New taxes? Mixed bag.
Well, let’s start out by saying this is perhaps the smallest sample population ever. But here you go anyway, and take it for what it’s worth.
City Clerk Marty Rehbein has 13 emails* and one written comment on the special districts. She reviewed the comments over the phone, and it seems like it’s a mixed bag.
One guy described the districts as “special taxing districts,” and then went on to say something like, “I admit I’m ambivalent on STDs.” Oops. But aren’t we all?
Overall, four looked like certain NOs; seven looked like certain YESes; one read like it was leaning toward NO; one was hard to decipher; and another was in favor of the idea — but NOT without an offset in the general tax levy.
Almost everyone who showed up last week was against them. My story noted that Councilwoman Pam Walzer had seen a lot of written comments to the contrary, and Linda Frey asked if I was at the same meeting she was at.
Here’s a copy and paste of that exchange, and how sometimes I get info from The Communicator by email after I leave meetings. (That’s city communications director Ginny Merriam.)
(Nope, conspirator hopefuls, no exchanges with council folks or the mayor. Yep, one reason The Communicator sits in on those meetings is to c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-e stuff that happens after reporters leave, like votes, and whether it was resolution No. 1 or 2 that was adopted.)
As for the meeting tonight, I think these things sometimes go in waves. Like, the opponents of something show up at one meeting, and then other side is like, shoot, we’ve got to show up too, so then PROponents turn out for a subsequent hearing.
So I’m thinking a couple more of those people who are in favor of the districts will be there tonight. But maybe everyone will just talk about their favorite beach on the Blackfoot River and we can all go for a swim.
Call me a rocket scientist, but we probably won’t really know how many people are in favor or opposed until a resolution is approved and the protest period runs its course.
– Keila Szpaller
July 19th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Of course, they could put the STD’s up for a public vote … sort of like they do for fire stations, school districts and stuff.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
I hate to say this but I think we have enough taxes. Why don’t we start getting Missoula In motions. AS in JOB. JOB!!!!!! Some of us would like to get a better paying job with out worrying it will close tomorrow. How about More Job in Missoula. I think that would be a noval Idea in stead of taking more taxes out where they is no more money to give ona stressed bugdet. Now, I have to think how my family will get Medical or face getting fines because it became a choice of food, rent, or gas to take care of the family vs get more money taken out of my budget. Noval Idea here what about better JOB in Missoula!!!!
July 20th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Helena has jobs. That’s why I moved here and travel to Missoula every weekend. It’s true. Ask Jamee Greer (JG: You’re welcome.).
July 20th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Keila, the conversation I remember and I think I was there was that most people wanted a chance to vote on SID based on specific projects. When do the People get to vote on this tax increase. Also, heve you really read the opening paragraph of each resolution. The service items are so broad and open ended that the City Tax collectors can add just about any thing they want with out citizen approval. If you think the City is going to stop at this simple (by design) request then I have a bridge to sell you. I don’t want to turn my pocket book over to the City and will work to prevent this from taking place. JerryB
July 20th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I think the special district idea is for things to be broad. The thing is, when this bill was drafted for the legislature is was intended to consolidate a pool of special districts already in place. Looks like a few items got added – just in case.
I can’t believe the districts are being used to balance the budget. Sick and wrong. Boo.
July 20th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I doubt a reasonable protest will mount. Fewer people show up for elections.
By way of comparison, Helena is balancing the budget by cutting positions – including police and fire fighters. Not all budget problems are solved by revenue. Let the gentrification through tax assessments continue and the strain on social safety programs exasperate. And don’t forget to protest the Poverello’s “homeless person making factory.” Having the city get in the way of expanding and improving operations just isn’t enough – we need citizen a$$holes to get in the way too.