When is a tax cut not a tax cut? As good an answer as any would be when it’s worth less than a quarter per annum. That’s the saving this year for the typical county homeowner on their property taxes. Actually, it’s 24 cents. If you’re scoring at home, that’s a decrease of .0016 mills.
If you’re underwhelmed or concerned that the aggregate of saved dollars – about $100,000 – might come out of another publicly-funded program, it’s probably because you just don’t get it. For what it’s worth, neither does Commissioner Kevin White.
As taxpayers, you’re not supposed to notice the asterisk denoting tax “cut” as purely symbolic. Just the big picture – and then properly applaud. “It’s a little bit now, but it’s keeping the momentum going for future boards,” gushed Commissioner Jim Norman. “It shows confidence, it shows leadership, it shows something our citizens can hang on to,” chirped Commissioner Rose Ferlita.
It shows chutzpah — and misplaced priorities.
Commissioner White said it best: “A quarter vs. $100,000 is a no brainer.” He was the only one who didn’t vote for the tax “cut.”