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I would rather keep my own money and serve myself. Government causes more problems that it solves.
Fine. Do not use any of the Keys bridges or highways any longer. I suppose you have a boat to get around. However, do not use any of the public launching ramps or docks. Do not use the navigation markers. Do not use a GPS system. If you pull your boat up on a beach and it gets stolen, do not call the Sheriff. If it catches on fire...well, you should be starting to get the idea.
Of course, not all of those are locally funded, but my guess is you feel the same way about federal taxes. Keep your money. But, do not use any of the services.
Fine. Do not use any of the Keys bridges or highways any longer. I suppose you have a boat to get around. However, do not use any of the public launching ramps or docks. Do not use the navigation markers. Do not use a GPS system. If you pull your boat up on a beach and it gets stolen, do not call the Sheriff. If it catches on fire...well, you should be starting to get the idea.
Of course, not all of those are locally funded, but my guess is you feel the same way about federal taxes. Keep your money. But, do not use any of the services.
You know what the honest truth is? I don't think any of us resent paying taxes, we all recognize what it takes to run a city, county, state, etc. We just want to see what we are paying for, for a change and not constantly feel we are getting ripped off. All you read about is corruption and money going here and there into someone pocket. If they could, who ever they are, just properly spend the money they collect now they would have more money then they would know what to do with.
Those who have cable access channels that show commission meetings should take some time to watch or attend the meetings. You get a first hand look at the jack-offs we elect in action and they are just the tip of the iceberg. I don't mind paying taxes at all as long as I feel they are being used properly, which you know they aren't. I was at a recent commission meeting and they were discussing putting in some speed bumps. They were discussing paying, are you sitting down? $10,000 per speed bump????????????? WTF. I must be in the wrong business.
...I was at a recent commission meeting and they were discussing putting in some speed bumps. They were discussing paying, are you sitting down? $10,000 per speed bump????????????? WTF. I must be in the wrong business.
If you charged much less for owning the paving equipment, paying the liability insurance among the other overhead, paying for the supplies (which are related to oil prices), paying the workers compensation on employees who are working in the middle of the street, and constructing a speed bump sufficiently strong to withstand years of traffic abuse (after paying for the engineering to be assured of that fact, if you charged much less, you'd be out of business.
You hear about the corruption because it's the type of news that gets circulation. Your don't hear about the millions of dollars that are spent for good, decent folks who maintain the roads, provide for our safety, etc., because that's not newsworthy. It is SO easy to pick something out and slam it -- but those things are usually only a drop in the bucket.
My philosophy is simple. There is some waste in everything we do -- charities and churches and even my household wastes some money. There is far less corruption, and far more honest government workers, than complainers will admit. I enjoy the services provided by government, and I'm willing to pay for them. I recognize such simple things as the fact that if our public employees (teachers, police officers, firemen, public works employees, data base employees, secretaries, building department clerks and many more) cannot afford to buy houses in Florida, the answer is to RAISE taxes and pay them more. Where else is the money coming from?
You could reduce taxes to the absolute minimum, and those folks would still need more money -- to pay for a gallon of gas, for one thing, not to mention paying to rebuild Iraq.
If you charged much less for owning the paving equipment, paying the liability insurance among the other overhead, paying for the supplies (which are related to oil prices), paying the workers compensation on employees who are working in the middle of the street, and constructing a speed bump sufficiently strong to withstand years of traffic abuse (after paying for the engineering to be assured of that fact, if you charged much less, you'd be out of business.
You hear about the corruption because it's the type of news that gets circulation. Your don't hear about the millions of dollars that are spent for good, decent folks who maintain the roads, provide for our safety, etc., because that's not newsworthy. It is SO easy to pick something out and slam it -- but those things are usually only a drop in the bucket.
My philosophy is simple. There is some waste in everything we do -- charities and churches and even my household wastes some money. There is far less corruption, and far more honest government workers, than complainers will admit. I enjoy the services provided by government, and I'm willing to pay for them. I recognize such simple things as the fact that if our public employees (teachers, police officers, firemen, public works employees, data base employees, secretaries, building department clerks and many more) cannot afford to buy houses in Florida, the answer is to RAISE taxes and pay them more. Where else is the money coming from?
You could reduce taxes to the absolute minimum, and those folks would still need more money -- to pay for a gallon of gas, for one thing, not to mention paying to rebuild Iraq.
If you charged much less for owning the paving equipment, paying the liability insurance among the other overhead, paying for the supplies (which are related to oil prices), paying the workers compensation on employees who are working in the middle of the street, and constructing a speed bump sufficiently strong to withstand years of traffic abuse (after paying for the engineering to be assured of that fact, if you charged much less, you'd be out of business.
You hear about the corruption because it's the type of news that gets circulation. Your don't hear about the millions of dollars that are spent for good, decent folks who maintain the roads, provide for our safety, etc., because that's not newsworthy. It is SO easy to pick something out and slam it -- but those things are usually only a drop in the bucket.
My philosophy is simple. There is some waste in everything we do -- charities and churches and even my household wastes some money. There is far less corruption, and far more honest government workers, than complainers will admit. I enjoy the services provided by government, and I'm willing to pay for them. I recognize such simple things as the fact that if our public employees (teachers, police officers, firemen, public works employees, data base employees, secretaries, building department clerks and many more) cannot afford to buy houses in Florida, the answer is to RAISE taxes and pay them more. Where else is the money coming from?
