Bettendorf – You Are Taxed Enough Already

In spite of state platform, not a peep from Scott County Republican “leadership.” 

Today is the day of a tax and spend vote affecting Bettendorf School District residents. This article in the QC Times purports to explain the vote with the usual QCT spin of loaded terminology to help pave the way for approval.

Voters in the Bettendorf Community School District have the chance to approve a new levy today that will improve the district’s recreational facilities.

So voters have the chance, i.e. opportunity, to “approve” and “improve” Bettendorf. A subtle but manipulative opening line. Proponents may say it will improve something, but for all voters know, the “improvements” are marginal or unneeded.  They are discretionary as “plans” can be changed down the road. You see the authorization to extract the money from all has no sunset provision.  It continues in perpetuity unless the School Board drops it (have they ever declined money?) or voters rally to end it.

Some might argue that it is such a small increase for the “median value homeowner” at $12.88 a year. Fine.  Then it shouldn’t be any problem to raise the money from better management practices or voluntary fundraising. That would probably produce better management of the funds.

Here the political advantage of concentrated gain and diffuse pain will likely come into play, to the detriment  of general tax payers. A small group of motivated tax and spend types with a do-gooder proposal — consort, agitate, bamboozle to get a measure on the ballot for a non-general election.

The matter is probably induced by elected officials one way or another. Either they have not shown the competence to find the money elsewhere given the alleged needs, or they are part of the advocacy as it is more convenient for them.

The pain of a small incremental tax increase is insufficient to motivate much opposition to the point of spending the half hour average total travel time to vote.  You see there are only two voting locations for this election.  This later factor should be fodder for trying for an injunction, but for $12.88, who cares??   Don’t expect those guardians of civil rights the local chapter of the ACLU to step up.

Another tax and spend strategy is to load up the obscure crap in the larger bond issues where scrutiny is exceedingly difficult. The voting process requires all or nothing. All usually wins. A touching feel good provision (this particular one could be a mistake) can be reserved for the non-general election particularly if including it in general funding is encumbered for various reasons, legal and political.

This vote is not really about playground or recreational equipment .  The real purpose is more money.  It is that simple.  It is to allow more spending  or easier spending elsewhere. If this was needed it should have been figured into previous budget planning.

Two thugs showed up and dragged a taxpayer into the ally. They voted. Majority rules.

Keep in mind that there is nothing  seriously “voluntary” as regards tax payers about submitting such a tax raising proposal in such a manner.  It is a proposal to impose-mandate-extracate the “giving” from all property owners (and ultimately all residents). It could be that less than 2% of the eligible voters will show up which is the strategy of such plebiscites. However they can backfire and we hope this one does, as residents in the Quad Cities are everywhere taxed enough already.

Not hearing a peep from Scott County Republican leadership

Even the mickey mouse blandishments that comprise much of the Republican Party of Iowa platform includes a plank that is clear enough on the matter of raising taxes via plebiscite.   Item 5 of the State & Local Government section:

We object to any special elections being held to raise taxes. Raising taxes should be voted on only at general elections. We support a five-year moratorium on defeated bond and tax issues before they can be brought up for reconsideration.

Scott County Republicans (SCR) under the tutelage of the Chairman Chairperson Chairwoman Chair removed a similar mutli-year platform rendition of the thought, replacing it with nothing. The SCR platform used to read   (2012 item 2.3) ” . . . All political subdivisions of the state must get the approval of a new fee from their voters in a general election. . . .”  The Scott County Republican platform has so little specification as to be irrelevant as a political document or guide to legislators and voters on matters of immediate concern.

Of course silence and irrelevancy are par for the course for Scott County Republican leadership on such matters. They have made the state platform irrelevant, the local platform and themselves irrelevant. Not so across the river. Reading the Argus-Dispatch we observe that Rock Island Republican Chairman regularly speaking out on local matters. He takes on the Democrats and tax and government spending as they arise representing the county party. Most recently he has spoken out about the county run care facility Hope Creek Nursing Home and advocated for changes to the structure of the County Board.  His predecessor was similarly relevant in her capacity as Chairman.

The two polling places in Bettendorf,  St. John Vianney, 4097 18th St., and Bettendorf City Hall, 1609 State St are open until 8:00 PM.  We oppose the tax increase.

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