Fund essential services, cut non-essential funding
To the editor:
Both my wife and I plan to retire to Cape Coral within the next several years, we have invested all our resources in Cape Coral through the acquisition of property, and paying our taxes. We have seen land and home values sky rocket and then fall like lead balloons. We are all now vested with the issue of the “lead balloon” effect of maintaining the home expenses (mortgage, taxes, utilities and other sundry expenses) on the Cape.
It is the tax that we’re all currently paying on inflated home values that I want to concentrate on at this particular time. I will and have paid my property taxes. It is my expectation that the leadership of Cape Coral will use these tax dollars in a wise frugal manner. What I’ve been reading in the news is that our town leadership is spending our tax dollars in an out-of-control fashion. It is interesting from what I have read that during such an economic downturn like we’re experiencing right now that the town council has not put together an “essential citizen services” task list. It is urgent that the city council establish such a “priorities listing” of government services that must be provided to the community at large. It will be this listing of citizen services that all resources must be earmarked. List the service and the gross amount of taxpayer dollars that are allocated to that service for the annual performance year. If the town has this list already then the tax payer should be made aware of it.
From what I’ve been reading I think that the town leadership needs to become more proactive in informing the Cape Coral citizen of what services will continue to operate. Where will services be cut and when this cut will take place. Yes, cutting spending – this is essential.
Water and sewer projects that need to be completed in sections for the Cape need to be delayed for several years. Property tax relief needs to be established to all Cape Coral property owners. The Citizen Services Listing must be distributed to the citizens of Cape Coral as soon as possible. This can be done through publication within the Cape Coral Breeze, the Cape Coral Government Web site and emailed to taxpayers. This will establish “sunshine” to the decision- making process and prevent any possible accusations that citizens of Cape Coral are not being informed.
If I were in charge this is where I would begin. Just at a thought, not a sermon.
Richard W. Peppe, Jr.
Vienna, Va.