You could reduce taxes to the absolute minimum, and those folks would still need more money -- to pay for a gallon of gas, for one thing, not to mention paying to rebuild Iraq.
pslOldTimer I am going to have to disagree with you on this one. I have read many of your previous posts and you seem like a fine person living in PSL that has a pretty good handle on what is going on locally.
To say that government doesn't waste money is rather naive. To compare that waste to a small charity is stretching it a bit. The pentagon has a $500 billion budget and they can't account for close to a quarter of that money.
I think we have all seen the pace at which streets are built. What about the endless planning and discussing that delays things so much, the final proposals usually wind up being obsolete?
I first came to FL in 76. Driving up to Orlando, the turnpike was as it is today.
Same old, tired 4 line that gets overly congested in a variety of places until you start reaching PSL.
FPL knows we have hurricanes. They couldn't build power lines underground?
Instead they have those tree trunks that snap like matchsticks.
Overall, they could do far more with far less. Then people would gladly pay taxes.
AND I still think the government doesn't have any business taxing peoples' homes.
Your home is your home. By paying taxes you are leasing it. You don't keep paying
Toyota for your car.
The funny thing is that most of the "services" were here 50 years ago. Back then the tax burden was much less. Property taxes on homes are just wrong, we have to get rid of them! OR at the very least, pay 1957 taxes and get 1957 services. I can live with that!
I too have read many of your posts and found value in them, as well as the fact that I respect your opinions. However, in this I disagree. Maybe it’s your vantage point or the fact that your town is just that well managed but I think that in general government is riddled with waste and corruption.
Doesn’t matter what party or at what level all the way up to the White House. It must go far back to some basic human instinct like survival of the strongest. Power is strength and money is power. Take money away from politicians and they are powerless
Now your town might have elected officials that are more like average people than career politicians but that’s not the case for the majority, especially as the [geographical] area gets bigger.
Pinellas County as an example has a carryover reserve of 21% of it’s budget, the highest in the state at a time when their budget is already at an all time high. They can’t spend it fast enough. There are several [mostly larger] counties that are carrying double digit reserves and most that exceed what is considered to be normal and acceptable (about 3-4%)
Another example is the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. It has almost 100% in reserve carryover from its previous fiscal year and they boast that they have just bought 40+ big city style busses that cost more than 300k each. BTW only 18% of its revenue comes from ridership, 67% comes from property taxes. It operates 197 buses on 43 routes. Each bus averages 40 seats and I rarely see more than 3-5 people on a bus at any given point in time.
I’m for public transportation but why don’t we have commuter vans that cost less to buy and run.
Lastly your example of the speed bump…. I know a little about this stuff. Using a 20’ wide x 5’ long x 2’ deep (on average cutting into and below the road and rising up above the road surface) would use about 7 cubic yards of asphalt is around $120 per yard = $840. The old school rule of thumb is a third for materials, a third for labor and a third for profit. Should be no more than $2520 and that’s generous, $10,000 is just a plain rip-off and I’ll bet someone’s brother is involved or pocket is being padded
I like services and am willing to pay for them but not having to bend over and take it…. in the process
I too have read many of your posts and found value in them, as well as the fact that I respect your opinions. However, in this I disagree. Maybe it’s your vantage point or the fact that your town is just that well managed but I think that in general government is riddled with waste and corruption.
Doesn’t matter what party or at what level all the way up to the White House. It must go far back to some basic human instinct like survival of the strongest. Power is strength and money is power. Take money away from politicians and they are powerless
Now your town might have elected officials that are more like average people than career politicians but that’s not the case for the majority, especially as the [geographical] area gets bigger.
Pinellas County as an example has a carryover reserve of 21% of it’s budget, the highest in the state at a time when their budget is already at an all time high. They can’t spend it fast enough. There are several [mostly larger] counties that are carrying double digit reserves and most that exceed what is considered to be normal and acceptable (about 3-4%)
Another example is the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. It has almost 100% in reserve carryover from its previous fiscal year and they boast that they have just bought 40+ big city style busses that cost more than 300k each. BTW only 18% of its revenue comes from ridership, 67% comes from property taxes. It operates 197 buses on 43 routes. Each bus averages 40 seats and I rarely see more than 3-5 people on a bus at any given point in time.
I’m for public transportation but why don’t we have commuter vans that cost less to buy and run.
Lastly your example of the speed bump…. I know a little about this stuff. Using a 20’ wide x 5’ long x 2’ deep (on average cutting into and below the road and rising up above the road surface) would use about 7 cubic yards of asphalt is around $120 per yard = $840. The old school rule of thumb is a third for materials, a third for labor and a third for profit. Should be no more than $2520 and that’s generous, $10,000 is just a plain rip-off and I’ll bet someone’s brother is involved or pocket is being padded
I like services and am willing to pay for them but not having to bend over and take it…. in the process
“Real estate agents across South Florida kept pointing to this week, hoping state legislators would revive the housing market with a bold plan to fix the property tax crunch.” But just like the HOI it won't fix the leak in the bubble.
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