Mark Twain once said “If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it”. Covington city government has a history of disregarding voter’s wishes. This tax measure was defeated about 18 months ago. This “do over” cost the taxpayers about $25,000. It is unnecessary to fund a separate taxing district to provide an essential city service which should be paid out of existing revenue. Covington chooses to not pay for essential services first.
Long term debt service cost taxpayers over 1.2 million dollars annually. Also considering the size of Covington the generous pay and benefits of the bureaucracy eat up a large portion of the budget. This includes about $500 per month into their pensions and the new city manager started at $151,000 pay plus benefits. Landscaping along streets may give covington a different look, but it costs substantially more to build and over $50,000 a year to maintain. In some areas it even causes an unsafe condition for drivers and pedestrians.
Surface water management funds are dedicated for a specific use. City government diverts 6% to the general fund via the utility tax Will they do that to the Transportation Benefits district?
