|
|
|
The city of Buckner learned a valuable lesson in communications this week.
At least we hope they learned it.
The city ran a “surprise” issue on Tuesday for a 40-cent increase (per $100 assessed valuation) to the city tax levy. We say surprise because most Buckner citizens didn’t know there was an election issue until they received a ballot in the mail – a rarely used election option.
The measure failed 82 percent against, 18 percent for.
The city elected not to publicize the election very much, if at all. As far as we can tell or were informed, there were no public hearings or forums, no information pamphlets or public presentations, or any of the other things municipalities or schools often do when they have a tax issue on the ballot.
The levy increase would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $400 a year in taxes. That’s no small increase.
To say it was ill advised for Buckner leaders to expect its property owners to pay such a dramatic increase in these economic times would be an understatement. But to do so with no public debate, or full public dissemination of information on why the money is needed is a further waste of taxpayer money.
The city is reportedly undergoing a budget crisis, not only in paying for city services and other things, but in accounting for all of its funds. The city should fund a full audit and get its books in order before asking citizens for a bail out.
The city of Buckner learned a valuable lesson in communications this week.
At least we hope they learned it.
The city ran a “surprise” issue on Tuesday for a 40-cent increase (per $100 assessed valuation) to the city tax levy. We say surprise because most Buckner citizens didn’t know there was an election issue until they received a ballot in the mail – a rarely used election option.
The measure failed 82 percent against, 18 percent for.
The city elected not to publicize the election very much, if at all. As far as we can tell or were informed, there were no public hearings or forums, no information pamphlets or public presentations, or any of the other things municipalities or schools often do when they have a tax issue on the ballot.
The levy increase would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $400 a year in taxes. That’s no small increase.
To say it was ill advised for Buckner leaders to expect its property owners to pay such a dramatic increase in these economic times would be an understatement. But to do so with no public debate, or full public dissemination of information on why the money is needed is a further waste of taxpayer money.
The city is reportedly undergoing a budget crisis, not only in paying for city services and other things, but in accounting for all of its funds. The city should fund a full audit and get its books in order before asking citizens for a bail out.
