I got interviewed this morning about my feelings on the platting fees being so low in comparison to the taxes collected for arterial roads (see graphic below). I touched on many topics, but here’s a summary
– I think it is unfair to mandate retail taxpayers to pay an extra tax when the developers are not
– I thought it was pretty obvious the night the council approved the tax increase that we were going into a recession
– I think the tax increase was just a ploy to max out our taxes to what state law allows so that it will be easier for the SF Event Center Task force to ask for another tax increase next year from the legislature.
– I think arterial streets should be built on a DEMAND basis. If developers start moving dirt, we start moving dirt.
– I pointed out that councilors Knudson, Jamison, Litz and Brown all had their campaigns funded by the very special interests that supported this tax increase.
Obviously not all of this will make it into a 3 minute news spot. KELO also interviewed Theresa Stehly and they were planning on an interview with Craig Lloyd, the main developer who was pushing this tax increase. Mark Cotter, city planner, may also be interviewed.
I guess we are only in a recession when it is hurting the developer’s pocketbooks, not the rest of ours.
