The Exponent - opinions


09-29-2004	Previous edition: 09-28-2004

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Property taxes must rise

Property taxes need to in go up.

Although cuts proposed by West Lafayette City Council member Matt Plomin, R—District 1, may help to offset rising property taxes — the budget plan includes a near-maximum property tax increase of 4.9 percent — further cutting of budget funds would be of no help to West Lafayette.

The West Lafayette City Council voted in favor of the present budget that includes Mayor Jan Mills’ amendment, which drops the originally proposed 17 percent spending increase down to 4.3 percent

Despite Mills’ amendments, Plomin motioned for a $200,000 cut from a majority of the city’s departments. The cuts wouldn’t be beneficial for the simple reason that the city lacks the ability to significantly grow in population, and it needs to bring in more funds to provide services rather than receive less money from more residents.

The city is in dire need of funds because of a $1 million West Lafayette Community School Corp. deficit projected in 2006 and potential for the shortfall to reach $2 million by 2007. Drastic measures — teacher cuts, increased classroom size or cutting of sports programs — have already been dismissed leaving only a few possibilities to boost funding. These possibilities are to receive state aid, which is highly unlikely for schools with decreasing enrollment numbers, or to get more money from property taxes — a place from which funds have lacked in the past.

While cutting services and lowering property taxes would provide a quick fix by luring in homeowners, it is not the long-term answer. This is because West Lafayette can only do so much "luring" of new residents. The land available is not sufficient enough for the community to grow in large numbers.

Raising property taxes does drive some residents away. For example Mike Drish, a Purdue employee, moved from West Lafayette to Lafayette because his 2 percent salary increase was not sufficient to remain in West Lafayette.

But increased services — such as public works, fire and police departments — and better schools, will offset the migration of those dissatisfied with paying more in property taxes and will keep residents happy.

The only way to provide the city with enough funding for the services its residents desire and the schools its children require is to raise property taxes.

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