Letter to the Editor: No on Prop 1

To the Editor:

Shoreline Proposition 1 is a bond issue for One Hundred and Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand dollars of taxpayer obligation. The official city statement is that the owner of a “median” valued home would pay $244.00 a year, but the median home in Richmond Beach is $713,000.00 and the cost would be close to $400.00 a year - now we’re starting to talk about real money!

The officials have hit on a new technique to pry money from the taxpayers. Fund the normal, boring expenses in the city budget and then put things that appeal to taxpayers on the ballot, and go for the big bucks so they won’t have to go back to the pesky taxpayers. So we vote for Yes on Shoreline Schools, yes on Sidewalks and now Pool, Parks and Recreation because they are good things. We probably want what’s offered in Prop 1, in which case the city can fund it. Our property tax is up 34% in 6 years and at our home, “Tax Fatigue” is setting in. Is this bond the only way to get a pool, etc?  No, pressure the City Council to fund it. After all, that's their job, isn't it?

Richard Shilling

Shoreline