They Are Not Above Deceitful Tactics

At last Wednesday's (9/16/9) Bay View Business Association meeting, Tony Zielinski stated that the assessed percentage of property taxes for the BID tax was "artificially low". After the BID has been in place for a year, the plan is to escalate to a higher percentage of assessed value.

The present proposed rate is only to get the BID tax enacted. The hidden rationale is, that once the BID tax is in place, the rate can be raised much more easily. The percentage will then be determined by the ten non-elected officials who preside over the BID, with a nod from the Common Council - 80% of whom have never even set foot in the Bay View district.

Increases don't have to be approved by the taxpayers - the BID board of unelected officials is independent of the taxpayers, and can act as it wishes under the auspices of the Common council. Since the money is not from the general treasury, the Common Council is expected to merely wave the request through. Isn't this a perfect example of taxation without representation?

Monday, at a public hearing at City Hall, the City Plan Commission will discuss the proposed BID Tax. The meeting is conveniently at 2 pm - a time when business owners are at their businesses, and people who work are at their jobs.

One hopes that this example of dirty political thuggery will be seen for the money grab it is.