Of Cats and Kids

Refusing a tax hike, non-contemptuously

Posted by: Carol Lombardi

Saturday, November 4, 2006 12:16 AM

I'm not a part of The N-G's editorial board, so I don't actually personally know what the editorial writer was thinking when he wrote about the upcoming vote on a township tax hike. I was impressed, however, by the writer's use of the word "profligate." I had to look it up. Great word.

Contrary to one reader's comment, however, I disagree that the editorial expressed "contempt toward the needy." I think it expressed a healthy skepticism about an office that gives away tax money, and the fact that the amount of money involved is inexplicably increasing.

I don't think our community in general, or The N-G in particular, is contemptuous toward the needy. Pretty much everyone I know would be happy to ante up an extra $22.50 a year toward a local charity - but not toward a rather mysterious government body that seems to be duplicating other government and non-profit services. It's not the amount. It's the concept.

If I think the charity of my choice is misusing the money I am giving them, I can give it to someone else. If the township office is misusing my money, and I have to admit the drastic increase in their budget makes me wonder, there is nothing I can do about it because I have to pay taxes. And you can bet that once the budget is increased, the office will find a way to give away that much money every year and will be back at the taxpayer buffet asking for more.

Astonishingly enough, there will always be plenty of people who need money, and there will never be enough to go around. If I thought that more funding for the township would eliminate poverty, I'd say go for it. I don't think that, though.

I'm also a little curious about the loose definition of the term "budget" in the township office. Ms. Abernathy has a budget that she has to work within, same as me. I don't have a home in Cherry Hills because it is not in my budget. I can't very well go to John Foreman and explain that I am running out of room in my house and therefore want him to triple my salary. After he stopped laughing, he would likely tell me that maybe I should make better use of the space I have to work with and offer some advice on closet organizers.

Ms. Abernathy is lucky to have $422,000 dollars at her disposal, and maybe she needs to be a bit more discriminating in how she divvies up those dollars. If she needs some advice on how to do that, I'm sure there are people who could review the records and offer some guidance.

C-U has some phenomenal and responsible organizations helping the less fortunate, often in ways more useful and lasting than handing out cash. Would I be happy to give an additional donation to the charity of my choice? You bet I would. Would I give an extra dollar a week for 22 weeks to someone panhandling on the street? I might. But I will be voting "no" on increasing contributions to a mysterious government charity.

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