I appreciate the opportunity to respectfully voice my opinion at the public hearing on the 16th Avenue street work assessment issue. I am grateful that the Monroe City Council listened to the citizens present their concerns, and that it is considering options to lessen the burdens on the taxpayers. It is an example of government in action, as it was designed by the founding fathers of our country, and it is truly meaningful to exercise the privilege of trust and teamwork.
Let's encourage our council members in the coming days, as they examine funding alternatives. Please thank your elected representatives for their willingness to reconsider their decision of continuing the assessment policy as it is currently written. They have asked us to trust them, and I expect that the mayor and council members will be faithful to generate workable financial options. We as citizens need to offer our constructive ideas, and to encourage their accountability to us. None of us should allow time to cool our passion and our commitment to change the current imbalanced policy.
Following is the statement I read at the public hearing:
Monroe's city limits proclaim "We Bring You Back." That implies a community where you'd want to visit, and maybe even to purchase a home. It implies trust, and working together to solve problems. Most of the residents on our street see the assessment as a problem. We already pay taxes. This assessment, unlike sales tax, is a regressive tax that is imposed against our choice, as a buyer. Further, we had no advance notice of the expense, so there would be time to save. There is no adjustment made to consider hardships such as a fixed income, a poverty-level income, or health problems such as terminal or chronic illnesses, which are costly. Many on these blocks face these issues.
If we have repairs as property owners, we either postpone them until we have the money, or we get a loan. You, as the city, are assessing us and giving us the interest rate you would pay if you got a loan. We, as homeowners, brainstorm to think of alternative ways to generate income. Have you as a council done this? It seems the easy way to finance street repairs when you're out of money is to assess your citizens. But we do not feel that it is the right way, for us, or for any who have paid in the past or will be asked to pay in the future.
We, as homeowners, cut back on unnecessary expenditures to help save for the necessary ones. Can the city reduce expenditures elsewhere? By burdening only selected taxpayers with assessments, the city is limiting those same property owners in their ability to improve their own properties, which, in the end, will benefit us all. Additionally, the burdens of imbalanced taxing policies such as this can have a domino effect. Imposing expenses on a select group of citizens can induce extra expenses for the county and federal governments as affected individuals seek ways to meet their assessment responsibility.
I appeal to you to reconsider your decision to assess. Delay this work and find some alternatives to pay. Add a hardship clause if you must assess. Our street is the front door to Monroe, and the parking lot for its chief community events at the Square and at Twining Park. Bring back not only visitors, but the trust of all of your tax-paying citizens.
Let's encourage our council members in the coming days, as they examine funding alternatives. Please thank your elected representatives for their willingness to reconsider their decision of continuing the assessment policy as it is currently written. They have asked us to trust them, and I expect that the mayor and council members will be faithful to generate workable financial options. We as citizens need to offer our constructive ideas, and to encourage their accountability to us. None of us should allow time to cool our passion and our commitment to change the current imbalanced policy.
Following is the statement I read at the public hearing:
Monroe's city limits proclaim "We Bring You Back." That implies a community where you'd want to visit, and maybe even to purchase a home. It implies trust, and working together to solve problems. Most of the residents on our street see the assessment as a problem. We already pay taxes. This assessment, unlike sales tax, is a regressive tax that is imposed against our choice, as a buyer. Further, we had no advance notice of the expense, so there would be time to save. There is no adjustment made to consider hardships such as a fixed income, a poverty-level income, or health problems such as terminal or chronic illnesses, which are costly. Many on these blocks face these issues.
If we have repairs as property owners, we either postpone them until we have the money, or we get a loan. You, as the city, are assessing us and giving us the interest rate you would pay if you got a loan. We, as homeowners, brainstorm to think of alternative ways to generate income. Have you as a council done this? It seems the easy way to finance street repairs when you're out of money is to assess your citizens. But we do not feel that it is the right way, for us, or for any who have paid in the past or will be asked to pay in the future.
We, as homeowners, cut back on unnecessary expenditures to help save for the necessary ones. Can the city reduce expenditures elsewhere? By burdening only selected taxpayers with assessments, the city is limiting those same property owners in their ability to improve their own properties, which, in the end, will benefit us all. Additionally, the burdens of imbalanced taxing policies such as this can have a domino effect. Imposing expenses on a select group of citizens can induce extra expenses for the county and federal governments as affected individuals seek ways to meet their assessment responsibility.
I appeal to you to reconsider your decision to assess. Delay this work and find some alternatives to pay. Add a hardship clause if you must assess. Our street is the front door to Monroe, and the parking lot for its chief community events at the Square and at Twining Park. Bring back not only visitors, but the trust of all of your tax-paying citizens.
