saturday's News-Gazette:
"Let's face it, this is not the best of economic times," said Walker, who added he felt the proposal might be easier to sell to the public.
Walker's proposal would mean that the owner of a $150,000 home would see a $100 increase in the property taxes the first year, compared with $119 if the full tax rate increase were implemented.
But the other three park board members, Deborah Rugg, Nancy Delcomyn and Robert Stewart, all indicated they thought such a proposal would be confusing to voters and would undercut the message that the additional money is needed to attain park district goals.
...
The proposed 25-cent tax rate increase would bring the district's overall rate next year to 94.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
I still can't get over that they're seeking such a huge tax increase, both in percentage terms and in real dollars.
How can it not be the best of economic times? Property assessments and real estate growth has been fantastic the last 5 years! They do nothing to control costs and their revenues have been increasing proportionally with our assessments on top of the property tax growth on new developments. Taxing bodies should have to operate within their means just like everyone else.
"the additional money is needed to attain park district goals." You mean a taxing district set goals over and above what it could do with current resources? SURPRISE.
"additional money is needed to attain park district goals"
When I think about what I pay in taxes to the park district, library, etc, and then think about how much I use them... well, it becomes very apparent why I am forced to pay for those things because there is no way I would do so out of my own free will. I admire the audacity that others have to use force to take other people's money make sure their "goals" are met. We're not talking about things that one might expect to pay property taxes for... like garbage pick up or public street lights... hmm, don't get either of those at my house. We're talking about running a pool to compete against private business, tennis courts to compete against private business... the list goes on. None of these things can be construed as "right", not even by the most socialist around here. You have no right to a tire swing and a subsidized pool.
So when you have the "goals" of some park district officials on one hand, and the rights that people have to their own money on the other, to me, it's a no-brainer.
HEAR HEAR.......when we moved to the area, I was astonished that the city did not offer GARBAGE pickup? Now, along comes TAX GLUTTEN #2 behind the MTD...the PARK DISTRICT. Honestly, when the notification was in the NEWS GAZETTE, I thought it was a typo......
Why don't you just use the parks and library more, rather than complain
Why don't you just use the parks and library more, rather than complain
<JohnBoy>Why would I use these services when I have a BACKYARD and a BOOK SHELF? Since I have these, to hell with everyone else!!!!!</JohnBoy>
Heh.
Nice use of the caps, Arvid.
Ok, you've convinced me...in order to obtain the proper value of my enormous tax dollars to these two wastefull entities...I have decided to move to PRAIRIE PLAY and spend the day at the library.
in order to obtain the proper value of my enormous tax dollars to these two wastefull entities
Hey, buddy, just because you don't use these resources doesn't mean that others don't. I'm sure there are plenty of your fellow citizens that don't use services they pay for. Do you drive? I'd say there are at least one hundred (I'm certain that there are more) Urbana residents that don't use the roads at all (not even with buses).
If you're that upset with the "misuse" of your tax dollars, I think you should just buy an island and move there. You'll be king of your own little land, and tax yourself how you see fit. Until then, you live in a community, and there are lots of services that might benefit the community, but not you.
Welcome to the real world.
"Hey, buddy, just because you don't use these resources doesn't mean that others don't. I'm sure there are plenty of your fellow citizens that don't use services they pay for. Do you drive? I'd say there are at least one hundred (I'm certain that there are more) Urbana residents that don't use the roads at all (not even with buses).
If you're that upset with the "misuse" of your tax dollars, I think you should just buy an island and move there. You'll be king of your own little land, and tax yourself how you see fit. Until then, you live in a community, and there are lots of services that might benefit the community, but not you.
Welcome to the real world."
Most people who know that government services are used by some and not others then decide to try to minimize that undesirable situation. So, for example, the city does not pave your driveway and change the light bulbs in your house. The thing about parks and other recreational services is that private companies are already providing identical services. Not having government pools would not create the same kind of trouble as not having government streets. So rather than embrace this undesirable phenomenon of forcing people to pay for things they do not wish to use, why don't you join us in limiting it to only cases that are necessary.
On the other hand, some people believe that it is a birth-right to have free or subsidized swimming pools and free movie rentals. These people will want to maximize the very thing that others find reprehensible. And maximizing it is quite easy to do - just draw up a scheme that will harm 40% of the people and benefit 60% of the people.
With this type of argument, enough will never be enough. After years of staggering economic success created by increasing property assessments and real estate growth, we STILL must raise our taxes.
If the goals mentioned by the park district were reality today, there would be a different set of goals and we would be raising our taxes just the same.
Hey, buddy, just because you don't use these resources doesn't mean that others don't. I'm sure there are plenty of your fellow citizens that don't use services they pay for. Do you drive? I'd say there are at least one hundred (I'm certain that there are more) Urbana residents that don't use the roads at all (not even with buses).
I thought the roadways were paid for and maintained by, for the most part, motor fuel taxes. New roads should be paid for by dollars from the enterprises who created the need for them (new subdivisions, etc). Also just because you don't drive doesn't mean roads should not exist. I hope an ambulance doesn't have to come to your house on a dirt road in muddy April.
What is wrong with higher user fees. From my understanding, people only have a right to free education. These schools that we have to pay for have nice parks and ground available to the public for free. Ever been to the Parkland Library, well it is free to all residents. Library districts and Park districts are fine, but individual users should pay more for them as they are repetitive. The government should only subsidize them, being a low part of the districts budgets. Mahomet Rec. claims to be user fee only. The town has only a few of their own parks. Very minimal dollars comes out of the general fund. A lot of the fields are leased for rec activities. No excess government body. Now if they only could fix the library problem out here...
It should be required to explain the % increase on the ballot if they do not do so already.
"The proposed 25-cent tax rate increase would bring the district's overall rate next year to 94.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation."
If this did get to a ballot would the ballot ask voters to agree to at $.25 increase or would it ask them to increase the tax rate by 26%? After all the staggering success in the community as indicated by property tax assessments (how the park gets the money), they cannot even maintain their current assets? WOW!
If I buy a pool, I'm not going to rely an a 26% raise next year to keep it up.
Take it easy...this fellow is like a lot of us....OVERTAXED. I sure don't see how these tax bodies have some right to our pocketbooks for whatever reason. Parks are nice, but surely we have a limit to this taxation,and this urbana tax plan is outrageous. Even those of you who seem to think our good old government need even more money to spend. And why not, "user" fees for non essential government? MTD,Library and Parks should have a reasonable fee for services rather than taking it all on home owners.
Good luck convincing this community of lowering taxes and holding the line on expenses. With so many community members living on these tax dollars, there's certainly no emphasis on holding the line on expeditures or lowering tax rates. Ditto on the fees argument.....if you want to ride the bus, PONY UP...PAY FOR IT.