Here we go again.
In an edit titled “Cops Come First,” the local Knight Ridder outlet today begins pushing the case that the city of Charlotte will have to raise property taxes to afford more beat cops. We heard the same “back to basics” theme last year when the city hiked business privilege taxes and sewer rates while continuing to fund millions in non-core activities. But it is impossible to claim that you must raise taxes “for the basics” if you still spend money on the fluff.
An example:
You are going to the store to buy dinner. You have a $20 bill and a credit card. You want to keep the total to under $20 and not use the credit card if possible. Got that?
Steaks are $15, salad fixins $3 and you are out the door for under $20.
Here’s how the city of Charlotte and its cheerleaders down at the Observer would shop. The steaks, the salad, a five-pound bag of Snickers, and a case of Sundrop — all on the credit card. Asked why: “We had to put dinner on the credit card, the steaks are so expensive.”
I really can’t make it any simpler than that. Either Charlotte city council finds the guts to zero-out entire line items, or the city will be raising taxes to pay for Snickers and Sundrop.
