Letter: We need to cut costs, not spend more

To the editor: Only government bureaucrats who have made a career of spending other people’s money could be so ignorant as to how to run an efficient operation and minimize cost to shareholders, aka: taxpayers. The proposal to maximize tax levies simply because “we can” is unconscionable. Local unemployment is still over 6 percent, housing values have not returned to pre-recession values, and the average taxpayer income of $29,000 is far less than the average local government school employee income of $42,000. Let’s not forget that 75 percent to 80 percent of all local taxes go to pay salaries and benefits of government employees. The tired government bureaucrat justification of “it’s for the children” is only about 20 percent accurate. Government bureaucrats need to remember that every increase in spending is a pay cut for the taxpayers whether that money comes from the local tax levy or the state coffers. We should be looking to cut spending every year, not increase it. Now, about the dog and pony show that they like to call the public meetings. Taxpayers need to be sure to turn out in droves to vote against the proposed budget because, as in the past, the government bureaucrats will all show up voting to ensure their cushy jobs loaded with fringe benefits like deluxe health care and lavish pensions. Jim Tobin, Shawano