Campaign Newsroom
Jim Huber on Town Council's vote for the tax hike
May 3, 2005
Dear Editor,
Last week I watched the Town Council meeting on the real estate tax hike. As we dodged a 21.5 cent tax rate by a measly 1/2 cent, I would like to thank three people. Councilmembers Katie Hammler and Robert Zoldos, thank you for holding firm against higher taxes. And outgoing town attorney, Bob Donnelly, thank you for informing the Council that a 5-2 supermajority vote is required to raise taxes.
I was this close to thanking Mayor Kristen Umstattd. She proposed the 20 cent tax rate and voted against the 21.5 cent tax rate. But then she disappointed taxpayers. She proposed and voted with the tax-hiking majority on a 21 cent tax rate, just to avoid postponing the vote another two weeks. Her vote cost each taxpayer hundreds of dollars.
The four who eagerly voted in favor of higher taxes, demonstrated that they are for the tax spenders and not the taxpayers. Indeed, they readily voted for increasing our tax bill, as we pleaded for some relief. Acknowledging that our taxes would go higher, Councilmember Susan Horne's support for more spending to "move the town forward" and Melinda Kramer's defense of the bureaucrats seemed blissfully ignorant of the true burden the taxpayers will bear.
Councilmember Marty Martinez chastised all of us who asked for tax relief. What nerve to tell the citizens of Leesburg that he knows best what to do with our money. In Martinez's view, calling for budget cuts is "irresponsible". Defending the town's need for more of our money, he cited that the town isn't exempt from rising gas prices. If only he showed as much sympathy and compassion to Leesburg's families and elderly paying high gas prices, higher taxes, and higher tolls. It is irresponsible for him to ask the taxpayers of Leesburg to cut their budgets when he isn't willing to do the same for the town government.
Councilmember Kelly Burk's remarks, like Councilmember Martinez's, show a willful indifference to the burden on Leesburg residents. She doesn't care about the people in town, especially long time residents, who are being taxed out of town. She supports hiring an arborist because, as she says, "who cares if we lose more trees? I do." Well, who cares if we drive more seniors out of town? We do. And who cares if families have a harder time making ends meet? We do. Her first concern was for trees and not the taxpayers. Shouldn't that be the other way around?
Despite all of this, our efforts were not completely wasted. It seemed written in the stars that the tax rate would be 21.5 cents. We resisted and we got it down to 21 cents. We came and spoke out to the Council meetings, contacted the councilmembers, and signed the petition at www.NoLeesburgTaxHike.com, to fight the tax hike. Mayor Umstattd even cited our opposition as a reason for a lower tax rate.
The Council has rose colored glasses on when it comes to the financial pains of the taxpayers. We will not lie down and take it. That's what elections are for.