The way I heard the ruling that this topic has morphed into ....and KK will love this ....is that when campaigning lies are acceptable.....when elected they are not. Sweet, isn't it? No one really expected to be able to discover the truth PRIOR to electing someone did they?

On the original topic.....it's the BUDGET that drives taxes....the initiative restricted the budget growth (not counting people-imposed levies, bonds, and lid lifts....also new constuction) to a one percent increase over the previous year. It doesn't matter worth a crap WHAT your property is valued at, as that figure is multiplied by a levy rate (old term was mil rate) to generate the amount needed to supply the budget. Here's an example: If everyone's property was valued at half of what it is worth, then the levy rate would just double to make the same amount. The key to value-based taxing systems (also called ad valorem) is equity, that is, are houses that are similar to each other valued the same? The problem with ad valorem taxing systems is that there is no allowance for ability to pay.....unless you are old and poor. It's kind of like the government's MO is to tax people into the poor house and then put them on a program.

One of the wasteful things that get my goat is the "spend it or lose it" policy of budget requests by departments. There is no "Here. We didn't need all that money, so put this back in the General Fund."

One more thing that really irks me is that some people (exempted seniors, for example) who don't have to pay for certain taxes, still get to vote on them. (There's a little hint in there for all you "simple majority" types.)