Public safety is important. So is transparency. Property taxes impact us all: homeowners, businesses, landlords, and renters. Businesses pass on their taxes to customers; landlords pass on their taxes to tenants. So, what’s the plan?
City officials have been asked to provide their plans, including the amount of money required and data and research to support this. However, the Council approved the ballot measure without presenting a single fact, while seeking over $52 million over six years.
Our city leaders need to be clear with voters about how they intend to use our tax dollars. The fact is, the council has been unclear at best. The ballot language is confusing, misleading, and flawed. No plan has been presented to the citizens. And the public presentation included vaguely worded promises for public safety, “including...costs associated with...safer streets, sidewalks, and additional street lighting.”
This ballot measure is poorly written and subject to interpretation. Our council is hiding the facts, refusing to justify its position financially. We should not vote for a tax increase that looks more like a slush fund for the city. Join landlords, renters, conservatives, progressives, and independents, and vote no on this unaccountable, poorly conceived tax grab.
Daniel Martin, Omaha Sternberg, Stephen Lamphear, noburientax@gmail.com
