"On Tuesday, the City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. to vote on Mayor John Dickert's 2011 budget. The budget has a deficit of $3,925,518 which is being met by increasing taxes $1,225,518 (2.7 percent) and taking $2.7 million out of our reserves. This is the last opportunity for you, the citizens of Racine, to be heard before the budget is voted on by your aldermen.
"Like it or not, city government needs to acknowledge that earlier this month the voters said they want all government to cut costs and not raise taxes. You and your families are hurting. Unemployment is not getting better and many continue to lose their homes to foreclosure. In fact, the state Workforce Development Department reported that Racine County lost 600 jobs in September. The many middle and low income households of this city do not have the option of living beyond their means and neither should your city government. You have challenged us to change the way City Hall operates and we must take that seriously and act upon it."
http://www.journaltimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_33dffcd8-ef8c-11df-9cef-001cc4c03286.html
The complete commentary by Racine alderman Eric Marcus appears in the Journal Times. I agree with it 100%.
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4 comments:
With Dickert raising taxes he is admitting defeat, that he cannot handle the job position.
The same for Donnie Snow, they took away his assistance, now Snow claims thing will take long to get done if they get done at all. Well Mr. Snow, you need to go along with Dickert. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem!
I told everyone in great detail how to lower your property taxes at the JT site.
Most Racine homes are assessed over 20% of their real worth. You get a private appraiser, you get the new appraisal, you research what houses like yours are going for. You go down and make your case. If they don't budge, you file in court and then sue for the back overages. Having the rate raised shouldn't be an issue at all IF you are proactive in your homes true worth.
of course the City spanked me very hard for doing that. I'll let you know how the court case plays out when it's over.
I've heard that there are repercussions for that, too. I also heard that even if you win, huck.... it doesn't stop them from raising and reassessing you again the next year.
I am having HUGE issue with today's headline about Racine Unified seeking 100 MILLION in referendums this spring. What planet are these people from?
I am also torn on the issue of the train money we are rejecting. I know there will be additional cost involved... but will we be losing out in the long run? This money will NEVER be available again in the future when we might decide it is an important step in rebuilding.
Will we be discouraging companies and decent paying jobs that might choose SE Wisconsin for their headquarters? Are we limiting our potential tax base? Are we setting our destiny to a job pool of poorly educated Racine folks with attitudes of entitlement who graduate but still can't read?
I'm torn over the train thing. Having once worked in auto, I remain impressed with what a monstrous economic engine it is. I really don't see Americans giving up their cars, just switching to new fuel sources. I have nothing against mass transit - I loved it in Chicago - but I worry about the various trains becoming tax burdens for generations to come.
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