After pushing for an increase in property tax to fund street repair since 2007, Councilman Mike Pope has suddenly changed his position. Pope now believes assessments are a "more fair" way to pay for the ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF STREET REPAIR he now believes is needed. Judging by his admiring silence at the recent lightly-attended public hearing on the Martin property tax increase, it is clear Mayor Martin agrees with Pope about the need for assessments.
How are assessments more fair? Is it more fair to allow all the Villa Hills residents who live back in Prospect Point and in the Loft Apartments to get a FREE PASS on paying for street repairs despite the fact that literally hundreds of cars stream out of those communities daily?
What about the main traffic arteries in the city? Is it more fair for the folks who live along heavily-travelled Valley Trails to pay all the cost to repair the road that is also frequently used by residents who live on Niewahner, Timberline, Dry Creek and other streets?
What about streets that aren't "dedicated"? People who live on Collins Road, Buttermilk and parts of Amsterdam Road who don't live on "city streets" but live within the boundaries of the city will also get the Pope and Martin FREE PASS.
Pope had been whining for years that the city needs to crack down on people who don't buy their city stickers. Pope criticized what he portrayed a a lack of enforcement by the previous administration and police department. My how times have changed for Mr. Pope.
With the Pope and Martin ASSESSMENT, several areas of the city will become city codified "tax-free" zones. A smaller percentage of the taxpayers will be forced to pay for repairing the streets that are TRAVELLED BY EVERYONE.
Is that Fair, Mr. Pope?
