By Samuel Strait – Reporter at Large – October 22, 2022 With November's election date rapidly approaching, seventeen days for the City and County's spin machine to howl every chance they get about the potential loss of funding from a sales tax increase repeal that was generously granted to them by local voters in 2020. For those voting in November, they should remember the promised assurances that "no wages or benefits" would be paid for by either measure in the run up to both Measure passing, and vote accordingly. We simply cannot have our elected representatives lying to the public in order to gain passage of a tax increase no matter what the perceived benefit may or may not be. Infrastructure repairs should have been on the calendar for both governments long before the current conditions were high lighted by the recent assessment of streets and roads. The dismal performance of our City and County leadership should not be rewarded with a "blank check". Growing government by hiring additional employees does not lead to better government. Historically once government reaches the threshold of being financially unsustainable for forty to fifty percent of those that are served, government has become dysfunctional. We, in Del Norte County are at that threshold. Both governments are long past the ability in their current form to correct infrastructure deficiencies that exist, no matter how much money is thrown at the problem. A considerable reduction in services at both levels of government is the only way for success going forward. The City's stated goal of hiring three fire captains to replace the duties of one individual will only end in the complete disintegration of the volunteer nature of local fire departments rapidly converting them into financially unsustainable entities. No one in there right mind as a volunteer would elect to be considered appreciated while performing the same exact tasks as a paid employee. Roads and infrastructure will never become a necessary priority for the County or the City, as long as wages and salaries for a growing and generously compensated work force which never "measures up" to the demands placed upon them without yet more employees being hired is the road forward. That burden of an ever increasing payroll will constantly stand in the way of any serious maintenance as it has for years and it will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. The City, in particular, is on a path for considerable future expense by burdening the City with a five year plan that has no built in plan to fund its up keep beyond the day construction is complete. Ill thought future planning is the hallmark of a runaway dysfunctional government and both the City and the County have exceeded all expectation. Any thought that by the current bleatings of both that devastation will occur if the sales taxes are reduced is pure theater. Neither government will keep their promises whether or not the funding is kept or repealed. One thing that can be assured is that neither government is fully functional and the measure taken by the expenditures of the sales tax revenue will not make them so. Neither have the ability to fund the current direction of how the money is spent without shortly asking the voters for yet more money. New hires, and limited public works will quickly outstrip the ability of the City and County to fund years of deferred maintenance in any measurable way. New hires at law enforcement, fire, and emergency services has not made service to the community better, and has the strong possibility it will degrade substantially in the future. Until both government recognize the need for stream lining services and creating a functional path forward for infrastructure repair nothing will change. The dependence on government to fix anything or produce sustainable public edifices is a bridge too far. Giving additional funding to the County and City without end is the continuance of what has gone on before without success. Both governments were surviving before their receipt of the additional sales tax funding and would continue to survive if it is removed. Granted they will have to change some of their planning, which will not result in catastrophe and will benefit many more in the County by allowing them more money to live on. The idea that it is such a stretch for both governments to economize, and be mindful of those that they represent shouldn't be such a challenge. Unfortunately, both the City and County as well as those that support this legalized theft, have no compassion for those that cannot afford to pay for the "grand design" that is being operated from within local governments. Vote YES on Measures U and T to lower sales tax in Del Norte County. YES to lower taxes.