I just really worry about seniors on a fixed income who are already scraping to hang on to their homes in the face of rising property taxes along side the increasing costs of everything else too. It’s really hard on them, and they are mostly long time city residents who would have a tragically difficult time if they finally reached the point where they get taxed out and have to leave, giving up not just the home they planned to spend their lives in, but friends, family, community. It’s just one more blow to their efforts to hang on. I’m not in favor of a property tax increase unless they offset it somehow for long time senior homeowners, maybe by increasing the Homestead Exemption or something similar.
That is one of my main concerns. I don't see enough of the councilors mentioning it. Some are thinking more about future councils than current residents. David Fridland seems to be the one most focused on the cost to the residents.
Maybe we should all make it clear to them that we will mount a very boisterous opposition to any ballot measure seeking a property tax increase unless it includes an offset or exemption for long time senior residents.
Karen, excellent summary of the City Council Workshop! It's a very difficult decision to make for any resident as you can see from stanik22 misunderstanding of the Service Center project. It's just as difficult for the Council who I believe are all acting in good faith. Let's see where the chips fall. This is really a high stakes poker game with a 20 or 22 year payout. I'll be long gone before its paid off, just saying :)
There are still many questions that need to be answered, and are not as far as I can tell. What are the needs that make the initiatives relevant to the public? Why do we need a new service center instead of remodeling the old one? Is there a space problem? Or a problem in the use of current available technologies in the current service center? Is this a response to an anticipated future demand for public services? What I am saying is that we need to have a better explanation of why we need a new service center as opposed to the old one. Why can't we just fix up the older one? Similar questions regarding the other properties. As I recall there was some limited explanation of these concerns, but the public needs more detail to make a proper decision. I am not saying the City Council is NOT right about any of these new building considerations, but if the Council is serious about public input, then we need more facts first. By the way, Karen Norback, thanks for all your research and writing as it is a good start to the conversation here. I think people should support your work.
OK. So let's start with your statement that part of this is to build a new service center. I am going to pick on you a bit and say, are you not reading my reports? 🤣 There has never been ANY discussion at all about building a new service center. Everything I have written says remodel and expand the service center. They ARE asking to "just fix up the older one." Even in the report you are commenting on, at the very top, it says:
"It began with three potential projects: a remodel and expansion of the Bob Burger Recreation Center, an expansion and remodel of the Service Center, and a new Civic Center."
We have a service center that was built in 1973. I covered it here and I link to this report every time I mention it.
Thanks for your kind words, I appreciate them. I see from your comments, though, that despite all the time and effort I have put into covering this topic, even someone like you, who really seems to be paying attention, is still not understanding the details. The city has work to do.
I toured the service center along with the council in October last year, and I can tell you out of all this, that is the project that is in dire need of doing. It's in terrible condition. Really bad.
I just really worry about seniors on a fixed income who are already scraping to hang on to their homes in the face of rising property taxes along side the increasing costs of everything else too. It’s really hard on them, and they are mostly long time city residents who would have a tragically difficult time if they finally reached the point where they get taxed out and have to leave, giving up not just the home they planned to spend their lives in, but friends, family, community. It’s just one more blow to their efforts to hang on. I’m not in favor of a property tax increase unless they offset it somehow for long time senior homeowners, maybe by increasing the Homestead Exemption or something similar.
That is one of my main concerns. I don't see enough of the councilors mentioning it. Some are thinking more about future councils than current residents. David Fridland seems to be the one most focused on the cost to the residents.
Maybe we should all make it clear to them that we will mount a very boisterous opposition to any ballot measure seeking a property tax increase unless it includes an offset or exemption for long time senior residents.
I encourage people to contact the council with their concerns, which is why I included all the available ways to do so.
What they do on Tuesday finally sets this process in motion as they decide on which package to move forward to the ballot.
Karen, excellent summary of the City Council Workshop! It's a very difficult decision to make for any resident as you can see from stanik22 misunderstanding of the Service Center project. It's just as difficult for the Council who I believe are all acting in good faith. Let's see where the chips fall. This is really a high stakes poker game with a 20 or 22 year payout. I'll be long gone before its paid off, just saying :)
Thanks! I listened to the council comments again as I was writing this so I could capture what they said.
I hear ya on the long term, I am saying I will be paying for this for the rest of my life if it passes.
There are still many questions that need to be answered, and are not as far as I can tell. What are the needs that make the initiatives relevant to the public? Why do we need a new service center instead of remodeling the old one? Is there a space problem? Or a problem in the use of current available technologies in the current service center? Is this a response to an anticipated future demand for public services? What I am saying is that we need to have a better explanation of why we need a new service center as opposed to the old one. Why can't we just fix up the older one? Similar questions regarding the other properties. As I recall there was some limited explanation of these concerns, but the public needs more detail to make a proper decision. I am not saying the City Council is NOT right about any of these new building considerations, but if the Council is serious about public input, then we need more facts first. By the way, Karen Norback, thanks for all your research and writing as it is a good start to the conversation here. I think people should support your work.
OK. So let's start with your statement that part of this is to build a new service center. I am going to pick on you a bit and say, are you not reading my reports? 🤣 There has never been ANY discussion at all about building a new service center. Everything I have written says remodel and expand the service center. They ARE asking to "just fix up the older one." Even in the report you are commenting on, at the very top, it says:
"It began with three potential projects: a remodel and expansion of the Bob Burger Recreation Center, an expansion and remodel of the Service Center, and a new Civic Center."
We have a service center that was built in 1973. I covered it here and I link to this report every time I mention it.
https://apoliticalhobbyistinlafayetteco.substack.com/p/potential-project-1-parks-and-public?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks for your kind words, I appreciate them. I see from your comments, though, that despite all the time and effort I have put into covering this topic, even someone like you, who really seems to be paying attention, is still not understanding the details. The city has work to do.
I toured the service center along with the council in October last year, and I can tell you out of all this, that is the project that is in dire need of doing. It's in terrible condition. Really bad.
Here's the city's webpage about these projects:
https://lafayette-listens.com/capital-bond
Thanks, Karen, and I will look this all over more carefully.
You are welcome! I am all about getting the correct info to folks.