Mayor increasing City fees, permits; instituting new ones;

Mayor Dumas is proposing increasing certain City fees and actually instituting new ones . . . all under the guise of "re-organizing the fire dept."   What it really is, is serious "revenue enhancement".

One whole new variety is "Mitigation Recovery".   Suppose a fire truck is dispatched to a motor vehicle accident scene. The fire department will send the car owner(s) a bill for "hazmat assessment & scene stabilization".   The minimum amount charged by the City's fire department will be $435.   To put a vehicle fire out, that's $495.   For the use of "jaws of life" or similar tools, the bill will be $605.   There are two 'levels' higher than that!

As if our car insurance wasn't expensive enough . . . .

Besides, there's some doubt as to whether such is legal.  Isn't one of the reasons why local folks pay real estate taxes, to fund city services, such as police, fire, & schools?

The current mayor is also proposing a hotel & restaurant meals tax, which would bring the tax to a full 7%.   He's "marketing" this proposal as a means to meet the shortfall in the city schools budget.   Sleazy; very sleazy.

I say that local voters should contact their City Council representative(s).   (508) 223-2222   ext. 3181   can tell you who yours is, in case you don't know.

Are the costs of local government high enough in your judgment . . yet?