17 June 2005
In-lieu ideas for in-lieu fees
The LPFC calls on the City of Fresno to obey the letter of the law, as interpreted by the California Supreme Court, and the spirit of the law by instituting utility rate cuts and returning the revenues of at least one year derived from overcharging utility customers. We applaud the actions of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Valley Taxpayers Coalition in suing the city for charging utility customers at a rate higher than necessary to deliver the utility services.
It appears from all indications from Mayor Alan Autry, his appointed staff, and some city councilmembers that not only do they have no intention of rebating overcharges, but they additionally intend to maintain the present rate structure by changing the budget rules to redefine the overcharges to meet legal scrutiny. Former Fresno State athletic director Al Bohl was stewed in very warm water for subverting budget rules to make appearances of a balanced budget, for which he was awarded a salary bonus. In-lieu of returning money to taxpayers and reducing future charges to match actual expenses, the city appears ready to either have the police and fire departments charge the public works department for services rendered (what services are they talking about and do they do that with other departments?) or ask us taxpayers to agree to a(nother) tax increase in a city-wide ballot measure.
The LPFC rejects both of these in-lieu ideas to substitute for in-lieu fees. The in-lieu charge itself is a practice that should be banned. The idea of taxing something that doesn't exist is the most outrageous of taxes. Why not have the city charge an in-lieu bus fee because, after all, there is no private bus system to tax? Or an in-lieu stadium fee to counteract the lack of private professional sports venues? Should we have a senior golfer's in-lieu fee to make up for the revenue from the alleged lack of cheap private facilities for senior golfers, the apparent justification for run-down, city-owned Palm Lakes golf course?
The local elected (and pundit-ocratic) Republicans were very vocal (correctly) about ending the Democratic-imposed car tax last year and about granting the citizenry a rebate. Why are they not being equally irate about ending these equally illegal and unwise in-lieu fees and granting the citizens of Fresno a rebate? Is it because the mayor is not a Democrat?
In-lieu of in-lieu fees, the city should charge for what it delivers, nothing more. In-lieu of increasing our taxes, the city should look to cut services that don't involve the legitimate role of the City of Fresno -- the equitable enforcement of each Fresnan's right to sole dominion over his/her person and property. In-lieu of budgetary trickery, the city should be straight forward about its fiscal practices.
Otherwise, Fresnans should actively prepare some in-lieu choices in its elected officials.
It appears from all indications from Mayor Alan Autry, his appointed staff, and some city councilmembers that not only do they have no intention of rebating overcharges, but they additionally intend to maintain the present rate structure by changing the budget rules to redefine the overcharges to meet legal scrutiny. Former Fresno State athletic director Al Bohl was stewed in very warm water for subverting budget rules to make appearances of a balanced budget, for which he was awarded a salary bonus. In-lieu of returning money to taxpayers and reducing future charges to match actual expenses, the city appears ready to either have the police and fire departments charge the public works department for services rendered (what services are they talking about and do they do that with other departments?) or ask us taxpayers to agree to a(nother) tax increase in a city-wide ballot measure.
The LPFC rejects both of these in-lieu ideas to substitute for in-lieu fees. The in-lieu charge itself is a practice that should be banned. The idea of taxing something that doesn't exist is the most outrageous of taxes. Why not have the city charge an in-lieu bus fee because, after all, there is no private bus system to tax? Or an in-lieu stadium fee to counteract the lack of private professional sports venues? Should we have a senior golfer's in-lieu fee to make up for the revenue from the alleged lack of cheap private facilities for senior golfers, the apparent justification for run-down, city-owned Palm Lakes golf course?
The local elected (and pundit-ocratic) Republicans were very vocal (correctly) about ending the Democratic-imposed car tax last year and about granting the citizenry a rebate. Why are they not being equally irate about ending these equally illegal and unwise in-lieu fees and granting the citizens of Fresno a rebate? Is it because the mayor is not a Democrat?
In-lieu of in-lieu fees, the city should charge for what it delivers, nothing more. In-lieu of increasing our taxes, the city should look to cut services that don't involve the legitimate role of the City of Fresno -- the equitable enforcement of each Fresnan's right to sole dominion over his/her person and property. In-lieu of budgetary trickery, the city should be straight forward about its fiscal practices.
Otherwise, Fresnans should actively prepare some in-lieu choices in its elected officials.
# posted by Rodney Austin @ 1:56 PM 
