Even if you couldn’t care less about the city, you have to support NolaStat out of self interest to lower your taxes
Mayoral candidate Rob Couhig is polling whether residents are willing to pay higher taxes, or accept reduced services. There’s an alternative proposed by assessor candidate Janis Lemle: FAIR taxes. If we could stop the patronage system of rewarding political benefactors with more favorable assessments, and get those scofflaws and cheats to pay their fair share, we could start the budget discussion from a position of higher general revenues, thus affording the opportunity to actually lower the average person’s millage. Combine fair assessments with a systematic, regular NolaStat performance management process, and we could see reduced waste, along with an end to annual budget shortfalls that produce underfunded and underperforming city services.
[Originally posted on Facebook]
Thanks for referencing the poll and your alternative answer. As an acknowledged supporter of NOLAStat, I have publically advocated using it throughout government. We can make significant reductions in expenditures through improved efficiencies. Today, however, we operate on a city budget that was inefficient at a population of 420,000 people and is too expensive for a population of 300,000. There must be a redo of the budget to one compatible to the reality of the population and economy. Additional taxes, as reflected in the additional milages, will continue to force people out of New Orleans. I am the only candidate who has unequivocably stated that I am opposed to any increase in taxes. I am committed to making New Oleans more affordable and to have the cost of services be borne in a fair and equitable manner.
The question was designed to elicit discussion on this important topic. Thank you for adding to the conversation.
Happy New Year