02-04-2018, 04:57 AM
Yes: the real problem is government bloat, not whether everyone is paying their fair share to support that bloat. There is certainly some revenue to be found by rescinding undeserved agricultural exemptions, or taxing out-of-state speculators at a higher rate, or raising the GET, or increasing the vehicle registration fee ... but when the unions "collectively bargain" their mandatory raises next year, taxes will go up to match, again.
Consider the bus system as an example: out of 50 buses, only 19 are running; in the meanwhile, County simply outsources to the tour operators at a cost of a few million more dollars. The new baseyard still isn't open. We're supposed to believe that all these problems will magically disappear if only we give them MORE money?
Look at the building permitting process. Somehow, each application for a standard HPM kit home is treated as an entirely new idea, with never-before-seen engineering challenges which need months of review. Again, we're told that if we just hire more plan-checkers, they can maybe cope with the ridiculous backlog of permit applications. Really?
Planning is even simpler: if the answer will always be "no, you can't do that", then that function can be performed by a single part-time employee.
Other states have discovered a huge new revenue stream in legalized marijuana, which can be regulated and taxed. If we're going to have more permits and more taxes anyway, why not create a new industry with new revenues?
Consider the bus system as an example: out of 50 buses, only 19 are running; in the meanwhile, County simply outsources to the tour operators at a cost of a few million more dollars. The new baseyard still isn't open. We're supposed to believe that all these problems will magically disappear if only we give them MORE money?
Look at the building permitting process. Somehow, each application for a standard HPM kit home is treated as an entirely new idea, with never-before-seen engineering challenges which need months of review. Again, we're told that if we just hire more plan-checkers, they can maybe cope with the ridiculous backlog of permit applications. Really?
Planning is even simpler: if the answer will always be "no, you can't do that", then that function can be performed by a single part-time employee.
Other states have discovered a huge new revenue stream in legalized marijuana, which can be regulated and taxed. If we're going to have more permits and more taxes anyway, why not create a new industry with new revenues?