Throw out the city council and mayor
To the editor:
A few weeks ago, the city of Cape Coral city council voted to pass a huge tax rate increase for 2010. This tax increase gives Cape Coral citizens one of the largest millage rates in the state. Many retirees on fixed income, such as myself, cannot bear an increase like this in the current economic recession. The primary reason for this increase is the unwillingness of city council (and our mayor) to make cuts in the city’s budget for 2010. This is unacceptable, and reflects the contempt that arrogant, self-serving members of city council have towards long-time Cape residents.
Unlike virtually every other community in Southwest Florida has made painful, but very necessary cuts in their budgets – from employee layoffs to a reduction of benefits and programs. But not Cape Coral. The corrupt city council has refused to lay of any significant number of city employees, claiming layoffs would be bad for “morale” (what about the morale of city residents who pay the taxes?). In addition, city council has not raised fees on use of recreation facilities or cut any programs from the budget There remains too much “fat” and excessive waste in the budget. The city manager recommended a budget of $116 million, and them council arrogantly increased it to $120 million. An over-sized budget and a hefty tax increase on long-time residents to pay for it, when virtually every other neighboring community has lowered rates.
Only Eric Grill voted against this outrageous budget. Every other member of the current city council should be voted out of office in their next election. Replace these incompetents with people who are willing to make meaningful budget cuts in tough economic times. And replace our current weak mayor with a candidate who is willing to do the same.
Ted Schmidt
Cape Coral