Double Trouble
Last week the County Commission took a step toward readying Jefferson County for what is projected to be our highest debt payment year, with 2016 debt payment figures to top $8 million dollars. In a rather controversial move, Commissioners voted 17-3 to double the wheel tax. Why the wheel tax? Some believe it to be a more fair tax than property tax because around 25% of the households in Jefferson County are rented rather than purchased. While property tax only divides the funding among property owners, the wheel tax has a wider base because a larger portion of residents own an automobile and it spreads out the price of funding our debt.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t love the idea of doling out even more money to the government than I already am. And, frankly, I am less than enthusiastic about the way that our government spends my hard earned money. We are paying for things that I simply would have never put my own money into, like the 2011 energy loan that we will be paying for until around 2023. Sure, it is a relatively small amount in the overall picture but it all adds up. What can I say? I think that water should be free. Before the vote to issue a bond for Building 8 and the County cash contribution to the renovation at JCHS for a total of a little more than $6.7 million dollars, the County debt stood at a little less than $83 million. What is as troubling as the amount of debt is that nearly 75% of it has been added in the last five years. Plainly speaking, we are riding a fast moving train and somebody has to hit the brakes. But, and it’s a big but, there are needs in this County- very real, important needs- that have simply been shoved to the back burner until they have now reached critical. And though it will be unpopular to say so, the schools cannot go five years before receiving money for Capitol Projects (as was voted in the bond motion for Building 8). Five years with no funding will cost the County money. Have we forgotten what happens when we let things go? Roofs collapse, buses must be replaced in mass and costly building programs add to our debt. I also have questions about why we are just now aware of our financial situation but that does not change the today’s reality that we are below broke. Do I like the wheel tax? No. But I have searched for a quick fix-because we need a quick fix-and cannot find one that does not include upping the wheel tax or the property tax or, most likely, both.
There are other ways to raise funds and they certainly deserve a strong look, but we need fast money and we need a bunch of it. There is a bright side to our financial picture. County debt payments drop down nearly $1 million dollars in 2017 and are currently projected to hold steady for several years. If we can dig ourselves out of this hole and we can hold on for a couple of years, we just might be able to instigate a plan to pay off some debt.
Until then, we will all be tightening our belts and reaching into our wallets because, ultimately, the County debt is our debt. For better or worse, for richer or poorer we are married to the County financial picture. I don’t want to pay double for the wheel tax and I understand that some residents still have a bad taste from the original wheel tax origins and extensions. But, remember that this County Commission did not have anything to do with those decisions and, in fact, many could not legally even vote when those decisions were made. This is time for reason. Actually, it is more than five years past the time for reason. Knee jerk decisions brought us to this dance and now we are stuck waltzing with an awkward partner. The wheel tax increase may not be THE way out but it is a step in the direction and we have to start somewhere. Sometimes things just are what they are because we did what we did. Unfortunately, this is one of those times.
