Martin_Kaine's Blog

Here is the magic solution to the sewer dept problem as sold to us for $75,000 per month from people who had to be hired because they are smarter than anyone we have running things now. The colossal ignorance of this plan only emphasizes the stupidity of the people who were forced to hire them, having failed to come up with anything better themselves.

Let’s examine each of the four and think it through to its conclusion. 

Use the one cent sales tax excess? What did the 1% sales tax increase do? On paper it generated more revenue. In practice it made the choice to buy groceries in Shelby County a little easier. That is what I do. I work in Pelham to avoid Jefferson County taxes. It is easy to stop for groceries on my way back to The Peoples Republic of Birmingham and dodge those taxes as well. I suspect I am not the only one doing that. 

It also made it harder on businesses. They had to charge more for the same goods you can get in Shelby for less. Why spend a dollar in Birmingham when you can get the same thing in Shelby for ninety eight cents? 

Who does it hurt the most? The people who live and work here for which it makes no sense to drive to Shelby. What about the poor in Birmingham who can’t afford the higher rent in Shelby County? They have no choice but to endure this tax and do as the tax man tells them.

 Sales tax is useless if no one is buying anything. 

In the long run, revenue will actually decrease.  

What will a yearly rate increase of 2.85% do? On paper it will generate more revenue. In practice it will make it more expensive to live and do business here.

 They will have to charge more for the same goods you can get in Shelby for less. Why spend a dollar in Birmingham when you can get the same thing in Shelby for ninety six cents? People and businesses will move away, sort of like they are doing now.

In the long run, revenue will actually decrease.

 What will our having an oversight board do? It will waste more of the taxpayer’s money on over paid bureaucrats that serve no actual purpose other than to eat, drink, play golf, and eventually have a heart attack and die on the toilet.

Those guys are going to do that anyway, there is no need for us to pay them for it.

 In the long run, revenue will decrease.

 Is anyone noticing a pattern here?

 What will taking $10 million from the general fund do? Is this some magic money pile that the high priests of policy stupidity purchased from a traveling dwarf long ago in the olden days of yore?

 No, that is your money. Who do you think will have to replace it? How do you think our local leaders will go about extorting that money from us?

 Higher taxes, that’s how.

 This will make it harder on businesses. They have to charge more for the same goods and services you can get in Shelby for less. Why spend a dollar in Birmingham when you can get the same thing in Shelby for ninety cents? People and businesses will move away, sort of like they are doing now.

 In the long run, revenue will actually decrease.

 These proposed solutions when compounded will only serve to expedite the destruction of a city already in jeopardy.

 Even though I feel I should be paid for this, in the interest of the greater good I am going to give you a plan that makes sense. I am going to do it for free because that is the kind of groovy dude I am.

 First, reduce sales tax by 2%. On paper that will reduce revenue, the opposite of what we need right now. In practice it will make the decision to shop in Birmingham and Jefferson a little bit easier. Why spend a dollar somewhere else if you can get it here for 99 cents? It will help businesses, consumers, and especially the poor, whose shopping options were already limited.

 In the long run, revenue will increase.

 Second, decrease the sewer rate by 1.5% per year for at least the next five years. On paper that will decrease revenue. In practice it makes Birmingham a more attractive place to live, work, and do business. It would also demonstrate a commitment from our leaders to solve problems with real solutions that lead to growth rather than stagnation.

 In the long run revenue will increase.

Third, do not create an oversight board or any other new inefficient bureaucracy to waste our money. Our leaders need to handle this themselves and use that otherwise wasted money to help solve this problem.

 Fourth, cut all unnecessary spending. I don’t expect the criminals to tighten security on themselves but I would suggest a state, possibly even a federal audit of the Jefferson County and Birmingham City books.

 I also think there should be a public website where we the voters can monitor every cent of our money they spend. All financial dealings of the county and city should be made easily accessible for public inspection. They work for us, remember?

 Offer tax breaks and cheap real estate to potential businesses.

Offer tax breaks to first time home buyers in the Birmingham area.

 Lower our property taxes.

 Offer tax breaks to landlords who offer discounts on rent.

 More people equals more business equals more money equals more revenue.

 The basic common sense rule to government is this;

 You tax what you want less of and you subsidize what you want more of.

 If you tax businesses and consumers, you end up with less businesses and consumers. If you subsidize poverty and unprofitable ventures you get more poverty and unprofitable ventures. You don’t have to be an oil change technician to understand these things. Take a look around. The truth will jump right out and kick you in the face if you just half way pay attention.

Bring common sense back to the magic city and the magic will follow it back home.