Respondents to the Argus-Courier’s June 17, 2010
online poll weighed in on how the city should better balance its budget. Two-thirds said to adopt a two-tiered pension system for city employees, most said don’t cut any more staff position and respondents were divided on a proposal to increase the city’s transient occupancy tax, which the City Council this week decided not to pursue. But a vast majority said not to enact any new taxes.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey:
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“For all those council members and public who say, ‘cut, cut, cut’ the question is: what and who are you going to cut? Name ’em specifically, along with their services provided, so we know what you’re thinking. If you think that claims of new sales tax from malls is manna from heaven, remember you’re in the pit that happens when sales are down. The outlet mall promised $400,000 per year. What happened to that prediction? Diversified and more predictable income is necessary to keep the ship afloat.”
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“Go to a more normal benefits/retirement program, like a 401K program. A temporary tax, a one- or two-year tax, would be OK until you can design the new Washington Place to an acceptable standard. This should bring in more revenues once construction starts. If designed beautifully, it will continually bring in patrons from other cities. If rushed and designed like a strip mall, you blew a good opportunity for more income.”
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“Not real good choices. Is no one creative? How about revenue generation options?”
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“I would be willing to pay more taxes to keep vital city services if the council would quit discouraging businesses to locate in this city.”
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“Government spending is an addiction, and I’m concerned about increasing tax revenues without program prioritization, spending controls and sunset clauses. I’d much rather my tax dollars support local government rather than at the state or federal levels, but I’m not going to support programs that never end and require increased funding each year.”
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“A rising tide raises all boats. The tide is out and not coming back! The city expanded as did private industry when things were good. The private sector has cut back to survive, so must the city. The city must get ahead of the economy by pulling their heads from wherever and reducing personnel to sustain the balance of city government.”
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“Cut the police and fire department staff. Their pensions and pay are out of control.”
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“Councilmembers Harris, Healy and Rabbit voted against putting the TOT tax increase ballot measure on an upcoming council agenda. Later in that same meeting, they all complained about the budget, but at no point offered any way to increase revenues. These three are not doing their jobs as councilmembers well at all.”
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“Get rid of ‘The Four Amigos’ (Torliatt, Glass, Barrett and Renée), and replace them with individuals with open minds, and not the biased, arrogant, narcissistic attitudes that ‘The Four Amigos’ currently spew onto the residents of Petaluma.”
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“Interesting how the A-C survey doesn’t include anything about increasing sales tax revenue and promoting business development. Talk about a slanted approach; I am disappointed in your survey.”
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“No new parks; this city has more parks than it can keep up with.”
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“Rather than have a two-tiered pension system, why not go back and make the benefits of all city employees equivalent to those in the general workforce, i.e., logical, affordable, and not maddeningly burdensome.”
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“See if some of the work can go to volunteers. Many people enjoy volunteer and high school kids can get volunteer hours credit. I read something about the (state) parks department saying that they would leave the parks open, they just won’t be as well manicured. I am sure many people would step in and help with projects like that!”
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“Take a breath. Wait to see what the economy does next.”
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“Tax, tax, tax! Simple-minded people with a single-word vocabulary! How soon will it be before the tax on a product is higher than the product itself?”
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“The city should encourage new business to open and do what it can to help the business already here. Not more taxes; more tax base.”
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“The city should expedite, instead of delay, approval of new retail shopping centers to provide more sales tax.”
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“Very simple. If you want to save jobs, the money has to come from somewhere. The only few revenue choices with today’s economic downturn is to create income through a tax or combination of taxes. Even with more development both retail and residential, our economy will never be what it was in the mid-2000s. We will have to change our ways and be less wasteful as a community. I am all for a cell-phone tax and a transient occupancy tax increase.”
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“We need a new City Council that supports business and a city manager that manages a city. Revenue will come with good management.”
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“Why not encourage businesses to come to Petaluma and fill in the dozens of empty storefronts first to bring in revenue, rather than build new ones?”
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“Question 6, absolutely. Tax iPhones and iPods for all the fights they cause among youngsters. Tax Blackberries and cell phones for degrading quality conversation. Tax texting for being purely annoying. Tax Nintendo and PlayStation for making our kids obese. How about a $30 fine for vomiting without a license downtown on Saturday night? Seriously, how about a nickel a meal tax on fast food? I like fast food and would gladly pay it. Fast food generates a ton of wrappers and packaging. While we’re at it, let’s tax spray paint and Sharpies used for graffiti!”
