More Tax Ranting!

http://www.insidesocal.com/electioncountdown/2008/11/el-monte-sales-tax-passes.html

So this article tells us what the increased sales tax money goes towards... city infrastructure, police/fire, and emergency reserves.


http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_11927413

And here's an update on El Monte's tax front. Notice how it says, "Since [the increase in tax], plunging sales tax revenues and the increasing cost of employee benefits have produced the large deficit [of over $5 million]." The people in our city council obviously didn't take basic economics. The city wants to raise property tax too to save one of our fire stations. Higher sales tax and higher property tax is seriously going to push people (residents and shoppers alike) out of El Monte, which in turn, means less revenue! But what really irks me is...


http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov/2009/03/woes-in-el-monte.html

It turns out El Monte has the highest annual pension cost out of the 25 cities in the San Gabriel Valley with $12 million for 2007-2008! The next highest is West Covina with $9 million. Now, I'm not the most well-educated in how pensions and the like work, but I believe they have to do with retirement. Hm... it could just be me, but it seems like the fat cats in city hall are trying to stuff themselves! Even is our failing economy! They have already laidoff several police officers and our deficit is already growing larger and larger due to the "plunging sales tax revenues." What El Monte really needs is to cut superfluous spending! (i.e., The city council needs to stop being selfish pigs and start helping the people who voted them into office!). Or better yet! We need to give the council members the boot and bring in fresh faces who can actually fix this mess!