Timing is everything

The new mayor of Blue Springs, Carson Ross, told voters before last month’s election that he’s a fiscal conservative, first and foremost.

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, then, that he’s vetoed plans for a vote on a sales tax increase to pay for parks improvements. Although there is a compelling case for park expansion and improvements, it’s also true that voters just last year rejected a tax for streets and sidewalks – and that was before gas hit $3.50 a gallon and the economy went south.

Similarly, officials in Independence have tabled the idea of an added sales tax for public safety despite the clear need for more cops on the streets. Now just isn’t a good time.

Blue Springs needs to find park areas on the south side of the city as that area grows. That opportunity could evaporate uncomfortably quickly. Officials also have laid out a case to replace the Centennial Pool-Plex. A lot of people have spent a lot of time putting these plans together, and Ross should offer an idea of when it might be a good time to push ahead.

The city is putting two bond issues – which won’t raise taxes – on the August ballot for road and sewer work. It’s still tax money, but it’s a good deal more palatable to the voters. Cities can’t just go to the voters with another increase in the sales tax – the most regressive form of taxation – for every problem.

Many of these proposals make sense, but one job of our elected leaders is to exercise judgment about what’s realistic. Ross got it right on this one.