OK, in a effort to try and get this back on more of a discussion on ways to solve our problems as opposed to picking on one another, let me make one last try at justifying the one suggestion I offered. Keep in mind I throw this out as just a suggestion hoping to get more thought started and other suggestions that might be even more relevant. It was not meant to start a war of words between people who I believe all want genuinely to find ways to make the community a better place for all.

My reasoning for using property tax comes from my experience with other properties I own that uses property tax to fund municipal needs. I do not know of any tax that is "fair" to all. Some pay more and some pay less and some receive more and some receive less.

Do not assume just because I feel that the few hundred dollars I pay means that all property taxes should be raised. There are ways to assess the tax that can make it more equitable - like homestead exemptions and other credits for those deserving. Again, I am only relating to my other experiences with property and funding needs. If I look at what I pay for other properties, what I pay here is extremely less and I find it hard for me to be critical of what I receive based on what I am paying.

Now granted, when I talk about increasing taxes, I catch all kinds of hell from some of my friends in business who feel they are taxed too much. And being conservative in my politics, even the talk of raising taxes makes me wonder what I am saying.

Yes, the logical approach is to look at all taxes that are now collected and see if that is enough money to fund the needs - assuming also, the BIG assumption, that they are spent efficiently by government. Some of you believe this is the case. If that is true, then the efforts need to be directed towards a more efficient use of the monies. If not, then other funds are needed and thus my willingness to pay more in property tax as one possible solution. Even us conservatives must be willing to be taxed more if it is needed and if it is proportioned as equitable as possible understanding the difficulty in achieving what is equitable to all.

The worse possible outcome is to have our quality of life deteriorate beyond repair for lack of funding. And I am reluctant to end this on a negative note, but we face some serious concerns that could do just that if solutions are not found. Then we would all have good reason to pick on one another.