The Cape Coral way
To the editor:
There is the right way and the Cape Coral Way. I get the distinct impression that there is only one way to do things in Cape Coral and that would be The Cape Coral way. That attitude was quite apparent at the Cape Coral Council Meeting on March 2 as it has been in the past on many other issues as well.
We heard talk about how our tax system must be changed in order to collect revenues. I was rather disappointed that we heard no talk about cutting waste or reducing spending. Mostly what staff discussed was about tax diversification (New taxes). Some of the new taxes are Public Service Tax, Electric Franchise Fees, Communications Service Tax, assessments for Street Lighting and Fire Service Assessments. And still I have to ask how they can call this diversification since the same residents will be paying all the taxes as before. What I would call this is fleecing the sheep.
The franchise fees and public service taxes will hurt the residents who can least afford to pay it. Not to mention the communications taxes and the assessments. There was talk of subjecting unimproved lot owners a fire service assessment. How can anyone possibly charge empty lot owners a fire service assessment and justify it? What is the benefit to those properties?
We hear talk about how things look so rosy here in Cape Coral from some of our council people. We hear talk that we should tell our friends to come down here and buy property. I have to wonder what the unimproved lot owners will tell their friends about Cape Coral when they get their assessments for fire service on empty lots.
We can’t have it both ways. we stoop to these tactics to collect additional taxes while we don’t seem to attempt to run a lean government. I guess it is not The Cape Coral Way to do what is right only what is convenient. I guess it’s just easier to raise the taxes.
We are running in reverse as usual. We should be lowering taxes in order to stimulate the local economy. Oh well so much for common sense and sound economic thinking. This is after all Cape Coral.
John Sullivan
Cape Coral Minutemen