Maintain services, cut expenses
To the editor:
Several months ago I wrote a letter to the editor of the Cape Coral Breeze as an out-of-state home owner from Northern Virginia. Today since May 2009, I live and work in Cape Coral and I find myself writing to the editor again. The gloom-and-doom which I’ve been reading is fantastic! Point in fact, what is going on in Cape Coral, Florida is only a micro-issue of what is transpiring nationwide. Now that I am a permanent resident of the great city of Cape Coral I wish to communicate the following.
a. Spending tax dollars should always be done in the most prudent and conservative manner. If something looks too elaborate and costly, cancel it and see what can be done in small increments.
b. Remember that public servants serve their constituents, not the entire voting or governmental wide population.
c. And sometimes some public servants serve their own self-interests this is where you need to really look at the candidate and those in office often and with a magnifying glass.
Here is the point that I see our fair city. We want to maintain our level of services. We want to be poised for the future we want more industry and business. We want to be a family friendly environment where it is a great place to live and work. It can be all of this, but at this point in time we need to be more prudent in how we spend our hard taken tax dollars.
Whoever will be our future mayor, councilman, city manager or city staff – remember, you might also work here and live here, you have a greater responsibility and that is the representation of the people who support and vote within this fair city.
And citizens of Cape Coral, we all need to understand that services and play grounds will be cut or use of them will be diminished. There are ways to maintain the fun things but are you willing to offer your time and talents to mow the grass and assist with the free management of these facilities? Think about it?
In closing when I was reading the Cape Coral Breeze, Aug. 1 edition I was taken back when at the bottom of the Letters to the Editor page there was a group of citizens asked a question ” do you support the Lee County School Board’s decision to raise taxes?” The answer that just blew me away was from a citizen that stated, “Being that I worked as a substitute, I think more money would be necessary.” Again, think about it.
Dick Peppe
Cape Coral