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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hoa Hao who wrote (470454)	2/7/2012 7:36:35 PM
From: simplicity	7 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793670

I hear you. Sometimes comments from the public don't take into account the fact that they often don't have any concept of how a township (city/borough, etc.) is run. For the past few years, we have been borrowing from our capital reserve fund (which of course is entirely legit, under specific circumstances) early in the year in order to meet our township expenses. We then replenish the money once the major portion of our real estate tax revenue is realized (generally by the end of April). At a recent meeting, I was expressing the fact that I am uncomfortable doing that, but we really have no choice in the matter, because we are staunchly resisting raising the tax millage in these tough economic times. A resident then made the suggestion that, when our next real estate tax bills are mailed, the property owners should be asked to pay their bills early (so as to avoid the township's borrowing from capital reserve early in the year). I sometimes have difficulty holding back the laughter -- but have to, because the large majority of suggestions are entirely well-intentioned, if unworkable. :) Those of us involved in local government are really caught between a rock and a hard place during times like theses. As I mentioned before, many of our expenses are union or government-mandate related. And even though those expenses rise every year, our revenues do not. Many residents in our township are appealing their property assessments, since they are often now well below the current market values of their homes -- which, of course is entirely fair, but which reduces tax revenue. Townships, like private individuals, are hurting, and hurting more with each passing day. We hear all too often of cities nearing bankruptcy because of poor fiscal management, but quite often small townships have been anything but fiscally irresponsible, and yet the uninformed citizen also equates small government budget difficulties with poor management. That is quite often not the case. Also, local government as a rule tends to be much more answerable to its constituency (which is why allowing local government the most decision-making power was a cornerstone of our Founders' vision). The further one travels from local government decision-making (on to the state and then the federal level), the more incompetence, waste, and simple non-caring about frugality or the voice of the average citizen occurs. And yet it is the local government that tends to receive much of the flack, for the simple reason that its officials are the most accessible. I have found, though, that if we treat disgruntled residents with respect, and give of our time in order to answer questions and educate them about issues of concern to them, 95+% of the time they will leave satisfied with the explanation that was provided, and appreciative that the time was taken to provide it, even if still unhappy with the circumstances.