<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have a few questions for anyone out there regarding the
proposed 3% property tax increase the city wants.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>My assessment was just increased by 14%, thus the dollars I
pay to the city will increase 14%?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Is the 3% increase on top of the 14% increase?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If revenues are stagnant, and the state has not increased
support, isn’t it important for the city to admonish the state
legislature over the failure of its tax cuts rather than increase taxes
locally?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Will the city reconsider the pay increases recently
implemented before taking more of my money?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(After all, the only people in this community who have had
generous pay increases in the last four years work for the city!)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Why, given all the construction that has occurred outside of
the </span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Alturas</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Park</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>, have revenues been stagnant? Shouldn’t
growth result in increased revenues? </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Really, I just do not understand why this city is in
puzzling financial straits. My water and sewer bills have increased because
of the failure of the budget process. With several years of stagnant
revenues, the city adopts a compensation system comparable to </span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Spokane</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>. Everywhere I look, new
houses are being built, older homes are extensively remodeled, and new
apartment complexes spring up like dandelions. Yet revenues are stagnant?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>John</span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>