Jeff & Konnor's Blog

Here in the unincorporated part of the county, the police are funded by a percentage of property taxes and state sales taxes. This year, because of a decrease in sales tax revenue, that fund has come up $13 million short. The county's solution to this is to bill us directly for police services -- here's our bill for $174. This is an absolute outrage. If the formula used to fund police services comes up short, then change the formula, and get the money from some non-essential service. Protection of citizens is the most basic function of government. Our property taxes went up almost 20% this year. We pay our 5% state income tax, and our 6.85% sales tax. Police services are arguably the first thing that should be funded by all that money. Instead, we pay our fair share of taxes, and then get a bill for police services on top of that. We will be paying it only because the bill comes with a nice threat about placing a lien on your home.