Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister was discouraged to hear Metro Councilman Matt Watson propose a dedicated tax for police pay raises and then declare, “There is no other way to find the money” to pay Baton Rouge law enforcement officers more.
“If that is his attitude and understanding of government finances, he should resign immediately,” McCollister writes in his latest column. “Watson needs to talk to those with much more experience, those more creative and smarter than he is. And I was surprised to see a veteran like councilman Buddy Amoroso jump on the tax bandwagon and say, ‘It’s hard to go against public safety. Right now, I think we’re getting close to a crisis with not being able to attract good policemen.’”
We all are concerned about public safety and crime stats, McCollister says. But if our elected officials truly believe public safety is a priority, he says they should fund it before asking citizens to pay a new tax.
Experts in government tell McCollister that at least 10% to 20% can be saved in any city budget. For Baton Rouge, that would mean $30 million to $60 million of the city’s general fund, he says, noting Watson’s proposed tax would generate $15 million.
“One of the experts also noted that public safety departments are often the most poorly run and least efficient when it comes to finances because they don’t have to be efficient. Who is going to oppose the police department?” McCollister writes, adding that the police and politicians are aware of public sentiment. “We can support police and safety, but we can also support reform and good financial management by all. And it’s the job of the mayor, chief of police, finance director and Metro Council to get it done. I don’t think Mr. Watson and others can declare that has happened. I suspect they are accepting what they are told and expecting taxpayers to believe it as well. Do you? I don’t.”
The public is tiring of taxes, McCollister says. Citizens are already paying dedicated taxes for the Capital Area Transit System and the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging, and the Metro Council recently considered a dedicated tax for roads that ultimately failed.
There are ways to save money, says McCollister.
“As I proposed before, Meals on Wheels could be handled by St. Vincent de Paul more efficiently and either save money or serve more,” he writes of just one example. “Isn’t that the goal?”
A government should consider all options before they try to take the easy route and propose a new tax, McCollister says.
“Our old ways are going to break the bank,” he writes. “I think we should all make it clear to the folks we elected: We aren’t going to bail you out and pick up the tab. Go back to square one, think different—and just do your job.”
Read the full column. Send your comments to editor@businessreport.com.
