Rick writes:
Are you proposing a corresponding reduction in our property taxes which pay for this service now. There is no free lunch. What you propose will give the less than honest politicans and union bosses the ability to spend another 55 million and next year we will hear that we need to increase the rates because there isn’t enough money. I do not believe that business trash collection is included in the property tax and maybe that could be the topic of conversation. Making the type of comparisons you make does not look at the overall tax structure of the other cities and is out of context. Until such time as the city controls its spending, I do not believe the voters will increase any tax.
Rick: I’m a city taxpayer, just like you. So taxpayer to taxpayer, yes there has been a culture of corruption at City Hall for decades, but our workers are not to blame. We took a pay cut the past two years to help the city out.
I agree the voters are still skeptical about city officials’ ability to spend wisely. Look at the out-of-control spending: Charger ticket guarantee, Petco Park, Convention Center expansion, overtime pay for Super Bowls, sweetheart deals to developers (Naval Training Center), sweetheart real estate deals.
Union-represented employees are only a part of the workers being paid to do city work by taxpayers. Taxpayers also foot the bill for high-paid bureaucrats and talking heads, private contractors, consultants and redevelopment agencies.