I pretty regularly get buttonholed about things the city is doing (or not doing); like I have some influence over it. Mostly I hear that taxes are too high. I have standardized my response and it goes along the lines that the culprit isn’t city taxes, but the combination of county and school making up the bulk of the dollars you think are pinching your pocket.
Sometimes we conveniently forget that taxes are a necessary part of the services we deem to be our right. We have a “right” to clean water and police and fire and streets and safely constructed buildings, etc. etc. When in reality the only “right” we have to those things comes from the money we pay to get them. Most of that cost is paid from local tax dollars.
That is why the annual budget of any public governing body is the single most important task elected officials have to perform in representing their constituents and the community. The budget reflects what elected leaders value most. What services get the most money are the services they think we need and deserve.
For example, the Starkville Board of Aldermen have a pretty high opinion of themselves since they gave themselves an upcoming 33% pay raise on top of an already existing 25% pay raise. They also expanded their travel budget to include trips to various faraway locales during their current term. Neither is part of my priority of city services, but clearly they think otherwise.
While there may be someone who is happy to pay for the aldermen to have a HUGE pay raise for part time work, I am not one of them. I prefer taxes to go for paving streets and paying employees a competitive wage.
If I had my way, we would be one election away from scaling back that aldermen pay raise and putting that $50,000 toward employee raises or annual street repair.
The Board also recently pulled the trigger on a one mil tax increase for a full renovation of the old city hall soon to become the new police department building. This outcome was over 20 years in the making and it was unquestionably long overdue.
Let me be clear, I don’t begrudge the police a new facility, in fact, I’m excited that we will finally put this matter in the proverbial rear view mirror. It has been much too divisive for far too long as we labored toward a resolution.
There is value in pride of place when it comes to attracting and keeping good employees just like there is value for us to have a new city hall showing we believe in pride of place for our residents and visitors.
Who we are and what we value is easy to tell … just look around you. It does seem to be a very subjective determination. Some people keep their property clean and in good condition, some do not. It is a personal matter of priorities. Where we spend tax dollars appears to likewise be subjective.
The important question we should ask ourselves is what do we get from a tax increase? My answer is pretty simple. I want something that will enhance my business or my living experience in the community. That is the gold standard of how I measure whether to raise Cain or be satisfied with the additional cost of city living.
I have to commend the Board of Aldermen for notifying us there will be an increase this year. Business owners find it particularly useful that we have heard about it in time to plan future pricing of goods and services.
Until you take the time to know what the breakdown of revenue and expenses is you aren’t in a good position to influence your elected officials one way or another. The budget season is approaching. Insist that they share their views and make the details of the proposed budget available to the public on their websites.
Do them the courtesy of letting them know your opinion of where you want your tax dollars spent on the early side of the process. Don’t wait until the only thing you can do is complain about the outcome.
Lynn Spruill, a former commercial airline pilot, elected official and city administrator owns and manages Spruill Property Management in Starkville. Her email address is [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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