commentary

The Corradino group is subcontracting out the numbers on annexation to a group that did the numbers for annexation 4-5 years ago. Who is this subcontractor? Do they have any ties to the City? Do you think the value of the properties in the areas proposed to be annexed are decreasing like the property values in the Springs? Springs property values decreased 28.3 % in the past year, and are still dropping. More unemployment leads to more foreclosures, which leads to more properties on the market and a decrease in their values. Real estate people believe (hope?) that values will bottom out sometime this year but nobody can be sure of that. As property values drop, so goes property taxes, and revenues coming into the City. Sales taxes are also down because people arent buying as much and conserving their capital, a logical response to the recession. Why isnt the Council and Mayor doing the same thing? Gas taxes are also down. How many negative indicators will it take before our Mayor and Council smaell the coffee? WAKE UP! It has taken the City Manager 14 months after the recession started to realize this - how much longer will it be before the Mayor and Council have it sink in? EVER? Or do they just plan to raise our taxes and fees some more to make up for the shortfalls?