Is there such a thing as Taxpayer Apathy????

I found it absolutely stunning the total lack of interest in the proposed tax hike for the Town of Holland. At first, I had heard it would be around $66.00 per $100,000 Town Property Tax increase. But NO!! It gets WORSE!!! in the minutes of the September Town Board Meeting, it was said that the Town Property Tax increase would now be $100 to $102 per $100,000 of Assessed valuation !! :-( They said that they cut everywhere they could . Anyone that reads the proposed 2015 Budget, can see that , yes, they did cut a lot of things, but they certainly could have cut a LOT more!!

Examples:

1. HEALTHCARE : The Town of Holland has budgeted over $96,000 for employee healthcare. WHY not have the Town employees switch over to the ACA and take them off the tax rolls. Over $96,000 could be taken out of the budget if this were done!!

2. Culture and Economic Assistance. One of the many places that they help fund is the BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB !! To the tune of $22,500 !! That is Town TAXPAYERS MONEY!! That place should be self sufficient in it's finances. If it needs outside money, then they should look to private or Corporate donations.

They said they did not seek a pay raise. Well, why did none of them offer to have a SALARY DECREASE ??

I don't know why the Voters in the Town did not voice their opposition to the Budget and the property Tax increase. What good is a Property Tax cap , if the Town Board can override it ?

Welcome to America.

No one cares until it affects them directly.

farmall,

Do just what your doing - post here and on other sites devoted to community events and awareness.

When looking at these budget numbers - they are unimpressive - why - because you have to show where that money is going !

$96,000.00 home owners tax dollars for employee healthcare ? - Who's healthcare - list the people who receive this tax funded benefit - by job title - appointment - elected or non elected officials - that makes it real for people. Most people don't actually know who gets paid for what or how much.


BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB $22,500.00 home owners tax dollars People in Lancaster were shocked and surprise to find the Boys and Girls club had paid board members - they were collecting health care insurance payments - this when all along they pretended to be community minded volunteers - some were actualy tax funded elected Town Officials so they collected a stipend from the Boys and Girls Club as well as tax funded pay and tax funded benefits from the Town as well.

Our past Town Supervisor was asking the Town Board for $20,000.00 to help "Bail out the Boys and Girls Club" because they were "running out of money" - turns out some employees actualy received bonuses months prior - the Town Supervisor and others would benefit directly from this extra funding - they weren't going broke - they were helping them selves to double healthcare allowances.

So, in short - get the info - post it - its legal to do so because its public information. Educate people as to where their tax dollars are going - make it real by showing who is actually createing this need to raise more taxes.

Or maybe, just maybe, the majority of taxpayers are happy with the way things are going & don't mind paying for it. Wouldn't that be a kick in the 'nads?!

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Originally Posted by grump

Or maybe, just maybe, the majority of taxpayers are happy with the way things are going & don't mind paying for it. Wouldn't that be a kick in the 'nads?!

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Keep telling yourself that. ;)

Are you saying its impossible for a majority of taxpayers in the Town of Holland to be content with their town government and tax level?

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Originally Posted by grump

Are you saying its impossible for a majority of taxpayers in the Town of Holland to be content with their town government and tax level?

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Its more possible that they're just lazy when it comes to government.

That may well be. How can you tell? One way might be to look at the election results in town,

Taxpayer apathy does not exist. Most of us are smart enough to realize that it doesn't matter who you vote for. It's a waste of time. In fact, your vote for any candidate legitimizes a fundamentally flawed system. You cannot change the system from within.

Just vote for "me" and all of your wildest dreams will come true. Government works spectacularly well for the government, and those who require government (employees, party-hacks, mouth breathers, etc). It continues to grow and consume everything in its path. That's what governments do, until they crumble under their own weight. Stop voting and live your life outside of government. It's much more enjoyable.

But to live outside the law, you must be honest.

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Originally Posted by FMD

Welcome to America.

No one cares until it affects them directly.

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Yes one hundred percent correct. Look at China surpassing the US as the number one economy, or the overleveraging of our debt, or derivatives etc etc. ,, nobody really cares but the implications are far greater than zoning, or local tax increasess etc etc.