Republicans Raising Taxes, DMV Style
Let me start by saying I believe taxes are an investment in the future. They fund infrastructure, they pay into accounts (like Social Security), and can be a huge lever that everyone helps with to do things we just can’t do on our own.
That said, I have a problem with the county GOP proclaiming they “held the line on taxes”, etc., while meanwhile raising taxes fees at the DMV. It’s just plain sneaky, and the hypocrisy really bugs me. Tom Hasman, Dem running for Monroe County Clerk, made this interesting observation at a recent press conference, about the DMV fee hike that was one of the key parts of the now discredited (and apparently, illegal) FAIR plan:
This fee will cost Monroe county taxpayers $3.5 million a year. I know that the legislature and the county executive are scrambling to figure out how to solve our county’s budget problems in the wake of the failed FAIR plan. By now, we have all heard that the County lost its court battle and will have to repay the $29 million wrongfully taken from the schools. The vehicle fee that was passed without discussion as part of the FAIR plan now appears hidden on the vehicle registration renewal as a “2 Year Use Tax.” The $29 million owed to the schools must come from somewhere and my fear is that the Clerk’s office will once again be used to help the county with their financial problems.
That the county GOP is using sneaky, creative accounting to balance their books (sort of), is annoying enough. That the current county clerk was a willing participant in it is really disappointing.
Since they can’t pass their financial mismanagement off to the schools, I guess they’re going to rely on us. But the Maggie Brooks household will still be making big bucks, and don’t forget about the county cars!
Related posts:
the counties cried poor to the state, as they do. all counties had the option of having the state dmv collect this tax and send it back, no questions asked. only 2 counties thought this was a prudent move. hmmmm……
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