tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post3246385780341647237..comments2024-01-15T19:54:05.116-05:00Comments on Nancy At Large: Is the Growth Debate Over?Councilmember Nancy Floreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057395275467496388noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-70527262149310984902008-05-07T16:09:00.000-04:002008-05-07T16:09:00.000-04:00It�s really me! But I�m a bit distracted by the bu...It�s really me! But I�m a bit distracted by the budget right now�.Councilmember Nancy Floreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057395275467496388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-3761124308030971852008-05-07T15:49:00.000-04:002008-05-07T15:49:00.000-04:00I think it's great that you're engaging in this di...I think it's great that you're engaging in this discussion, if it is really you blogging here and not a staff member. Thanks for talking and, hopefully, listening. <BR/><BR/>Sara DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-41891254317559272572008-05-05T15:42:00.000-04:002008-05-05T15:42:00.000-04:00Dear Nancy:How did we get to the point in this Cou...Dear Nancy:<BR/><BR/>How did we get to the point in this County that we spent all of the extra revenue from transfer and recordation taxes from the housing boom? Why is the only option to raise taxes? Why don't we suspend capital improvement projects for two years or until until the housing market recovers? Why don't we look at the budget increases for the last 5 years and see where all the money went, and cut it back? Where is the fiscal responsibility?<BR/><BR/>You would be the most popular person on the Council if you just said no to any tax increase this year. The County spending is so seriously out of control.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01937239862973266999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-26391673471046228532008-04-30T15:10:00.000-04:002008-04-30T15:10:00.000-04:00It seems that we rely too much on transfer, impact...It seems that we rely too much on transfer, impact, and recordation fees to fund our government. Further, they are clearly too low since they do not pay for the infrastructure required to support development. Finally, we know that development cannot at a high rate continue forever - we are running out of land.<BR/><BR/>Ideally, we would fund all routine government programs on taxes that are reliable and predictable, and would use these highly variable ones for unusual costs.<BR/><BR/>Ok, I have no expertise in budgeting or running government, and so I may well be wrong. It goes against common sense, however, to rely on highly variable and unsustainable income sources. <BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work! You are among the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-69361791660387288412008-04-15T12:16:00.000-04:002008-04-15T12:16:00.000-04:00It would seem to me that all the Post was arguing ...It would seem to me that all the Post was arguing was that growth has stopped of its own accord.<BR/><BR/>To be sure, the growth debate is a moot point NOW. Growth will be slow no matter what the council does outside of ruinous taxes to subsidize corporate relocation or other absurd measures.<BR/><BR/>Once the economy recovers and the demand returns for more residential property close in to job centers like Washington, Montgomery, and N.VA, what will Montgomery's response be?<BR/><BR/>The question may be whether we wish to raise the revenue necessary to fund those infrastructure improvements you mentioned during this "down time" or whether we wait for better times. When that happens, however, the growth in residential demand may produce ever greater gaps in needs versus capacity.<BR/><BR/>When the demand returns, we could always opt to refuse to build more housing until we build the infrastructure currently needed by existing homes and businesses. Given the repeated failures to do this in past flush times, it seems unlikely we would restrain devlopment when money isn't as tight.<BR/><BR/>Do we as a county choose to deliberately continue a course of constant catch-up or do we face down one of the two boogey-men at cross purposes: tax hawks and real estate developers.<BR/><BR/>The answer to the question lies in a decision by leadership to take a path of more resistance. A Herculean task in any political situation, I admit.The Athens Projecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086718090292420876noreply@blogger.com