Originally Posted by l2ridehd (Post 614237)

Whitestone Bridge in NY, toll is $6.50 in each direction. Original toll was put in place for bridge upkeep. Now the tax payers pay for all bridge maintenance as the tolls are used 100% to pay toll taker wagers and retirement. NY Times did an expose on this in 2004. Toll takers all refuse overtime when a co-worker is working his or her final year so that the retiring worker gets all the possible overtime. Their contract for retirement pay is based at 80% of their final year salary plus any overtime. So during that last year they work all available OT to raise the retirement pay to 175% of final base pay. They have finally started to resolve the problem with EZ pass lanes (2005).

Originally Posted by BobnBev (Post 614350)

Who gives a rats patootie what they do in New York.:blahblahblah::duck:

Originally Posted by Cedwards38 (Post 613945)

Most of the time I just keep my mouth shut and read. Occasionally I chime in with some observation about a topic in this forum. But honestly, as one who spent 30 years in a public service career, I take a little offense at your statement about "wasteful bureaucrats" and feel compelled to respond. I guess I am one of those wasteful bureaucrats of which you speak. I spent a career as a public school teacher, elementary school principal, and a a statewide education department. I don't recall trying to waste your money, nor did I ever.......ever come in contact with someone else whose goal was to do that. We always tried to provide good service to the public, most of the time with meager budgets.

Yes, people want good roads, street lights, public buildings, parks, police and fire protection, armies, sanitation, health standards, etc, that government provides. They just don't seem to want to pay for it. You tell me friend, in increasing populations, with increasing public and social demands, and increasing inflation, how government budgets are supposed to continue to provide service, but at the same time be cut. It's simple arithmetic. It doesn't work that way.

You state, "They will always waste it." What? Are you serious? Remember that the next time you cash a social security check, take advantage of Medicare, vacation at a state or national park, drive on a paved four lane, or see a service man walking down the street. Remember that when you see school buses taking children to learn and back home and providing them with a hot meal and supervision all day long. Remember that when you see bridges, overpasses, hydroelectric dams, public utilities, road signs, and public universities. Remember that when you see firemen and policemen risking their lives to protect us all. Remember that when you think about this country and all the dedicated and honorable public service employees who make it run every day.

Has government ever wasted a buck? You bet, every day. And so has everyone else, including major industrial corporations, and every small business owner who ever made a payroll in every hamlet in America. They waste too, but they don't call it taxes, they call it prices and pass it on to the consumer. I'm not complaining. Thats just the way it is. You spend to grow and show progress, except in the private sector its called research and development and innovation and in the public sector its called waste.

Just stop it. Stop the government bashing. Stop the anti-tax nonsense. Do I want an impact fee in Sumter? Not particularly, but if they create one, I'll try to be constructive in seeing that it works for me too, and when it does I'll appreciate it.

Originally Posted by BobnBev (Post 614350)

Who gives a rats patootie what they do in New York.:blahblahblah::duck:

Originally Posted by skyguy79 (Post 614454)

I too have a history of public service with 34 years of it. I would agree with you if the poster was using the term of bureaucrat to mean those in positions like yours and mine. I might be reading it wrong, but I believe the term bureaucrat was being used to describe those that determine just how much of the taxpayers dollars will be taken from them and where they're being distributed to, and those decisions are being made by the politicians, not us rank-in-file employees who do work hard for modest rewards... at least modest in comparison to those decision making politicians! As such I take no offense from the remarks you reacted to!

Originally Posted by BobnBev (Post 614350)

Who gives a rats patootie what they do in New York.:blahblahblah::duck:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 613973)

I think the Sumter County Commissioners do a good job keeping our taxes low and providing services.
Impact fees should not be used for building a performing arts center.
You don't belive that Mickelson pays 60% in taxes.........really!

Originally Posted by shcisamax (Post 614405)

I called the tax department the other day and they mentioned the Fire Tax but I assumed it was a long standing and perpetual fee. From the OP, should I assume it was a one time fee?

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 614712)

Shcisamax: The Impact fee was one time at the house closing. What is on the yearly tax bill and called "fire tax" is likely to be there every year. Let me restate that.......it is perpetual. If I did, didn't mean to mislead you or others.

Originally Posted by rjm1cc (Post 614460)

Seems that if there is a need for something then a group of investors should get together and build it. I see no reason to tax everyone for a project that would not benefit all.