future of our city government

Here's a letter I sent to the GT yesterday. Will they publish it?


"To the Editor:

Findings published in the GT by Rolland Baxter and others are predictable and consistent: Corvallis city government costs have spiraled out of control. The costs of workers, both union and non-union, are unsustainable. Corvallis costs far exceed those of similar cities in Oregon.

In May Corvallis voters will be asked to approve another property tax increase, over and above the state mandate of a 3% increase annually. This 'levy' has been touted by city management as necessary to support city services deemed essential by most residents: library, senior center, aquatic center. In fact, as Mr. Baxter has shown, city revenues have increased at a regular and predictable rate over the past three years, even as the private-sector economy has faltered. Most private-sector workers are paid less today than they were at the beginning of the current recession.

Our problem is not decreasing revenues. It is unsustainable cost inflation, virtually all in the public-sector worker category. This is a failure of the current city administration, and will likely continue through the labor negotiations being conducted now.

A vote against the levy will state that we are tired of the failures of the city administration, and will require the city to finally confront the unsustainable city-worker pay and benefits. A NO vote on the levy is a vote for a responsible and sustainable city government.

Kirk Nevin
Corvallis

An important issue, I think. For those of us on fixed (and by no means guaranteed) incomes, another tax increase, on top of the three imposed on our water bills this year, is just not possible. Unfortunately, the city has calculated the number of people who will directly benefit from this 'levy', and it is probably enough voters to swing the thing. Any reasonable (or not) suggestions as to how we can manage to defeat this monster will be gladly accepted. corvallisgadfly@gmail.com