Monday, September 08, 2008
Budget talks tonight
The Lakewood City Council holds the first of many budget workshops at 7 tonight. One of the most heated questions will be, what will the council remove from the 2009 budget if a minicasino ban passes in November? We need to make at least some tentative plans for the potential loss of tax revenue. There's
an overview of the question already posted on The News Tribune site that is worth reading.
No matter what the council proposes cutting, proponents of a minicasino ban will accuse us of trying to scare the voters. Not everyone will do that, of course; there are plenty of opponents of minicasinos who have good values. But other folks are going to peddle the deceptive concept that there's a free lunch and that the council can cut nearly $3 million with affecting anyone. Sure. Then sleep soundly at night.
I have to admit, I came out of the gate pretty quick on the TNT comment site. Check it out and feel free to enter the discussion. What I was trying to say in my diplomatic Neary style is, I'd be much more interested in what you think if you can do something besides complain. But maybe you need more information to make up your mind; let us know what you need.
I have also said in the TNT previously I don't think voters should make up their mind about the minicasino ban based on taxes at all. I still believe that. Voters have every right and many good reasons to ban minicasinos; and we as a community should and would find a way to live with the financial result. My point here is that it's just simply either delusional or deceptive to think the consequences will be without inconvenience.
Forward this post
an overview of the question already posted on The News Tribune site that is worth reading.
No matter what the council proposes cutting, proponents of a minicasino ban will accuse us of trying to scare the voters. Not everyone will do that, of course; there are plenty of opponents of minicasinos who have good values. But other folks are going to peddle the deceptive concept that there's a free lunch and that the council can cut nearly $3 million with affecting anyone. Sure. Then sleep soundly at night.
I have to admit, I came out of the gate pretty quick on the TNT comment site. Check it out and feel free to enter the discussion. What I was trying to say in my diplomatic Neary style is, I'd be much more interested in what you think if you can do something besides complain. But maybe you need more information to make up your mind; let us know what you need.
I have also said in the TNT previously I don't think voters should make up their mind about the minicasino ban based on taxes at all. I still believe that. Voters have every right and many good reasons to ban minicasinos; and we as a community should and would find a way to live with the financial result. My point here is that it's just simply either delusional or deceptive to think the consequences will be without inconvenience.
