A pay cut for residents

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: May 16, 2008

We the people of Eden declare that when government spending soars and our tax bills rise faster than our incomes, we lose freedom.
Our city manager says “lean times are ahead” and “spending will outpace revenue.” He recommends the city council “consider how to reduce spending internally before the city faces a funding crisis.”
Was the city council present when these statements were made? Our city council responded by changing the town charter to give itself an $8,400 pay raise. They don’t need the money, but they believe they deserve it. This elitist city council may want the raise to affirm their self worth as leaders and high achievers rather than giving back to this community and proving their value as public servants. The proposed property taxes and water and sewer rate increases continue to propel the misery index for families.
Liberals, socialist, and elitist see higher taxes and more government as the solution to every problem. The evidence is overwhelming that more government reduces economic growth and diminishes our liberties. Big government advocates’ delusional thinking is a result of economic and historical ignorance. Government programs cost more than projected and produce less than promised. The examples of government balancing budgets with abusive tax increases are few, while examples of government balancing their budgets through reduced spending and reduced tax rates are many.
Raising taxes is not the only solution and never the best solution. We need leaders that will attempt great things, but we need leaders that will do common things like actually sticking to a budget and actually spending less than we take in. Every tax increase is a pay cut for citizens. Thomas Paine said, “We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice for new pretenses for revenue and taxation.”

Wayne Lowman
Eden