Lake Oswego businesses and residences will see an increase in utility franchise fees for Northwest natural gas, Allied waste of Lake Oswego and Portland General Electric under a one-year plan approved by the city Council this week which is expected to generate about $807,000.
The increases which will take effect in January and August will increase the homeowners amount to about five dollars per month [$60 per year] which should help divert $2 million in city revenue to public schools.
"Councilor Bill Tierney, who supported the proposal, said "it's the cleanest way of providing support for the schools."
Lake Oswego city counselors voted 4-3 to approve the fees.
the thing that really gets me angry is that they probably said to themselves, "it's just five dollars a month... anybody can afford that!"
the Eugene city income tax "bombed" big time sending a message to deaf ears that while we support the schools, we also do not have any money to spare.
the sad thing about all of this, is that the money is there, it has just been "budget" for other nonessential items.
Like the EmX bus, or the money required to be diverted for art projects, etc..
Like I have said many times before, "right pocket... left pocket... it's all the same pair of pants"
Meaning... you have to pick what is more important to you.
Do you want to send your kids to schools or have a fancy new bus system or in Portland's case light rail?
but you can't have both.
You decide
1 comment:
There are some really suicidal folks on LOCC. First the streetcar, now a stealth tax snuck in through the back door.
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