To the editor:
Thank you Ryan Cummins for your wonderful article “Problem is spending, not property tax caps,” Nov. 16). The result of this past election shows that American taxpayers are not stupid and see through the deception that is put forth about the government’s need to spend our hard-earned money for whatever they deem “necessary.”
I, for one, am sick to death of our public leaders not having the courage to “limit local government to only the truly essential functions” and “require public employees to compete both with each other and potential market providers of the same or similar services.”
The now YEARLY notices the taxpayers receive from the Johnson County assessor’s office if you live in Johnson County — which used to be sent every 10 years — declaring the increase in the value of your land or improvements to your land which “should not be confused with improvements resulting from routine maintenance, but from the property’s total market value in use” are ridiculous and excessive.
This system of the taxpayer continually needing to appeal so they might defend themselves from the local government’s need to reach into their wallet and take more of their hard-earned money is getting extremely tiresome.
Tax caps were indeed implemented because of the inability of leaders to tighten their spending belt like all of the taxpayers must do when faced with less income.
There are specific steps that must be taken whereby a city can be run efficiently without the need to take more from the taxpayers. Lead by example and quit trying to scare the taxpayers into believing that anarchy will erupt if you do not get the funding you desire.
Julie Ford
Franklin
