What am I?
That question comes to mind now and again when I think about my views on social and political matters.
I’ve a friend, so to speak, who emails often to keep me abreast of economic and political occurrences — ones that usually support his contentions. Sometimes I agree with his positions, sometimes not.
He, with little doubt, is conservative; I think of myself as conservative as well — to a point. If being compassionate and caring about others moves me to liberalism, I’d have to admit as much. Wife Beverly is much the reason I’ve come to embrace the social grace of helping others. She gives people rides who appear put upon by having to walk; she once gave her umbrella to a woman walking in the rain who declined a ride; and she isn’t a bit reluctant to hand a few dollars to someone who claims to need help.
Maybe, too, I’ve mellowed. Time was I’d drive by a person sitting by the roadside with a sign telling of distress and asking assistance. Now, I hardly ever do. I always seem to have a $5 bill just begging to help them. Many are gaming the system, friends say. I don’t care, I think I give for the right reasons.
Then we — friend conservative and I — come to taxes. I don’t relish the opportunity to pay taxes, particularly the big bites that come on income. However, it is an obligation I accept without undue grousing.
We disagree on income taxes. I’m convinced that the Legislature and Gov. Brownback erred in thinking trickle-down economics would work with a huge cut on income assessments. Perhaps in a more robust economy the strategy might have found traction, but so far it has proven an abject failure.
I would be delighted if the money left in the pockets of the wealthy — that’s where most of it resides from the cuts — led to substantial expansion of business and industry. So far there is meager evidence.
Locally, property taxes have been held in check reasonably well, this year because of the windfall from Enbridge’s Flanagan South project — pipeline and massive pumping station — being subject to taxation. School districts also are limited with what they can assess, with a flat 20 mills supporting most of state aid, and only capital outlay and local option budget funds having local influence to float. It should be noted USD 257’s total levy is 20 to 25 mills less than before most school funding arrived through state aid in the early 1990s.
My friend made a point the other day that should be given a look. He recalled Allen County squirreled away revenue for several years prior to building (old) Allen County Hospital, now being razed, in the early 1950s. That gave a leg up on financing.
He wondered if something similar might be done in USD 257, with some urgency eventually to expand and remodel or build anew.
The avenue would seem to be the capital outlay fund. Concern is, the district depends heavily on the fund to deal with annual expenses, some extraordinary and some that otherwise would be left unmet.
The obstacle — one that drains capital outlay coffers — is that USD 257 buildings and their support systems are aging and, as it is with an old house, require attention that often is expensive.