Proposition Authorizing Property Tax Restoration Levy

[karma]

For Fire District 6 on the November 6 general election ballot for staffing, apparatus & facilities of replace the fire station in Salmon Creek and remodel of the station in Felida. The present rate of $1.07 will jump to $1.40 per $ 1,000 assessed valuation.

What a mouth full and one that is hard to swallow when Fire District 6 has the keys to stop the rapid growth but has selected to not use it and now comes to the citizens of this area with hand wide open. What a crock of crap and I'm sorry guys, I want to help but don't ya think it's time to say, 'No' to growth if you need to hike the tax to do business or is it time to join the City of Vancouver?

[Chief]

Let me see if I follow your train of thought on this....

Are you saying that a key to controlling growth ts to limit the ways the Fire Departments can grow to cover the increased need for fire protection??

I suppose that's one way to limit growth, by allowing the growth you don't approve of to burn tho the ground, but that's aking to Mao's curing the Chines of their Opium addictions, by just shooting the addicts...

[Waterbuffalo]

My honest opinion is even if District Six votes up or down on this, that whole area up there is a done deal for annexation and infill. Its just a matter of time.

[karma]

Chief, just like the sewer district if they can't afford to opperate without raising taxes then they should tell the County, 'No' to growth. They have the key to the barn door and don't use it at all. See growth doesn't pay for itself and adds to those taxes we citizens must pay. Agreeing with Buff, it's just a matter of time and if this fails, it's sooner than later we will be headed into the City. But what gets me is the remodeling of they Felida Station and the Re-building of the Salmon Creek one, why? To be truthful the one in Salmon Creek should be moved out of the area it's in, let's get real here!! Personally I think Fire District 6 needs to rethink how they opperate but again it's the same old same old and not looking at the big picture.

[Chief]

Let's be reasonable about this then. I agree that there is a tipping point where the Fire District can be overwhelmed by too much territory to cover, and too few firefighters, and roling stock. I have seen no definitive proof that we are there yet. Just because something is possible, does not make it automatically so.

Show me.

[karma]

Ya know Chief, I guess I'm just tired like all the rest of the folks of being taxed to death. A nickle here, a dime here and why because some CA wants what they had there up here? The reasoning behind some of these agendas isn't whats in the best interest of all the citizens and with the bust about to be lowered it's time to get back to spending that will benefit all or annex us to we all can enjoy the money that a big city will bring.
But then there needs to be some real changes in the small thinking of the little minded city???

[Chief]

Sorry karma, I love ya, and I respect your opinion, but you're all over the board on this one. I'm sorry that things have changed in Felida, and it's too bad that people are not building and developing things in the County the way you want to see them done.

But this childishly over-simplified "Our taxes are just too high" business is used to oppose everything by your side, from expanding Public Safety agencies, to kicking in to create 6,000 new jobs in the community down at the Port of Vancouver. It's a fact that the more people who work and pay taxes in Clark County will spread the load out for the cost of the things we need. No-one who is running as an opposition candidate in the City of Vancouver or the Port has a positive alternative, or a better idea how to the things that are going on right now, they are content to merely throw wrenches into the gears of the Public mechanisms whenever possible, many merely as a way to draw attention to themselves as a means unto itself.

The article in today's paper on Karpinski speaks volumes about how a lot of the loca "activists" are perceived here in Vancouver, and the collective image of Karpinski, Patella, Kortez, et al; is exactly the same way that some in town would try to paint me. The difference is that I will at least try to be reasonable, where there is simply no reasoning with people like Karpinski, Patella, Kortez, et al; or many of their supporters.

I give you big points for coming here and at least expressing your opinions karma; so don't feel bad if you misfire once in a great while. I'm not dogging you about feeling the way you do. God knows I am sick to death of high taxes myself.

I am also sick to death of the misguided, half-hearted, and half baked political campaigns that we see coming from the Stemper, Campbell, and Oliver camps. Tell me truthfully karma....do you believe in your heart of activist hearts, that these guys are the best we can do??

People wonder why we don't hear from Eddie Bennett any more, and I think part of the reason he's gone is his disgust at what suffices for politics in Vancouver this year. There are lots of good ways to keep taxes low karma, and nobody has come up with an effective, credible or believeable replacement for anyone on City Council yet. I am not going to vote to send someone downtown to gum up the works any worse than they are right now. I think I have a growing good relationship with at least 2 guys on City Council, and I am going to throw in behind Larry Smith and Tim Leavitt because I think they are going to listen on some very important issues that are coming up. If I am going to have any chance of effectively influencing some of the things I am going to be asked to pay for, I will certainly vote to elect a Councilman and a Commissioner who will look after those concerns for me. None of the current crop of challengers measures up.

Sorry for straying so far off topic but this is as good of a place as any to make those kinds of general observations about the way I see things...

Stout hearts...

[karma]

Chief, Look it's not just the Fire Dept. but the sewer district and let's add the Sheriff's dept. that have not been kept up with with the adding of more citizens!! The County Commissioners have fallen flat on their own faces by not adding emergency personal with the adding of more and more houses. With that stated growth isn't paying for itself and we are falling further and further behind. Lookie, Portland is looking better with folks moving back and yea folks you can now get your kicker check if you move back. Stay here and ya get nodda!! I'm tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul when money is collected for an area but then it's dirverted to pay for someone's agenda item.

As for the Columbian's article which was so discussing, but again it just shows you the caliber of folks?? Shame on them, I would of declined and ya know it that is what is new for the Columbian, shame on them!!! Don't ya just love the calibor or should I say the mentality of those small thinkers???

As for Eddie, I can't speak for him but I bet he is busy and tired of the same old same olde, nothing has changed.

As for those that are running, it's just so sad that some folks don't have a clue and keep running for why??? But again are they asked to make it that those that are in place are a show in?? Ya know MICKEY MOUSE is good too!?!