The vast majority of homeowner’s in Omaha really don’t care about a $50 property tax increase.
It’s a statement based purely on anecdotal evidence – the same reporting method used by every media organization in Omaha. You show me someone upset about an increase, and I’ll show you someone indifferent. At a time of major budget problems, we truly don’t know the opinions of Omaha citizens as a whole. Not a single media organization in Omaha has conducted a scientific poll to access these opinions.
It’s completely reasonable to assume the property tax debate is being controlled by a vocal minority. Without any real polling data, media organizations rely on an extremely small and extremely biased sample set of citizens to represent the “voice of the people”. Who do they rely on? Usually a representative from Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, sometimes Jim Vokal and even Hal Daub. I can’t imagine any of these people having a political agenda.
To get the opinion of John Q. Public, media organizations often turn to man-on-the street interviews, but there’s a good chance the person being interviewed has no idea what “furlough” means (see image above).
So, what’s the point? Well, depending on how you ask the question, most people may actually support a property tax increase. Would people support a $50 property tax increase to keep city services at the current level? I think a reasonable majority would say “yes”.
Can anyone prove me wrong? I’m willing to hear evidence.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
God said so. Looks like I win Ovaltine.
Of course, according to Republicans, God says Democrats are bad, gays are bad, gay marriage is wrong, using positions of power for anything other than self promotion and nepotism is wrong, upholding the Constitution is wrong if it doesn't support conservative talking points, Nancy Pelosi is the devil, there is no proof of evolution (and things like backs and necks don't count, screw science), murder is OK if it's done to a Muslim, purple teletubbies are making our children gay…
Ron Gerard, is that you?
No, most Omahans believe they are already way overtaxed. Our union contracts are killing us.
There is a simple answer to our city's $12 million budget deficit: Take $12 million out of the $78 million fire budget. Declare bankruptcy if we have to, because that is actually our current fiscal situation. Renegotiate our fire contracts. Get our legislators to fight to repeal the Commission on Industrial Relations.
Otherwise we are headed in the direction of Detroit. And who will want to live here to pay for our mistakes?
I have no problem with a raise in my property taxes. As long as city services remain the same. The same small vocal group of simple minded tightwads always scream about the "high" taxes in Nebraska, frankly considering what we get for our money, I'm happy to pay my fair share.
Oh Kristen.
Union contracts…like ANY contract…have to be negotiated. Otherwise, the City would be breaking the law.
Interesting that there are all of these laws and charters and different branches of government in place to ensure that one person does not have complete power. But, when one person can't unilaterally wave a magic wand & make a contract go away or change it in ways that one group is completely happy, people go crazy!
We can't take $12 million out of the fire budget. Why? Because over 90% of the fire budget is contractual. Now, I, of course, think that that's a little overboard. But, it was the Fahey Administration who negotiated the current fire contract. So, now it has to (and is…remember the '0% wage freeze for Fire' announcement a few weeks ago) be renegotiated.
By the way, pretty sure a city the size of Omaha can't "declare bankruptcy". I think that there are laws and courts that go along with that process. Besides, don't you think that's a bit melodramatic? You don't declare bankruptcy just because you realized you're making less money than you were a year ago when you took out a mortgage. No. You get a 2nd job, you quit eating out. Seems to me that that's what the mayor & City Council (well some of them) are trying to do. Remember the pools closing a week early? Remember the 100+ city employees who got laid off? Remember the library hours cut over and over again? & don't forget the uproar when the police helicopters were grounded. And, the increase in taxes to help bring in the income.
Oh, and you continue to pay off your debts so that you keep your credit score high. Which is what the city needs to do. Bankruptcy comes with consequences. Our bond rating would PLUMMET. THAT's not the city I want to live in.
I agree with Jeff, I'm HAPPY to pay taxes to keep (and increase) my city services. I enjoy having my streets plowed, well-maintained parks, good libraries, on-duty police, fire, EMTs in case of emergency, street signs, pot-holes fixed, et cetera et cetera.
Might not matter to the small property owner but for the company who ends up paying $2,000 more, they will cut that from their employees' benefits.