[MLUG - DISCUSSION] local ballot issues [Local Politics]

[Jonathan King <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

So I just saw that results of the election today in Columbia.  Kind of
a puzzler...

# Columbia Proposition 1
# -Extends 1/8 cent sales tax for parks for five years
# Yes 7407
# No 6528

OK, so we like parks, more or less.

# Columbia Proposition 2
# -Extends 1/8 cent sales tax for ice rink/multipurpose building for two years
# Yes 6095
# No 7836

So I thought this was an odd proposal, but I did kind of expect it to pass.

# Columbia Proposition 3
# -Extends 1/4 cent sales tax for public safety for three years
# Yes 8910
# No 4998

Proposition 3 looked like (to me) a classic boondoggle if I ever saw one.

# Columbia Proposition 4
# -Extends 1/4 cent sales tax for streets and sidewalks for seven years
# Yes 7013
# No 6886

That this almost went down just amazes me.  Does anybody really think
the infrastructure fairy is going to wave a magic wand and give us
better roads and sidewalks where we really need them?  But what's
worse is this:

# Columbia Proposition 5
# -Adds a 1/8 cent sales tax for streets and sidewalks for 10 years
# Yes 5434
# No 8472

Obviously, this went down because it was a proposed tax increase, and
no other reason.  That said, since almost nobody is happy with the
current road/sidewalks situation in town, I'm still trying to figure
out where people think the money will come from.  It's evidently not
legal for the city or county to try and tax gasoline, so what other
revenue source do people think will suddenly appear?  Meanwhile:

# Columbia Proposition 6
# -Raises development charge for new construction from 10 cents to 50
cents per square foot
# Yes 8816
# No 5039

Ooh!  Ooh!  Let's get the developers to pay for it!  That's not a tax
or anything, right?  Geesh.  I think you could make a reasonable case
for raising these fees, but anybody who thinks this will obviate the
need for more spending on roads is fooling themselves.  Like it or
not, Columbia is now really close to the tipping point on traffic.  I
was forced to run an errand betwen the campus today and Gerbes on
Broadway today at 4:30.  That took just about an hour, including all
of five minutes inside the store.  (Yes, I was stupid enough to think
it would be faster driving than taking my bike.)  I was figuring this
would take half an hour, tops.  This could the beginning of something
really awful...

jking

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