Your Tax Money
On Monday night, January 4, I was sworn in for my third term as Bellevue Borough's Tax Collector. I haven't been to a local council meeting for some time so I decided to stay and observe my local elected leaders in action. During the treasures report council was informed $171,000 was sitting in an account. The treasurer cautioned the members that they needed to be very aware of cash flow because the borough spent more money than it took in. Unfortunately, the last part of the message was lost on some members of council. One member, a leading democrat made a motion to spend the money as soon as possible. After some discussion a councilman who happens to be the republican committee chairman pointed out that any available money should be used to reduce the impact of an upcoming rate increase from Alcosan.
At that moment I realized once again that no matter what level of government there are elected members who don't understand that tax coffers are not personal piggy banks. Tax dollars come from the hard work and sweat of everyday people trying to build a future for themselves and their families.
Politicians like Mike Doyle, Ed Rendell and my local councilperson see your money as their money or they think they can spend your money more wisely than you. In many cases politicians think they have all the answers. Even though you may not want the healthcare plan the government says you need, Mike Doyle says you have to have it or you will be fined. Even though you thought it was nuts to dig a tunnel under the river for a subway, Mike Doyle and Ed Rendell said Pittsburgh has to have it. Mike Doyle and Ed Rendell want you to forget how much over budget the project is and how many bridges could have been rehabilitated with those funds.
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