Some candidates that find themselves losing their elections badly resort to the same playbook. Attack their opponent, lie about them, pepper them with ridiculous ad hominems, and then resort to scare tactics.
That's what is going in in the D1 commission race.
One candidate just continuously displays his ignorance over and over and over on basic math and government budgeting and accounting. He mistakenly confuses the very good practice of growing the economy, which spins off concomitant revenue increases---with a "tax increase" on homeowners. It's garbage.
And our overall budget is from a LOT of different sources--not simply ad valorem revenue. It has sales tax revenue, income from services provided, MSBU's, MSTU's, grant revenue, Interest income, and LOST revenue as well. And the amounts and type fluctuate over time.
Here is an easy, basic, illustration that even he can (hopefully) understand.
Think of an imaginary town of Stevenville--if there is one resident and his house is worth $100,000.00 and his tax on that house to the Stevenville treasury is $1,000.00----if another identical house is added to the Stevenville tax roll the next year and that identical house is also valued at $100,000.00 and generates the same amount in taxes as the first house $1,000.00-----did the town of Stevenville really raise your taxes by 100% when they collected $2,000.00 in year 2--$1,000.00 each from 2 residents?
Answer: of course not. Stevenville grew the economy by 100% and doubled their revenue so they could provide more services and add additional staff because now they have double the population to serve. Think on that, imagine larger examples, expanded services, etc. it's pretty basic.....but the bottom line is this. If Stevenville didn't change the millage rate, did not raise it, then they didn't raise your taxes...
(And neither has Escambia County "raised your taxes" either---- by the way)
How is this not a tax Jeff? If the economy grows but I’m still making the same and paying my mortgage tax, and my house evaluation goes up, making it more taxable in a higher dollar amount? I’m still paying MORE!! More on property tax and certainly more on property insurance. You may not be the whole problem, but Your certainly not the solution, as you sit idol and have for many years!!!
ReplyDeleteEspecially when y’all approve builder saturation of the market, making our property evaluations go up!!!
Delete4:16: you start with a question that is legit, but then you slide into a conflated issue (property insurance fiasco statewide--which commissioners have zero control over) then you finish with a nice, tidy ad-hominem. Nevertheless--let me answer you. It is a tax, that's number 1. It's just not a "tax increase." Keeping a level, static millage tax rate while growing the economy to grow revenue is not a "tax increase." If you are paying more it is likely because your home has appreciated in value, you have added some value to it, or you it is not homesteaded. If you are a homesteaded property-owning taxpayer in Escambia County--you are capped yearly at 3% in terms of the increase in your home's taxable value under the save our homes legislation. Yes--property insurance has gone through the roof--and we are working with our state partners to find solutions--but this is a private market issue that we cannot control locally. And I have not sat [SIC] Idol anywhere, anytime, ever in my life. I have worked to grow this tax base in my district, bring good jobs here, improve this infrastructure, and bring HUGE appropriations from the state for road infrastructure upgrades. I have also worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life amenities in D1 with new boat ramps, new parks, new libraries, and other improvements. All while NEVER raising year-over-year tax rates on existing Escambia County taxpaying property owners. Anyone who tells you I have raised taxes does not understand basic economics and worse yet---they are lying to you.
DeleteDo you have any concerns how the “Increase” in tax revenue is being spent?
DeleteGuys, it's "idle" not "idol". 😄
ReplyDelete