When will C.R. return to responsible spending?

Despite changes in mayors and City Council members, many voters' concern over excessive spending and taxation still fell on deaf ears. Efforts toward flood recovery were readily supported, but it became obvious that major spending would again focus on downtown with some additional frivolous spending. Street repair was shortchanged again.

Rather than restore useful buildings, new construction was proposed, some of it still in the flood plain. Property taxes (amount, not the rate) increased with no guilt about the effect on people with fixed incomes. However, if you happen to be a wealthy investor, willing to join with other elite investors downtown, you can be assured of being subsidized with taxpayer money through a multiyear tax abatement. Restoring or replacing is never good enough. Instead of settling for a new library with basic services, all kinds of bells and whistles were added to drive up the cost.

Will responsible spending ever return to our city government?

Ronald Boyer

Cedar Rapids