Promising To Make The Tough Decisions?
How many times have you heard elected officials talking proudly about their ability to make the so-called "tough decisions?" As we growled yesterday, such officials don’t sit on the Alexandria City Council, nor do they sit on the Arlington County Board. That’s apparent from a decision made at the County Board’s meeting on Saturday, December 13 (agenda item #38, and attachment). As the Arlington Sun-Gazette reported yesterday:
“County Board members want permission from the General Assembly for localities to increase the state sales tax by a half-percent to make up for revenue shortfalls.
“The proposal was added by board members to their legislative package, which will be distributed to the six members of the Arlington delegation to the General Assembly. The legislature convenes in January for what is expected to be a six-week session.
“Giving local governments the ability to increase the sales tax would “minimize the potential burdens passed on to homeowners through increased real property taxes,” according to the county government’s legislative wish list.”
Although the Sun-Gazette writes the chances of approval of such a move by the General Assembly are “near nil,” the Board's inclusion of the proposal is merely to prove the veracity of Thomas Sowell in writing, “Today, reality is optional. At the very least, it can be postponed.” Rather than make the so-called tough decisions to cut spending, they prefer raising out taxes. So much for their ability to make the tough decisions.