When Government cries wolf...

It has become a common belief that government at all levels is filled with patronage and wasteful spending. I can tell you that is not universally true. It is probably the least true at the local level.

However, in Massachussetts, the local level is the only one that voters can actually have a direct input. Many communities have either a representative or open town meeting form of government. This allows residents to vote on nearly every decision (especially fiscal decisions) made for their town. While this is the most democratic format for decisions to be made at the local level, it is also the one place that voters can take out thier anger at the waste and patronage they see in the news.

Massachusetts also has a law called Proposition 2 1/2. This law requires that no city/town property tax revenue can be increased by an aggregate value of 2 1/2% in any given year without a ballot question being approved at the voting booth. In theory, this is a great law. It requires local governments to contain expense growth within 2 1/2% or justify a higher amount to the voters (referred to as an "override vote").

Our state government doesn't have that restriction. In fact, just last August the sales tax was increased from 5% to 6.25% without a ballot question. The sales tax was also expanded to cover items that had previously been excluded...no ballot question there either. No, the Governor and Democratic majority in the legislature told us that they had turned every stone and pinched every penny...there was no reform left to do. There was no choice but to raise taxes.

And now, we see just another example of a rock they missed.

One of the secondary consequences of news reports of wasteful governement is that people tend to dismiss any request for increased funds out of hand. This immediate dismissal is felt most at the local level when instances arise that do require an override question to be placed on the ballot. Its unfortunate because many of the people who always vote "no" on overrides are the same people who, like I, favor smaller/local governement over bigger government.

I would much rather pay more taxes to town hall knowing I can influence how its spent instead of sending more money to the state and federal government so they can create 35 departments that serve the same function. Funny how the Senate President is just realizing that...

Senate president: Consolidate economic agencies to save money