What’s going on with all the tax increases everywhere? It seems the solution to excessive spending is to raise taxes. There is a lot of talk about raising taxes on the rich, but property, sales, and other fees affect everyone. It shows that there aren’t enough rich people to pay taxes. Plus, states like New York, California, New Jersey, and Illinois are all losing the wealthy. Why stay when there are tax-friendly states welcoming them, like Florida and Texas?
Shouldn’t the states that raised taxes on the rich have more tax income? They claim that millionaires aren’t leaving, but is that true? If taxing the rich does not eliminate the budget deficit, they need to get the money from somewhere. That is from you! They will blame the millionaires and billionaires and tell you how they can afford to pay more, so they tax them more. The problem is that a lot of these people have businesses and create jobs. Instead of paying the taxes, they are moving their headquarters out of these expensive cities to a more tax-friendly one, therefore causing job losses.
This takes away jobs, which takes away tax revenue. Will it be too late when the state or city figures out that they are just losing more income every year and will have to raise taxes on everyone? So, what are they doing, raising various fees, for example, licensing fees, hotel fees, gas tax, EV mileage tax. They will do anything to bring in money. This affects all income groups. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to move, while the rich pack up and leave.
To make it look like they are not raising taxes, start looking at your breakdown for electricity, water, cell phone, cable, etc. My cellphone bill includes fees for federal, regulatory, administrative, and state charges. It’s a way to get money from everyone. It’s probably close to 25% of your total bill. The cable and electricity bills have similar charges. It’s an easy way to get money, and no one complains or even talks about it. You are going to pay for it because you need electricity and water.
Some cities are proposing a monthly fee per employee for large companies to raise revenue. This will lead to mass layoffs, or they will force the company to move. The difference between the government and a business is that a business needs to make a profit, or it goes bankrupt. Maybe it’s time for all governments to do the same before states and cities start going bankrupt. It’s coming!
Just like in Delaware County, they are raising property taxes again, for the second time in a year, and I am sure 2027 will have another tax hike too. That is on top of school increases, garbage collection increases, water and electricity increases.
I have been reading a lot on Nextdoor.com, complaining about county or local taxes going up. What’s going on? Spending, of course, and the blame game starts. Our property taxes in our county went up 23% last year and now 19% this year. They blame the end of COVID funds and the Republicans for not fixing the structural issues. The Democrats took over control of the council in 2019 and all five seats in 2021. So, it took them 6 years to figure out that it was the Republicans’ fault for not increasing taxes 6 years ago.
They received $200 million in COVID funds, and it’s all gone. Do any of the five council members run a household? Did anyone even mention that we should put some of this money away? If there were structural issues that needed to be fixed, why was this money not used to fix them instead of giving it away? Did they have safeguards in place to verify that the money was given to the people who really needed it? Or was it just given to anyone? What’s sad is that they are blaming it on the end of the COVID money and blaming the Republicans. I am not saying the Republicans are not to blame, too, but these people were elected to positions where they need to manage the budget, and when they fail, they blame it on anything or anyone but themselves.
Even worse, to get reelected, the council decided not to release the 2026 budget with the 19% tax increase until November 10th, after the election. I did a Google search, and here is AI reason for the rise:
- Tax Hike: A 19% property tax increase was passed, adding to the financial burden on residents for the second straight year.
- Purpose of Increase: The revenue boost helps fix a structural deficit, fund essential services, and cover costs from recent county initiatives.
- Cost Containment: The Executive Director’s proposed budget included cost containment, and a task force was formed to find savings, though the tax hike was still necessary.
- No Major Cuts Mentioned: The focus was on revenue enhancement and controlling spending, not significant cuts to existing programs. However, one council member suggested looking at discretionary spending next year if needed.
- Public Reaction: Residents strongly opposed the tax increase, calling for spending cuts instead, but the council passed the budget.
To all voters, think before you vote. I think it is time for the voters to get rid of these officials who cannot run a government without overspending. Things are going to get worse! There are spending issues in most state and local governments, and until the people elect leaders who will cut spending and balance the budget, taxes and fees will continue to increase.