"News Flash ... No one likes to pay taxes."

There are nine members of New Albany’s city council, and I find it both instructive and refreshing that one, John Gonder, grasps the utility of the Internet as a means of disseminating information and maintains his own blog.

What is even more amazing than an elected official who writes is that as a member of a local Democratic party which refuses to take a position on anything, CM Gonder actually states opinions as a basis for discussion and – gasp – perhaps even consensus.

There’s bound to be an ordinance against that, seeing as it happens so very seldom hereabouts.

Accordingly, here’s an excerpt from his most recent post, Twitch and Shout.

Another twitch-inducer is the orgiastic pursuit of property tax avoidance by certain elements of our community.

News Flash....No one likes to pay taxes.

But...
No one likes to live in a city saddled with rising costs and shrinking services

No one wants to give up essential services like police and fire

No one wants to live in a city where the first question is often the last question as well ,"how much does it cost?"

No one wants the future of their children circumscribed by the fearfulness and penury of our day

No one should enjoy the harvest of savings in our day, while salting the fields of their day.

The anti-taxers seem unable to grasp the concept of the Civic Compact which states that we will provide a City that meets not only our needs and broadens our horizons but builds the infrastructure to pass that on to future generations.

It is only by happenstance that we live now. We are like pebbles dropped into a river. The anti taxers don't seem to care if the stream dries up after they hit the surface. The only way we can truly value the now is to build for the future, which we won't see. That is the only way we have what we have today. We owe no less to the future. Some see running the city as a business, some see it as tending our small corner of civilization.

A fine statement of principle from a leader who’ll now be pilloried by the community’s opinion regurgitation devices. I can read it now: "You’re toast, Gonder. Signed, anonymous."

NA Shadow Council approaches the anti-tax gurgle from a similar angle. Here’s an excerpt from Combating the Lies:

The loons have it bass ackwards. Investment is what will lower taxes. The ideologues who want to cap property taxes are only trying to shift the burden onto businesses and consumers. The landlords behind all this are asking the legislature to give them a 33.3% tax abatement, preferring their businesses over others. An added penny on the sales tax will put Indiana retailers at a further disadvantage competitively and will drive businesses with options to neighboring states or put them out of business altogether.

As someone with a business that will be paying more property tax than the city’s bountiful crop of slumlords, that’s a powerful statement, indeed, and yet the first reaction of so many in the community continues to be “drown government” and "stop investing in the economy."

But no more today. I must prepare for the next round of white death.

Council meets tonight; here's the agenda, and the Tribune's preview, which helpfully quotes the 3rd district's albatross, Steve Price, as mouthing his tiresome "no" to progress litany. I shan't be there, because I'm pouring beer for the Jeffersonville Main Street chili fundraiser at Kye's (5:30 - 8:30 pm) -- assuming it's a go.

Note also that New Albany's England postpones State of the City address (Tribune).