Tax Revenue Priorities

Government

Government is primarily a monopoly utility and service company with a very limited scope of activities. The primary, constitutional, legitimate functions of government include supplying water, sewers, roads, highways and bridges. Utilization by citizens is high

In addition, government provides laws, courts to resolve disputes, police, ambulance service, fire protection and military defense. Utilization by citizens is low.

Government spending on everything else is questionable.

Roads

Grants to States in the form of printed and borrowed “stimulus” dollars have doubled the cost of road construction and repair over the past few years. Strings attached to these grants also require unnecessary engineering and planning costs along with other unnecessary elements. There is a push for public subsidized transit expansion, but private unsubsidized transit is where we need to go.

Asphalt roads need to be maintained to prevent failures in the base layer next to the road bed.   Milling and resurfacing every 25 years is required to prevent deterioration.  If roads are not maintained properly, they cost double to repair. The cost should be $75,000 per lane mile to mill and resurface and $150,000 per lane mile to replace the base, mill and resurface.

Most roads are too narrow to allow government equipment to pass.  Government is using bike lanes as a federal funding mechanism to widen roads.  It would be cheaper to buy narrower government vehicles.

Sidewalks

Government is happy to build sidewalks and then have you, the homeowner pay for their repair later.  Sidewalks encroach on private property.  Easements are not a good deal for homeowners. We need enough for kids to walk or bike to school, but government did away with “neighborhood schools” when they broke up K through 8 elementary schools.

Storm Sewers

Existing storm sewer pipes are corrugated steel that deteriorates in 25 years.  New storm sewer replacement is accomplished with better pipe that will last 100 years.

Lakes & Creeks

Unfortunately, government regards lakes and creeks as easy venues for their storm sewer systems. Lakes need to be dredged every 25 years.  It can cost $30,000.  Governments don’t like to pay for dredging, they like to charge for dredging.

Creeks can require a stream buffer.  This is another EPA abuse of homeowners.  Piping a creek and connecting it to the storm sewer system is better for homeowners.

Dirty Sewers

The sewer line that comes out of your house is separate from the storm sewer system.  It runs to the water treatment plant to remove excrement and garbage. These need to be maintained.

Water Treatment

A septic tank and sand filter systems is a common water treatment system in the exurbs.  Closer to cities, dirty sewer water is piped to a county water treatment plant.  Storm sewer systems also deliver water to treatment plants. Jefferson County Alabama went bankrupt building an over-the-top EPA ordered water treatment plant.

Water Supply

Wells are still in use to give farmers and exurbs their own water supply.  Closer to cities, counties have county water and sell it to homeowners.  The government has responsibility for building reservoirs to ensure an ample supply.

Other Necessities

Electricity is provided by public utilities, but unnecessary government regulations are about to double our electric bills. Natural gas is also provided by public utilities and sold to homeowners.  Food production is being threatened by government actions. 

EPA Overreach

The EPA thinks they can continue to tighten air and water regulations with unnecessary prohibitions and further violate private property rights.  They are basing their regulations on the global warming scam and need to be stopped.    

Bonds

Government entities overuse Bonds to fund projects and this creates unnecessary cost.  A 30 year Bond, paying 5% doubles the cost of whatever you build.  It acts like a mortgage.  Government should set up accrual accounts to fund projects rather than imposing interest costs to the taxpayers.         

Easements

This is your land being given to government by property developers.  These should be marked on the Plat for your lot.  In many cases the easements are far larger than government will ever need to widen a road and you are not paid when easements are taken by government.  You get to pay the taxes on easement property, so utilities can use it and government can take it.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader