To the editor:

I am angry, frustrated and really surprised by the fiscally irresponsible behavior by our City Commission over the past several years. Let’s review:

1. The City (Commission and staff) seems to do no serious medium to long-range planning. We have a long-standing stable staff with only minor commission turnover. Sorry Mr. Dever, no wiggle room on that excuse.

2. The city seems unable or unwilling to prioritize projects and to define what are the city’s “core functions” (i.e., police, fire, water, trash) as opposed to “desired wants” (i.e., recreational projects, etc.).

3. The City gives a price tag for a project but does not include the ongoing year-after-year expenses (i.e., $200,000 per year for the expanded library, $300,000 per year for the recreation center, etc.).

4. This is the fourth year in a row that the city has increased our property tax rate, from 26.69 mills to 31.89 mills, a 19.4 percent increase! This does not include sales tax increases or recommended increases!

5. Does the city talk to other government entities? We are in the early stages of spending on a $92.5 million school district bond. What else might the school district and the county need or want that might further increase our mill levy or sales tax?

I believe we do need a new police facility but I refuse to let the city back me into a corner because of their shortsightedness and lack of planning. I wish I could trade the rec center in for a police station, but I can’t. Thus, I will vote “no” until we get our planning and spending under control.