CITY COUNCIL WILL PRETEND TO LISTEN
But will rubber stamp whatever staff says!
From 2016 - 2025 taxes have increased by 45% (that is the city taxes only not user fees, RDN, NRGH, School District, Library) ... have your services increased during this time?
There is a Town Hall Meeting Dec. 1 7:00 pm ... take the time to show up and tell Council it's time to budget WHAT WE CAN AFFORD!
If you are thinking "what's the point, they just do what they want anyway!"
“You’re right to feel like the system is stacked. That’s exactly why we need to get smarter about how we push back.”
That starts by simply showing up! “When we show up with numbers, they listen.When we don’t, they don’t.”
The Annual Ritual
City hall decides how much it wants to spend. Staff builds a wish list including their 4% wage increase. Council pretends to debate the budget staff presents. It includes wage increases, more staff and more benefits. To justify all the extra staff, pet projects will be presented as ‘must haves’. Think bike lanes and roundabouts! Then, when the number is set, staff figures how much your taxes have to be cranked and bingo, you have this years tax increase!
And No One Ever Asks:
Can people actually afford it? Does assessed value increase your bank account? Buy groceries or put gas in the tank? Provide more disposable income?
It’s time to stop budgeting around what city hall wants, and start budgeting around what taxpayers can realistically afford.
Will be there!!
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