Stan Geiger

Kat Taylor Joins the Chorus

Below is an excerpt from an editorial in the Tulsa Beacon, concerning Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor's proposed $590 million budget for the coming fiscal year.

Mayor Kathy Taylor knows the easy way to raise taxes is through the compliant City Council rather than a vote of the people.

Her proposals for the new city budget show her lack of regard for the fiscal well-being of Tulsa families when she proposed raising water bill rates by on average $30 a year. There is a 5 percent increase in water and sewer rates and a 10 percent increase in stormwater fees.

Indeed, it is much easier to increase taxes by virtue of a seal of approval from a handful of sycophants on the council than it is to get average folks to vote for higher taxes. But Taylor, it seems, wants to go both ways. She is also pushing for a permanent city sales tax increase and a bond issue that would bump property taxes.

The Kat seems to think all Tulsans are as rich as her hubby.

At any rate, here comes the latest edition of the "cup of coffee" tax increase.

TCC just got rejected in its bid for a property tax increase that would have "only" been $50 a year for the average homeowner. Then comes the city, wanting "only" another $30 a year for city utilities. And then comes PSO, wanting "only" another $216 per year on average for electricity.

A guy could get "onlyed" straight into bankruptcy court.

It is important to look at the bigger picture. These "only" increases have a very negative impact on the local economy. And that means the negative impact on you is greater than the "only" figures thrown at you by spin doctors.

I'll offer an example drawn from what I laughing call my life.

I live in a one-bedroom apartment in an average, everyday apartment complex. This year, I'm handing my landlord $48 more per month than I was in 2006. Annualized, that's $576.

My liberal friends would blame that on capitalism. My "greedy capitalist pig" of a landlord is to blame. But I think not. I think my biggest enemy in this is government.

Being a renter, I don't pay property taxes directly. But I pay. I pay because my landlord has to pay. And my landlord passes that cost to me.

State law limits the increase in the property tax to 5 percent per year. The word is, counties have simply taken that law as an excuse to raise property taxes by 5 percent annually---automatically. I don't know for sure, but I imagine the property tax on a 400-unit apartment complex is substantial.

My rent increase per se since 2006 is $35 per month. Naturally, the cost of maintaining the place goes up every year. So that's part of the deal. But I figure a big feeder relative to my rent increase has to do with ever-increasing property tax liability.

Now then, a couple of years ago, I didn't have to directly pay for city utilities. That changed last year, as my landlord hit me with a surcharge of $10 per month. That surcharge was increased to $13 per month this year. The surcharge was bumped 30 percent in a single year.

Up until this winter, my complex had 3 swimming pools. Now it's down to 2 swimming pools. The company that owns the complex actually figured it was in its best financial interests to hire a crew to tear out a pool, haul it off and fill the hole with dirt, rather than eat the cost of keeping the thing going over time. I'd say that speaks volumes.

Outside of the missing pool, nothing has changed relative to my residence. My little apartment is the same as it was 2 years ago. But now I pay nearly $600 more to live here for a year (not counting what PSO is doing to me). And my landlord, it seems, is keeping very little of the money.

Add in the fact that I will likely pay 50 percent more to feed myself this year. Add in the fact that I will likely pay twice as much to fuel my car this year. Is it any wonder average households are up to their butts in credit card debt?

Meanwhile, what about the impact from a macroeconomic standpoint? I can sum it up in one word: stagflation.

My rent increase alone---which goes mainly to government---takes nearly $600 in annual disposable income off the table. I can't spend that money supporting various businesses in the local economy. Multiply that by a hundred thousand.

That "cup of coffee" tax increase might cost you more than $30 or $50. It might cost you your job.

At the same time, higher property tax bills, higher city utility bills and higher electric bills drive up costs for businesses. That, of course, provides a grand incentive for price increases.

That "cup of coffee" tax increase will cost you more than $30 or $50 per year if it increases your cost of living across-the-board, don't you think?

It's time to just say no. Say no to higher property taxes. Say no to higher city utility rates. Say no to PSO.

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