Readers take aim at tax hike and community planning

OMG, I have to pay for light rail too?

On “The Tooth Fairy and Reality Check”

This is my first time hearing about the Urban Land Institute so I don't want to jump to conclusions, but what do you suppose the following line means from their stated goals? 

Goal 3: "Envision how projected housing and employment growth should be allocated in the region."

So some committee is going to pick the winners and the losers? No thanks. 

On “In Norfolk, the pillaging of the people”

Bicycle friendly Norfolk

1. Two sales tax increases in a matter of months: Norfolk increased the sales tax last fall and now they are increasing the property tax. I can take my retail purchases to Chesapeake but it's not as easy to move my home. Maybe I'm just a sucker for buying in Norfolk? Or maybe this is what it will take for Norfolk home-owners to finally wake up? Or maybe we like being abused? 

Politics is a strange, strange animal. 2. The Pilot is reporting that last night's vote will amount to about $100 in new taxes a year for a property owner with a home valued at $250k. For someone who doesn't have the privilege of city employment, for someone who works in the private sector and hasn't had a pay raise in several years - where will this money come from? 

Maybe a couple date nights can be scaled back - can't afford the baby sitter. Or maybe a couple tutoring sessions for Johnny can be eliminated. Or maybe providing extra work around the house for the neighbor - who is really feeling the economic downturn and needs extra cash - will have to be discontinued. Or maybe donations to the church or to the food bank can be curtailed.

Whatever the case, how do any of these changes make us a better community?

Mr. Fraim may have started his political career with good motives, but he is completely divorced from the problems of average working families. He is tone deaf and it is time for him to retire. 


On “Norfolk Tax Hike, Ballard and Schools”

1. Stop pretending the tax hike is about schools. It's about expanding the spending power of the city. Period. If you don't believe me, then ask yourself why our mayor-in-chief is doubling the size of the suggested hike. Did the projected costs double? No. But political opportunism allowed for it. Citizens are silent over two cents, then why not double it to four? No justification needed.

We are still silent. Maybe he should double it again and make it eight cents. He probably could get away with. Evidently we stopped caring a long time ago. 2. The issue isn't the size of the tax increase. The issue is any tax increase when there is bureaucratic bloat. It's called rewarding bad behavior. 

On “Norfolk breaks bad on tax hike”

1. If the schools are being financed, then why is the tax hike needed? Is the city's debt to income ratio really so high that the only way to get the financing approved is with a tax hike? If so, then the debt load might be a bigger concern than the tax hike. What is the city's bond rating these days? 

2. Philip, I can't tell if you are mourning or celebrating the impotence of the local tea party movement. Fun read.