No tax increase
To the editor:
After watching the May 11, Council meeting, I have this to say to each of the members of the city council:
Now repeat after me. “I will not support any resolution or ordinance which will increase taxes or fees period.”
“I believe there is lots of room for reduced spending given the fact that spending over the three-year period from 2004 to 2007 increased by 83 percent in the General Fund and total spending increased by 79 percent while our population was only growing 25 percent.”
“What this city needs is smaller government, less spending and lower taxes and fees…. period.”
“This city has been on a spending binge and it is time to reverse what has been done in the recent past and the time to start is now.”
This is what I desperately wanted to hear and I did not. Mr. Stewart set the agenda and that was to talk primarily about new sources of revenue and increased taxes. To his credit, Council member Brandt did talk about going back to 2005 spending levels and the need to fix span of control but that was soon challenged by Mrs.Bertolini as to how or where that could be done. She wanted specifics as to how spending could be cut without negatively impacting services. Mr. Day then offered that citizens would be hurt by cutting back police, public works and park services and said he favored a new public service tax.
My response would have been to remind everyone that the last public opinion poll of our city reported: “less than half of the respondents felt that the value of services for taxes paid was “excellent” or “good.” When asked to rate the job the city of Cape Coral does at listening to citizens, 79 percent rated it as less than satisfactory; 71 percent rated “Value of services for taxes paid” as less than satisfactory; and 67 percent said the direction our city is taking was wrong. All five categories measured dealing with “Public Trust” were below the benchmark. The executive summary said: “Many of the community characteristics rated were able to be compared to the benchmark database. Of the 30 characteristics for which comparisons were available, three were above the benchmark comparison, seven were similar to the benchmark comparison and 20 were below.” I see that as a failing grade.
What we desperately need on this City Council is people who will say NO to any increased taxes. Let us start the process of reducing spending by reducing the number of people on the executive payroll. There should be an across the board reduction of all levels of management in the city. I would also reduce the pay and benefits of all people now earning more than $60,000 a year to match what similar jobs pay in outside industry in our city. There are far too many city employees making over $100,000 a year, $90,000 a year and $80,000 a year. Is anybody listening?
Sal Grosso
Cape Coral