There is no financial justification for a tax increase this year. Coppell's real estate valuations have officially declined less than 1% over last year. So, there is no real budget shortfall. No budget cuts have been proposed and the budget (without tax increase) will cover the Northlake financial commitment. In the worst case, our property taxes have generously funded a 73% reserve fund for any unexpected financial short fall.
Generally speaking, we have a very good City Council. However, they are definitely out of tune with our community on this issue. Your presence would send a valuable message about this economy, this recessionary environment, and their timing.
Please join me and other former mayors as we communicate--in a positive way to our elected officials--that now is just not the time to be talking about increasing city TAXES.
Most of the time our citizens do not have to be personally involved in our local government. However, this is the time where your presence really counts folks! Otherwise you WILL be getting a tax hike!
Lou Duggan (5/85 - 4/89)
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Thanks for informing us and attempting to motivate and activate us to action! I have sent a letter to the email addresses you've posted.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is opposed to a tax increase! It's just the VOCAL minority that is. It doesn't bother us in the least! It takes money to keep a city nice.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct J, however the problem as I see is this: Government throwing money at anything never solved a problem. On the other hand, goverment managing (our) money like a good business or household would gives us (the taxpayers) our money's worth. The City of Coppell hasn't really done anything to tighten its belt during this severe recession and its top managers still want to give themselves a pay raise. Yes, there are projects that have been "waiting in the que" for some time but they were there long before this downturn hit. Take a look at what the total city payroll is and divide that number by the total number of city employees. Simple math. The number is absurd and rediculous....>$85K per employee. Recognizing that significantly more than half of the employees must be making under $45K, what does that tell you? We are clearly top heavy and they want more. Coppell has had the highest tax rate of any other city in the metroplex for a long time. Why is that? Clearly other cities are managing more realistically.
ReplyDeleteAt Tuesday night's Council meeting, Coppell City Manager, Clay Phillips, pointed out that the amount allocated in the budget for salaries is a "fully loaded" amount that includes benefits. The average salary for a Coppell city employee is closer to $54K.
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