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‘Quality-of-life’ tax increase should be shot down
People are struggling to make ends meet. We should not increase their tax burden just to create more fun things to do in Las Cruces.
Some city officials and others in Las Cruces are proposing raising the gross-receipts or property tax this year to help fund “quality-of-life” initiatives such as operation and maintenance of city ball fields, creation of new bike paths and the expansion of artistic and cultural programs.
Yes, really. Even though the nation is in its worst economic shape since the Great Depression. And even though the city had to cut its budget by 5 percent last year in response to the recession.
How can this be a good idea? If governments are going to raise taxes during a recession — and I say if because I’m skeptical that it should ever be done — I can’t imagine a good reason to do it except for some significant economic development project, or a massive public infrastructure program like rebuilding the nation’s bridges — in other words, for a program that will keep a significant number of people working.
But what we’re talking about is raising taxes so kids who participate in sports programs don’t have to pay hefty fees, and so there are more publicly funded things to do in Las Cruces.
Come on. Families are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table. In my opinion, the timing of this proposed tax is ridiculous.
In Albuquerque, there’s a similarly ridiculous proposal being floated by Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez. He wants to spend $6.48 million on a swimming lagoon at Tingley Beach and $8 million on a new soccer field complex. Fortunately, the city council is fighting the mayor’s attempt to secure public money for those projects, which would be funded through bond commitments, not increased taxes.
Though the Albuquerque example doesn’t include a tax increase, the point remains the same: Why would we divert precious resources during a major recession to fund new recreation and entertainment initiatives when people are finding it difficult to make ends meet?
Las Cruces may be on its way to doing just that. According to the Las Cruces Sun-News, supporters of the tax proposal, which will most likely take the form of a one-eighth of 1 percent increase in the GRT, packed a Monday meeting about the proposal. According to the article, “it was clear there is enough interest to begin a petition drive” which could lead to enactment of the tax.
Where were the tea-party attendees?
I raised the question last week about whether the April 15 tea parties were a one-time event or a new movement. In Las Cruces, the tea party appeared to have momentum: Some 400 people showed up to express their frustration with taxes, bailouts and other economic policies, and organizers scheduled another tea party for July 4.
But if they’re so worked up and concerned, why didn’t they show up to the meeting about this proposed tax hike? It’s a question the Sun-News raised this week in an editorial. Tea-party attendees took time last week to wave flags, hold up signs and listen to speeches, but when the time came to get their hands dirty, they didn’t show.
Clearly, the tax increase would financially benefit those who participate in city sports programs by reducing the need for fees. It would also create more recreation and entertainment opportunities. But it would put an additional burden on struggling city residents, including retirees on fixed incomes and the 23 percent of city residents living in poverty. And the current economic downturn has no end in sight.
Put simply, this isn’t the time for such a tax increase.
Regardless, if supporters of this tax hike stay organized and enthusiastic while opponents stay on the sidelines, there’s a good chance the tax will be enacted.
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The deal with this is not whether we should be spending on “quality of life issues”–of course we should–it’s that we simply don’t need another sales tax raise to do it. What we DO need is for our leaders to wake the heck up, figure out we’re in a recession, and get their spending priorities straight. What’s more important: little kids having decent opportunities to stay out of trouble, or 100k “feasibility study” throw away?
According to what I hear, we have a gushing new stream of “free” money coming into the city coffers from all the new red light cameras. Just what, exactly, does the city plan to do with what literally could be hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra income each year?
I have to agree with Hemingway, when it comes to taxes. Think about the fact that once a tax has been instituted, it is there to stay.
Never in the history of taxation has a tax been repealed. They will find anothere way to spend your money when the time limit is up, if there is a time limit set.
Fred – This is the exploitation of the poor with more taxes. There is a recession in Las Cruces – you must have a good income or on cloud nine! Our taxes can be better used to help our residents who are really suffering in this economic crisis. The Quality of Life tax is wrong and shows the insensitivity of some proponents!
Heath, you are missing the facts. Every year the parks and ball fields you mentioned are used heavily, by people of all ages, for outdoor recreation. Last year the LC city council tried to get fees from the users to pay for the upeep, including cleaning after each usage. Do you not understand that there are many poor families in this city, but families who still want their children to be involved in activities that are constuctive and keep the children out of gangs?
With the recent heightened gang activity, including drive-bys and drive-by shootings, how can any person living in this city not know about these incidences?
Historically, the main purpose of any governemnt is to keep its citizens SAFE. Parents who take enough interest in raising their children will provide healthful activites. Playing ball is much safer than sitting by the tube, eating and getting obese enough to develop diabetes. Or, going out and getting recruited by the many gangs.
All kinds of ball games are played almost year round in this climate, including baseball. All the ball fields are over used,and need restorative and cleaning upkeep.
Anyone who has moved here from other communities, especially from out of state, have paid local governments to provide the parks, the upkeep of same, for it citizens. Obtaining adequate funding for these parks is long overdue.
The small amount of tax that the city needs will not break anyone’s budget, but if these parks are not maintained, the costs will be much, much higher, in terms of neglect. This is really about an investment in our children’s health and futures.
No, the economic meltdown since late 2008 is not making this the best of time for raising taxes. But, Las Cruces is growing, so more families with children need outlets during their leisure hours. Just because the city government has neglected to appropriately fund parks and recreation in the past many decades does not make a forceful argument to continue to underfund today.
Finally, Las Cruces is not affected by the recession as much as the rest of the country, so don’t allow your recession fears to cloud the present needs. Get real. Go to the ball fields. Watch some games. These children cannot vote to fund the parks themselves. Responsible adults have a duty to protect them, and their interests. Or, do you expect them to pay to play each and every game with their allowances? For the last two weeks, all schools have been testing heavily. After all these stressful times, what outlets are available for winding down? Or, dont’ you remember your school days? You were never testing as much or as heavily as today’s students. But you should remember that there is more to life than the stress of testing. These children will grow up to become tax-paying citizens. Give them the chance they need now to enjoy the outdoors.
I do not want my taxes raised either, but in this case, it is well worth the small cost.
Clearly if the voters approve of the tax, that is democracy and the majority rules. Pork is the waste that you personally don’t benefit from, but it looks differently to someone who gets to eat from it. Then it is responsive government. A good politician sees people protest taxes and then finds something the majority sees as beneficial for a tax hike. Looks like that may be what this is. Again, it is democracy in action, voter approval. Tax protesters would be in the minority if this passes, that doesn’t mean they are wrong or stupid or hypocritical necessarily, they just are in a minority. Nothing wrong with that. Remember the protests were not about taxes today, it was about massive deficit government spending on wasteful things and unnecessary things that will destroy the country eventually.
I guess this group of city leaders are going to keep counting on discontent over the land deals to get reelected. Worked three years ago…
Those in govt have only the kindest thoughts regarding taxpayers.
You can bet they’d dig deep in their pockets to create all these do-gooder feel-good agendas.
We need more of these generous folks.