The Tax Increase -- straight talk

Friends,

On Feb 9, 1941, Churchill gave a BBC radio broadcast in which he said,

"To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day."

As you know, the Aldermen/Alderwoman decided to raise the property tax by .06 cents per hundred.  In other words, for a home valued at $200,000, the extra cost is $10 per month.  In realistic terms, it is the cost of 2 gallons of milk and a dozen eggs at Brookshires; it is the cost of lunch at McDonalds.

If one thinks it was easy to raise taxes, they are sadly wrong.  For 3 straight Monday nights and a workshop, the Aldermen/Alderwoman struggled.  "How can we do what Salado needs to do, without raising taxes?"  In the end, it was impossible.  Raising taxes from .12 cents to .18 cents was the only solution if Salado was to go forward.  

Why?  

(1)  A full time City Administrator does not come cheap.  Jim Reed came close to being a full time City Administrator.  He demonstrated what that meant and in the end, he told the Aldermen, "there is not much more left of me.  I have to step back."

Without a full time City Administrator, there is no one to perform the day-to-day activities of the village -- personnel, roads, ordinances, protective services (Police), construction, county, TexDot, and list goes on and on.  A Mayor and the Aldermen/Alderwoman cannot do it -- experience has proven this.  We do not have the education, the experience, or the time to do it.

Whether you agree or disagree, Jim Reed has shown us the difference a City Manager makes.

(2)  Our employees deserved a raise.  They, too, are faced with rising food, gas, electricity, water, and day-to-day living expenses.  The Aldermen/Alderwoman unanimously decided that a 3% cost of living raise was needed.  Do you remember how it felt when you gave your best and did not get anything in return?  Good employees are the key to the success of any business.

(3)  There is only one full-time Administrative employee and one part-time.  These two people answer approximately 10-20 telephone calls an hour, greet and answer your questions when you personally come to the Municipal Building; record tickets, take money, deposit it in the bank, enter the paid tickets, and take abuse because someone thinks they got an unjust ticket;  prepare for the Board of Aldermen meetings to include pages of minutes; and a host of other things.  The Aldermen/Alderwoman decided to go from a part-time person to a full-time.

These three items were primarily the reason for the tax increase.  There were cuts as we tried to keep it below .15 cents but it could not be done.  

There are no discounts given for city governments.  We pay like everyone else.  And prices go up.  If you want Salado to go forward this is what it cost. 

You have the choice; you and you alone will decide the future of Salado.  Unanimously, YOUR elected officials did their best for the future of Salado.  And as you make your decision, consider this, the only communities around you:

       Bartlet:               .58 cents
     Holland:             .62 cents
     Nolanville:          .51 cents
     Belton:               .64 cents
     Temple:             .56 cents
    Killeen:             .73 cents
    Rogers:              .82 cents
    Troy:                 .41 cents
   Morgan's Point: .63 cents

    Salado:  .18  -- a pretty good bargain.

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job."

VR/Skip