Has the long-festering conflict of the city of Lincoln (we the citizens) versus the city of Lincoln (Lincoln City Council) finally negated the historically positive evolution of our city into a constant argum
ROGER DODSON | Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009 12:00 am
Has the long-festering conflict of the city of Lincoln (we the citizens) versus the city of Lincoln (Lincoln City Council) finally negated the historically positive evolution of our city into a constant argument about taxes?
The mayor is proposing a city budget no greater than last year's spending even though our primary income generators, sales tax and property tax revenues, will be considerably less than a year ago. Are we to rejoice and keep cutting taxes and virtually stall or end the growth that will allow our or any city to be viable?
Mayor Chris Beutler pointed to the tax rate issue in his proposal for next year, and in so doing he indicated that Lincoln Public Schools are at 98 percent of allowed levy as mandated by state government but that the city of Lincoln is at but 50 percent.
What consequence does our lower levy have on developing a city that is able to provide the quality of life most citizens say is a healthy requirement?
For the past 10 or so years, we have made the word "tax" one of the most evil words in our lexicon. Is it that taxes are the culprit, or more appropriately, the use of the tax dollars a government entity collects and spends?
Maybe it would be more appropriate to revive the argument regarding merging the city of Lincoln and the county of Lancaster into one solid governing organization that could reasonably reduce taxes in a dramatic fashion while equally dramatically improving the quality of life of all residents in Lancaster County.
With four law enforcement agencies in the county - the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln Police Department, the University of Nebraska Police Department and the law enforcement office of the State Capitol - we might just begin to look at fiefdoms that need ending for the greater good of all of us in Lancaster County.
Isn't it time once again to look at the serious issue of how best to use tax dollars and eliminate duplication? Can we reasonably expect the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners and the City Council to broaden their views and unselfishly, truly begin a reorganization plan that will create not only a vision of growth but also an actual department that includes the city/county, the Lincoln Independent Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce, with interest and support from the state of Nebraska and our state university? Will it be necessary to elect new board and council members?
Board members and City Council members no doubt see the idea of a city/county form of government in a variety of ways. One way that concerns these elected officials no doubt is their job security. Therefore, an organization would need to bring a committee to at least begin to study more efficient ways to use tax dollars.
Believing that continual reduction in taxes will continue to build our city and county is naïve.
Can anyone truly believe Lincoln is asking too much in taxes? Isn't it more likely that efficiencies will come from a city/county form of government? Let the discussions begin.
Roger Dodson is the former president of sales for Three Eagles Communications and currently is an adjunct professor of media sales at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Dodson served as an interested citizen on the mayor's budget committee.